AFR Eliminator Heads with Hooker 2129 Headers

[EVL VEGA]

I can tell you that the older style AFR 210 heads with raised ports that I have on my Mirage totally messed up the fit on the Don Hardy headers that I used, pulling them up to the point where they hit the floorpans. I had to basically extend every header tube by cutting and rewelding it in order to get them to work. I guess I should quantify that these headers were new and had never been on the car before, but I am pretty convinced it was the raised exhaust ports that caused the issue.
Roy

I am still a little concerned about the raised exhaust ports but when we were pulling the old heads we moved the headers up and down and all around and had lots of vertical clearance before approaching the floorpan. I think I'll be ok. This car has had this exhaust system a long time but before i owned it (and the guy before me owned) it it used to have a high compression/horsepower SBC. I think the headers were originally fabbed for an aftermarket headed SBC. So what i'm saying is i might actually be just moving them up to were they were originally intended.

Another fun thing i realized last night..i need to buy all new roller rockers with poly locks. The AFR 210 heads have 7/16 studs and my old heads were 3/8. I'm upgrading springs per AFR suggestion to 8016 which have an OD of 1.550. That means many standard roller rockers will have clearance issues. There goes another $200-300.

[TOM71VEGA]

Thanks
Thinking about a spool on the street, but might go with the D locker.
Let us know how those AFR heads work out. I am thinking about using them on a 406.

[EVL VEGA]

Thanks
Thinking about a spool on the street, but might go with the D locker.
Let us know how those AFR heads work out. I am thinking about using them on a 406.

The wife loves crawling out of the cage with a short skirt. It's much better suited for shorts or pants.

I'll keep updating this post as i work on the install.
I think i'll be at about $2300 in heads and related accessories by the time the dust settles.
They're projecting a 2-3 week lead time.

[chevyart]

hey evl another thing you should probably check when you get the new heads on is the valve train geometry. pushrods could end up beibn the wrong length with the new heads. also, take a look at the true trac center section, for your rear. they are latest technology and supposedly are strong. sure hope so, as i bought one for my ford rear going in my vega. art

[chevyart]

hey evl another thing you should probably check when you get the new heads on is the valve train geometry. pushrods could end up being the wrong length with the new heads. also, take a look at the true trac center section, for your rear. they are latest technology and supposedly are strong. sure hope so, as i bought one for my ford rear going in my vega. art

[EVL VEGA]

hey evl another thing you should probably check when you get the new heads on is the valve train geometry. pushrods could end up beibn the wrong length with the new heads. also, take a look at the true trac center section, for your rear. they are latest technology and supposedly are strong. sure hope so, as i bought one for my ford rear going in my vega. art

Thanks Art,
I have already ordered an adjustable pushrod to get the new length. I'll be magic markering the tip of a valve stem to check the proper geometry and ordering new pushrods accordingly.
AFR says they usually end up about .100" - .200" longer.

[chevyart]

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Evl looks like you are on the right track all on your own. keep us posted how things go. good luck art

[EVL VEGA]

I'm supposed to have the heads early this week. Note to self: when AFR says 2-3 weeks they really mean 4-5 weeks. To be fair i think i would have already had them but they are machining steam holes and upgrading the springs.
I have everything all ready to go. I'll be doing a mock-up to check PTV clearance and check pushrod length...ordering proper pushrods..then hopefully have the heads on this weekend.

EDIT: I also sold my old heads and rockers. Only got $365 but not bad for well over a decade old roller rockers and ported 70's iron heads. Sold them to a guy that wants to upgrade a 78 Corvette he just bought.

[EVL VEGA]

Got the heads late Saturday night.




I was able to check my Piston to Valve clearance and all is well.
Was .1745 clear on intake and .1505 clear on exhaust.
I ran out of time before i could figure out my correct pushrod length and i'm working out of town this week.
Planning on doing the install on Friday and then measuring and ordering pushrods. Based on everything i've read the smallest contact path is my first goal and centering second.

[EVL VEGA]

My buddy and I got a big chunk of the heads install finished on Friday. We only had a few problems. The one that took the most time was a warped header flange that didn't want to let both bolts go in. I fought that thing for like an hour and finally got it done.
Here's how it looked after he tapped out for the night.


Then i worked a few hours more and got the column back in, steering reconnected, alternator partially reconnected and the intake set.
That's all my back could take for the night.


He's coming over this Friday and should have it wrapped up in a few hours. (not counting jet changes and tuning time)
We have:
*change oil (in case water got in during old head removal)
*set valve lash
*complete alternator install
*reconnect fuel lines
*reconnect nitrous lines and solenoids
*install distributor and wires
*add coolant

Hope to be cruising it by Saturday afternoon. (weather permitting)

[EVL VEGA]

Completed the install friday and got to test drive it sunday.
Wow..what a difference. Can't wait to get it on the track and/or dyno and see how it does.
I couldn't wipe the smile off my face the rest of the day.
All things considered it was a fairly easy install with only a few hiccups
There's a few small things i need to address but nothing major.
(had a much longer reply with more details but my browser crashed and i lost the whole post.)

Short idling video
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/90886566/20151219_162348.mp4

[chevyart]

hey evl are you going to be able to get by without a crankcase evacuation system.usually just 2 breathers wont do the job for what you are running, did you fatten up the carb jets.? probably a little richer to start out is better than lean. curious to see just how much you pick up in 1/4 mile ETs. keep in touch art

[EVL VEGA]

hey evl are you going to be able to get by without a crankcase evacuation system.usually just 2 breathers wont do the job for what you are running, did you fatten up the carb jets.? probably a little richer to start out is better than lean. curious to see just how much you pick up in 1/4 mile ETs. keep in touch art

I get a little spray of oil on the windshield sometimes and a little smoke from an oil drip on the header occasionally. Not worth it to me to add a PCV or crankcase evap system.
I didn't need to fatten the carb jets. In my original post i explained more of this but i lost it.
I have an LC1 wideband sensor. I put the laptop on it and datalogged some WOT runs. I was right at 12-13:1 throughout the whole run. That's the sweetspot for power.
No go on 1/4mile times..only have 1/8th mile tracks here in San Diego. One legit track on an indian reservation and one they set up for ricers in the parking lot of Qualcomm stadium.

[chevyart]

watch out for them ricers. they can make some potent power burning that rice. keep in touch art

[6D9]

Looking forward to the results! We just put a nice 406 in my dads 72 Vega. Got a wideband for Christmas so will be doing some testing.