ATK cylinder heads - good, bad or ugly?

[af2]

I had to use Fast Burn flanges & slot the holes & Track 1 gaskets & slot the holes, the flanges were for 1 3/4 pipes. 1 5/8 would have been to small.

Or this.

[cgarb]

I couldn't get my ram horn manifolds to fit very well either. By the way my car isn't performing very well these heads must be real junk...lol. Nothing and I mean nothing is a bolt on part when it comes to performance parts. It all needs checked and fitted bottom line.

[MadBill]

How tough could it be to raise the bolt holes as well as the ports?

[shoedoos]

We were seeing a lot of issues with the Pro-Filer version on our end and exhaust port leaks. I cant tell you how many customers couldn't figure it out and got upset thinking something was wrong with the engine, send the engine back for warranty and it was blatantly obvious what the issue was Due to this and seeing another market for them we wanted a redesigned exhaust port in the stock location and have not had an issue since.

The other change we made was milling down the spring pockets and cutting a trough so the oil can drain back to the engine without restriction. We were seeing issues on the dyno and in the field with oil pooling up and burning, smoking out the breathers, etc...Overall its a very nice setup, the parts are equivalent to what you would find on Dart, Edelbrock, Brodix, Etc without paying the premium for upgraded parts.

Notalent, any chance you can tell us specs on the parts you use to complete the heads? Valves, springs etc etc.....?

[mtrhead]

We were seeing a lot of issues with the Pro-Filer version on our end and exhaust port leaks. I cant tell you how many customers couldn't figure it out and got upset thinking something was wrong with the engine, send the engine back for warranty and it was blatantly obvious what the issue was Due to this and seeing another market for them we wanted a redesigned exhaust port in the stock location and have not had an issue since

I bet 75%+ of all non drag racing customers don't know there headers are mismatched.

It took Posting here to get some positive confirmation. I emailed and talked to the "experts" and they didn't see it or didn't understand. I feel better but still upset my headers interfere with roof of the exhaust port. I tried at least 3 headers and non lined up with the profiler head. I know I wouldn't of bought them if the advertisement(or seller) would of stated raised ports requires unique headers to fit properly - or you need to buy the pro port CNC version to get a normal fitting exhaust port.

I'll stop beating a dead horse - thanks to all that posted their issues too.

You said the headers fit but the gasket didn't earlier?? Now this?

Headers could fit with no hole!! I wasn't commenting on the pipe to exhaust port alignment in that post when I said headers fit. Lots of time people have header figment troubles when ports are raised. Normally that's because the holes are lifted too and headers hit something.

[midnightbluS10]

We were seeing a lot of issues with the Pro-Filer version on our end and exhaust port leaks. I cant tell you how many customers couldn't figure it out and got upset thinking something was wrong with the engine, send the engine back for warranty and it was blatantly obvious what the issue was Due to this and seeing another market for them we wanted a redesigned exhaust port in the stock location and have not had an issue since.

The other change we made was milling down the spring pockets and cutting a trough so the oil can drain back to the engine without restriction. We were seeing issues on the dyno and in the field with oil pooling up and burning, smoking out the breathers, etc...Overall its a very nice setup, the parts are equivalent to what you would find on Dart, Edelbrock, Brodix, Etc without paying the premium for upgraded parts.

Notalent, any chance you can tell us specs on the parts you use to complete the heads? Valves, springs etc etc.....?

I bet anyone could call them at any time and get the info direct from ATK. It's not like its super secret. Or do phones not work anymore?

[MadBill]

...Headers could fit with no hole!! I wasn't commenting on the pipe to exhaust port alignment in that post when I said headers fit. Lots of time people have header figment troubles when ports are raised. Normally that's because the holes are lifted too and headers hit something.

That makes no sense at all. If the holes aren't "lifted too" then the headers don't fit the engine and it's irrelevant whether or not they fit the chassis.

[SchmidtMotorWorks]

Brodix sbc heads are raised 1/2", both the ports and the screw holes.

It improves the shape of the port a lot if your headers will fit the cars still.

[77cruiser]

If Profiler would have move the bolt holes up headers would fit better.

[mtrhead]

If Profiler would have move the bolt holes up headers would fit better.

Agree - maybe they can do that? Also I would think the head porters could make an even better port lifted.

After figuring out the port exit was lifted I slotted my headers and welded in a pin in the top of the slot to prevent falling.
Lined up perfect and happy customer

[WeingartnerRacing]

The brodix dragon slayer has an exhaust port raised higher than the Profilier but just like shimdt said they raised the bolt holes too. When I port both heads the dragon slayers exhaust flows significantly more than the Profilier. So far I have not heard of one complaint with header problems with the dragon slayer.

Profilier heads are good but I just wish they would change a few things, although they have made some changes that have made them better.

[raynorshine]

The brodix dragon slayer has an exhaust port raised higher than the Profilier but just like shimdt said they raised the bolt holes too. When I port both heads the dragon slayers exhaust flows significantly more than the Profilier. So far I have not heard of one complaint with header problems with the dragon slayer.

Profilier heads are good but I just wish they would change a few things, although they have made some changes that have made them better.

-don't stop there Eric what would you like to see for change(s)? and what are the changes/improvements they made??

[WeingartnerRacing]

Sorry for delayed response, I wanted to build suspense.

The current thing they can fix is do a proper valve job. Every single sbc head I have gotten from them, and it has been at least 50, would not pass a vacuum test or lap in. At first I thought it was because I ordered them bare but then when a customer sent me an assembled Jeg's head (profiler) and I tested it, it failed. This is not a huge deal because the majority of the heads I sell I port so I do a valve job but occasionally I sell them unported. When this happens I have to valve job them. This is why I am more expensive for profiler heads than others. Another thing if you order the heads bare you must ream the guides because they are tight. Another thing is the hand blending of bowls is inconsistent so I had one profiler 210cc flow 300cfm while the majority hit 277-280cfm but I have had a bad one that went 270cfm. The other thing is there casting quality as far surface finish is not the best but it should not be a deal breaker for anyone, just me being picky.

What have they fixed. They now have deeper seats, less chance of walking. They no longer have holes at the bolt hole area or the exhaust bolt hole area. I also like the drain back on the oil.

[F-BIRD'88]

Good info. Seems that all these heads should be bought bare with the intent of doing your own valve job/prep/parts or send straight to a head/porter specialist.
Doing precision valve jobs is time consuming. Ya cannot just buzz thru it. (production)

[user-9274568]

Good thing all that wasn't said about AFR, it would be considered bashing.

Glad I don't own Pro-Filer...