Warning if you are using stealth heads.

[mally69]

My opinion, go for the stealth heads they flow as good as the edelbrock ones and they are less money, just make sure you get the good locks and retainers   

[1Bad70Charger]

My opinion, go for the stealth heads they flow as good as the edelbrock ones and they are less money, just make sure you get the good locks and retainers   

 

[Chatt69chgr]

Really need to have the heads checked out by a machine shop.  Some have had to have a valve seat touched up to seal properly.  Just had to have that valve lapped in.  Also the valve guide clearance.  Every one of mine had virtually no clearance and had to be reamed to get the right clearance.  Of course, I replace the valve locks and retainers and while I was at it the valve guide seals.  You buy these parts and pay someone to do what I have indicated and you start approaching what the Eddie head costs.  I am assuming that it doesn't need any of this work.  But it's been drilled in to me that no matter who you buy a head from, you have to have it checked out.  All in all, the 440 Source head is a good value I think.  Just don't forget that if you find porosity in the head after their 30 days or whatever it is, then too bad.  They don't stand behind their products after that short time period. I bet that if you found porosity in a Eddie head a year later they would replace it no questions asked.

[mally69]

Really need to have the heads checked out by a machine shop.  Some have had to have a valve seat touched up to seal properly.  Just had to have that valve lapped in.  Also the valve guide clearance.  Every one of mine had virtually no clearance and had to be reamed to get the right clearance.  Of course, I replace the valve locks and retainers and while I was at it the valve guide seals.  You buy these parts and pay someone to do what I have indicated and you start approaching what the Eddie head costs.  I am assuming that it doesn't need any of this work.  But it's been drilled in to me that no matter who you buy a head from, you have to have it checked out.  All in all, the 440 Source head is a good value I think.  Just don't forget that if you find porosity in the head after their 30 days or whatever it is, then too bad.  They don't stand behind their products after that short time period. I bet that if you found porosity in a Eddie head a year later they would replace it no questions asked.

In my opinion it doesnt matter what heads you buy they all need their guides and seats checked . as for the comment about eddy heads and thier porosity, i would highly doubt they would do anything about it if it wasnt immediatly reported after purchase. 

[dkn1997]

 

ask anyone who knows anything about anything and they will say that even 5000.00 heads have issues and should never be taken out of the box and bolted on.

As for the warranty, The only advantage I'd see with edelbrock is that you could F up your own heads by doing something stupid and you may be able to con them into warranty for damage because they are a big company and you may get the "right" person on the phone.  440 source is a smaller operation and you are less likely to be able to run a game on them since the guy you would be talking to actually owns the company in most cases....which makes sense since being a smaller company , they can't just go around absorbing bogus warranty like edelbrock could. 

[71runner]

i like the fact that the stealth heads can be painted and look like factory iron, but can you still fit factory valve covers over the roller rockers from 440 source? assuming you wanted to keep your build looking as factory as possible...

[Steve P.]

You should say: (Assuming you WANT to use 440 SOURCE ROLLER ROCKERS).... They are NOT recommended by MOST....

[AKcharger]

I'm still happy with mine, but I did change out the locks and retainers

[ramblinn]

Good info here, thx all.  I'm considering stealth heads for my 440 rebuild (70 Road Runner).  440source site says OK to use stock rocker arms/shafts.  Is anyone doing this on their rigs?

[Steve P.]

Hello all.  Been a while as things are kind of tough right now, but I ran into a buddy the other day that used a set of 440 Source heads on a customers car. (Customer supplied all parts). The long and short of this is that one of the heads CRACKED. There was not allot of time/miles on this very fresh motor but it is a " blown " motor. The blower is very under-driven.  and this motor stays under 190* all the time..
So my buddy called 440 Source and told them of this problem. They recommended he pull the head and call back with the 440 Source ID numbers. He did and they told him that : (YES, we did have a bad run of heads that were made poorly. They said to pack it up, (1) head, and send it back to them that they would replace the (1) head. Even though they know they came from the same batch and that the motor has not even been put through it's paces yet.... Then they would NOT pay the shipping due to the heads being bought a while before they developed the problem. This motor was put together months ago by a machine shop and got a few pulls on the dyno. No leaks were reported at that time.

I should also mention that most of the needed parts for this motor CAME from 440 Source all at the same time. Crank, bearings, heads, rockers, ignition, water pump, WP housing, brackets, balancer etc etc...

I can say this, when I do get back on my tools and it comes motor time I WILL NOT be using 440 Source parts nor will I ever again recommend them to anyone. I know that ALL manufacturing companies have their own problems, but this company has turned me against them all on their own...

