Cylinder pressure does a great job of finding the weak point of an engine, especially in a forced induction application. Failed block decks, stretched head studs, blown head gaskets, and cracked head castings are all victims of excessive cylinder pressure. While block, bolt, and gasket technology have come a long way – head castings still seem to be the weak point. While billet heads have been out for awhile, few (if any) were offered with water jackets. That is until Trick Flow introduced the PowerPort billet small block Ford cylinder head.

Why and what are billet heads?

Billet heads and blocks are both cut from a single chunk of heat treated aluminum. The metal is virgin (unused), which is poured into a mold and compressed. The blocks of billet are then cut to their respective sizes and you are left with a solid piece of aluminum, even through the block. A series of cutters then take that block of aluminum and use various cutting tools to form the part; think of someone making an ice sculpture, same concept. While cutting outside shapes can be relatively simple, the intricate internal passages require precise, and very expensive cutters.

In comparison, a cast head uses a pre made template for a part, which then has the molten iron or aluminum poured onto it. While cast heads work well for the majority of people, the extra strength of a porosity-free, compacted aluminum block is much more rigid.

The Trick Flow PowerPort Billet Head

Trick Flow designed this head for guys that have no limits on the heads for their class. Only in fast classes, such as NMCA Pro Street, allow billet 2-valve heads. “We see customers running more and more boost, plus if you have a class that doesn’t restrict you to a cast cylinder head, its a good idea to take advantage of the billet,” Al Noe of Trick Flow states. “Also when you look at a low volume casting, it becomes really expensive to develop that casting.” Trick Flow took care of that and is now ready to make a set of billet heads for your engine.

The design starts as a 9 degree head, offering the straightest shot possible to the back of the valve. Intake port volume is offered as a huge 290, 295, and 300 cc port. If you don’t know much about port sizes, Trick Flow’s big block Chevy port selections are 280, 320, and 360cc – needless this is a port large enough to support 1000hp naturally aspirated. Introducing the air/fuel mixture to the combustion chamber is either 2.200” or 2.250” valves. Combustion chamber size is standard at 52cc, though they will make what you need (Trick Flow recommends sticking with the 52cc). The spent gasses exit through optional 1.590”, 1.600”, or 1.625” exhaust valves. Valve seats are offered in Beryllium copper or ductile iron, while the guides are Manganese bronze. Finally, the exhaust ports are standard at 150cc. As inherent with the process of cutting these billet heads, everything comes CNC ported.

For the valvetrain, these heads can be ordered bare or with their top shelf components. Springs are offered from 1.550” dual to 1.650” triple. Retainers are titanium and are held to the spring by either chrome moly steel or titanium locks. The .150” offset lifters will take up to a half-inch intake and 5/8” exhaust pushrod. Custom offset rockers that are designed for this head is offered through T&D Machine and Jesel. As we mentioned before, this billet head does come water jacketed, keeping the head as cool as possible. “It is unique in that it does have a pretty large water jacket around the valves,” Noe says. “This works well for racers that aren’t running alcohol.” At the end of the day, these heads flow a massive amount of air – 450-460 CFM at .800 lift and allows all the way up to 1.000” lift. The testing was done on a 2.250 intake valve with a 295cc port.

Don’t call up and expect these heads overnighted, they are custom made on a per order bases and require a 4-6 week turn around. Trick Flow did tell us though, if this head design becomes popular, they may consider making a cast version of it so other racing classes can benefit from the aggressive design. Now that Trick Flow offers a fully jacketed head, only time will tell to find out which other engine part will become the weakest link as the power is pushed further through these small block Fords.

Features

• Forged billet aluminum
• 9 Degree
• 290, 295, 300 cc intake port
• 52cc combustion chamber
• 2.200″ or 2.250″ intake valves
• 1.590”, 1.600”, or 1.625” exhaust valves
• 150cc exhaust ports
• Flows 450-460 CFM through .800″ lift
• Designed for extreme cylinder pressure
• Supports 1000hp naturally aspirated