Product Review #4 AFR 195 Comp Eliminator Heads

[Dusty]

Product Review #4

This is where we look at a promising product and give you a preliminary evaluation prior to any in depth evaluation we may subsequently do in our Product Spotlight Series.

AFR 195 cc Port 23 Degree Competition Eliminator SB Chevy Heads

By

Dusty Kennett

For the three years that have so far passed since I started getting an education on high performance engines, making power, even at moderate levels, meant porting heads. Now don’t get me wrong, if I am to be a pro here it’s a skill I really need to learn. My experience so far with stock, EQ, Dart and RHS heads is that making power means making time for the job.

When I get the job of building a high output, high rpm 350 for testing speed parts that need such for proof of function I am really pleased I don’t have to port any heads as part of the test regime is evaluation of AFR’s 195 Competition Eliminator heads. Now you need to understand here that when at the shop I am surrounded by high dollar heads for ProStock, Cup Car and the like so a set of CNC ported 23 degree heads does not look like much out of the ordinary. The only real difference is I am bolting them on my motor. The whole deal here is that we get some tests on other products done ASAP and as such the heads came out of the box and went straight on the motor. No looking to see what gives or any flow tests. To date I have dyno’d or sat in on the dyno testing of quite a few small block Chevy’s so I sort of have an idea what’s good and what isn’t for any given spec.

From some of my own porting efforts, which I have been told by experts, though not world shattering, are none-the-less pretty good, I expected to see at least 550 horses from this 355 inch build. When the first round of testing netted, with a good two plane intake, almost 540 hp I got quite excited.

So why am I smiling here? wouldn't you if you had just seen 537 hp with a two plane intake equipped 355 burning pump gas?

Going too a good single plane intake is typically worth 15 plus hp on an engine of this displacement. Well that proved to be a gross underestimation of the potential still left in this engine. By the time we had given this 355 a reworked Super Victor and a big carb (which you can read about in Product Review #1) plus open exhaust this AFR headed small block was singing a 584 hp tune.

At this point I figured AFR’s head designer Tony Mamo, was probably more than just the odd step or two in front of where I was in head technology. And because of that he allowed me to build a fire breathing small block that ran on pump fuel and cranked out just over 100 hp per liter – with absolutely no porting effort on my part what-so-ever! Compared to doing my own porting this deal comes under the heading of instant gratification. It was almost a case of open the box, bolt on the heads and there you have it – kick *** hp!

When it came time to strip the engine to check burn patterns, bearing etc I took a harder look at these heads.

To my surprise I found the intake ports were very similar to the 7-liter Corvette heads in as much as they had a ramp/dam in the intake bowl. These heads obviously needed looking at in depth – and I can hardly wait. We have a bare casting with the hardware for one cylinder on the way so look out for a detailed Product Spotlight in the near future on these power packing heads. Meanwhile take notice – you will be far better off running with these heads rather than against them!

For more details go to AFR Cylinder Heads Inc: Aluminum cylinder head manufacturing and flow dynamics

Dusty Kennett

[SAJOMATIC]

The horsepower number sound great, but i was wondering how was the torque curve??

[automotivebreath]

Dusty,
Thanks for posting the combustion burn picture along with the explanation of
what AFR did to accomplish this. I have a set of the early AFR190 Street heads,
the combustion chambers shown in your article is a much improved design.

It would be great if Tony Mamo would decide to join the forum and discuss such
features of his superior products.

The picture below is form a 5.3L Truck engine. The burn pattern shows
incomplete combustion with a modern cylinder head. Tony's hard work (and
your tuning) payed off with a much better burn for the improved efficiencies
we all strive for.