Happy motoring....

[Challenger340]

Thats a Bummer Steve P.
I hope the other Head doesn't crack down the road, THAT would REALLY suck !

If there is a Bright Side, at least they are replacing the one Head ?
Better than a "Poke in the eye" with a sharp stick ?

No matter, the Money on those parts sells itself,
"Made in China" seems to me to infer, "you pays yer money, you takes yer chances" ?

NOT that alot of it doesn't work just fine, IT DOES !,
Just,
That there IS A DIFFERENCE from "MADE IN THE U.S.A." !

I'm a sick man !
I like to stack all the Cranks in "Lines" at the Shop.
I ALWAYS make sure, to put a CALLIES or CROWER Crank at the end of each Line, facing out.
so when Guys "look",
They SEE the differences !
Eagle, Eagle, SCAT, 440Source, Eagle, Then a CROWER !
next Line,
Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, then the CALLIES !

When I get asked, and I do ALOT,
I then make sure to go get a Micrometer, and Further SHOW the DIFFERENCES !

The "MADE IN U.S.A." stuff is literally PERFECT, and so much nicer to work with !
Better Forgings, Better Machining, and PERDIER !

I do the same in the Head Shop as well.

[Steve P.]

Yeah, and tac on to that $100.00 per head gasket for the blower motor and let's not forget the coolant in the pan... 

I meant to mention that the crack on this head was visible from the bottom set of head bolts. Coolant was running out of the base of the head...

[Cooter]

My thinking is this....As long as there's "Made In The USA" for HUGE $$$ and "Made In China" for little $$$, the little money will almost ALWAYS win out in the end....Only when something like this happens, do people think about spending the big bucks..


If 440source can get at least most of the people to "Try" their product at least ONCE, then they have made a killing..Doesn't even matter if they are around in 5 years, they've made their money...Everybody has the simple choice of buying that high Dollar Stroker set up from Callies, or Kellogg but they will opt for the cheapest first and THIS is how 440source makes money...

Now if we could only get Kellogg, Callies, etc. to sell their stroker kits for what 440source sells theirs for, we'd not only buy American, we wouldn't have to complain about cracked Cylinder heads..

[Musicman]

Well ,when you all find that PERFECT manufacture that puts out a PERFECTLY FLAWLESS line of products each and every time, you let the rest of know about them OK, because those of us who still live in the real world, we haven't heard of them yet. 

[Steve P.]

The purpose of my post is to let others know exactly what is what with a problem. All manufacturing has it's own problems. ALL... The major difference is what they do to correct them and how they handle the affected parts and customers. Buying anything from anyone is always a gamble. We must be willing to take that gamble if we want the merchandise. BUT,,, do you research the merchandise or just go for the cheapest merchandise? Is that gamble the BEST and SMARTEST deal you can make. What will it cost me in the long run?  Cheap crappy rockers can take out a very expensive build. As can a coolant leak. If I have done my homework and know from other peoples experiences that I have a low chance of being happy with a part or a company I am NOT buying from them.   

Yes, money talks. BUT is it right or fair to make a product that you know has problems and continue to pass along the inferior product? We are NOT talking SWAP MEET PARTS here. We ARE talking about a company that is supposed to be reputable.  Well, reputation is a major part of how I decide where I buy my parts.  I chose my doctors the same way. If they have a reputation for patients croaking on the table or cutting off the wrong hands I am not going to seek his help. If I want to end it all quick I will call Kevorkian.   Yes. You know that name and his REPUTATION.....

[Challenger340]

My thinking is this....As long as there's "Made In The USA" for HUGE $$$ and "Made In China" for little $$$, the little money will almost ALWAYS win out in the end....Only when something like this happens, do people think about spending the big bucks..


If 440source can get at least most of the people to "Try" their product at least ONCE, then they have made a killing..Doesn't even matter if they are around in 5 years, they've made their money...Everybody has the simple choice of buying that high Dollar Stroker set up from Callies, or Kellogg but they will opt for the cheapest first and THIS is how 440source makes money...

Now if we could only get Kellogg, Callies, etc. to sell their stroker kits for what 440source sells theirs for, we'd not only buy American, we wouldn't have to complain about cracked Cylinder heads..

Thats exactly the point Cooter, Kellog & Callies CAN NOT sell their stuff for the same price as 440source, because, It's NOT the same stuff ?

The Only way they could make THEIR STUFF the same as the "Chinese" Junk, would be to FIRE all the "GOOD GUYS earning a decent wage, and go hire a BUNCH of cheapdumb Labor ?