drew303

My head turned out to be cracked on the #3 cylinder near the exhaust valve on the water channel.

So a new head is needed and im kinda tossing up the idea of just getting a stock replacement or Engine builders Ported head

http://www.engnbldr.com/head_shop.htm

Curious of everyones experience with those cams on a stock head and/or just the ported head, or the ported head with the aftermarket cam (either cams, 261 or 268)

Money is tight but since I need to replace the head I'd rather do it right the first time.

IS the performance increase worth the extra 200 bones? I got a new stock head lined up for 300 right now.

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Good morning. This is a hard to say question. Cause really it depends on what you are ready got. To get the benefit of either of the upgrades you mentioned the truck needs to breath better, intake and exhaust.

As for the value of a cam over a ported, polished, and oversized valves. you'll diffenently get more with the whole head than the just the cam. But as you said $200 is alot of cash. And if you don't have the other upgrades your not going to get much from either.

Good luck.

drew303

yea, stock intake (carb 22r) and exhaust.

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

It's Pandora's box, once you start you can't stop.

It would be cheaper in the long run to do the upgrade to cam or head now since what you got is broken.

But again you won't notice much till it breaths better.

A header is just the beginning, then you'll need/want a high flow cat, and 2.25 or 2.5 inch exhaust with a performance muffler.

But hey sounds better, runs better, feels better. So it must be better, right.

abecedarian

If I were doing the head, and had the slightest idea I'd want the cam later, I'd do it all now. yeah it's a little more up front, but changing the cam later opens up potential issues and costs like needing a new head gasket since you have to release the head bolts to get the cam out.
The exhaust and stuff can wait- the cam will boost power a bit over stock, but will be more apparent with exhaust work as muddpigg mentioned. I'd go at most 2.25 pipe.
At worse, you'll probably get a little better mileage and even a couple mpg more will pay for the added cost in short while.

norcalsvx

if your going to keep the truck and build it right then get it (i love my set up from ted)

drew303

Question,

what possibilites can a machine shop offer me with a stock cam? I really dont understand how the #'s ... like 261, 270 268 mean in relation to the camshaft opening the valves? What is the difference between them?? What exactly does it change? Life height/duration? both?

but can a machine shop use my stock cam and make it a 261 or whatever ?

I'd like to do it right when im in there but I'm pressed for time and money right now. I borrowing a truck atm but i only have it about a week so i have this week to get my rig running lol ohhh the pressure =p

I've decided against getting the ported head from Ted, Just to expensive. The day I decide to rebuild the motor will hopefully be a day when i have more money lol.. My bottom end is still strong so im not touching it till it destroys itself =p

thaankkssss!

abecedarian

261, 268. 270
are often used to describe the 'duration' of the cam.

it's better to talk with the cam vendor about those numbers than us.
They don't often mean what some of us think they do.

drew303

hmmm...

well im gonna call a few machine shops tomorrow just to see what they offer price wise for new 22r heads.. ALL the autopart outlets want like $500+ which is effing rediculous.

Matt16

You could always modify a stock cam with JB weld added to the lobes. My buddy did that on his truck and it makes an honest 200bhp.

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Dude you got Delta camshaft in Tacoma and Engbldr in Portland, don't mess around with a local machine shop that this will be the first 22re cam they grind. It's your time and money.

drew303

Called up Delta Camshaft in Tacoma, gonna head up there and swap my core for a 260 $55 bucks cant beat that!

There is one remanned head in town here at National Machine. I've never heard anything about either johnson machine or national and they've been around for ages.

National wants 275 for the reman and 380 for a new (have to order the new) Trying to get this new one from a dude here for 250, but haveing hard time getting ahold of him.

I want to have this truck going tomorrow or at least this week. Engnbldr is gone till the 22nd so that doesn't help me. Im out of time gotta head to work now but I'll look to see what machine shops are in Tacoma, call around see where I might find some more heads.

saitotiktmdog

My experience you wont notice that much. I had a engine builder head with a nwor tri y header and cam and it was a minimal increase. Turbo set up however much better, but also some major coin. Leave it stock.

drew303

well im gonna leave the head stock, but for 55 bucks doesnt hurt to try out this 260 cam while i got the head off ya know. I'll post back when I get some results, im not expecting miracles but if theres any extra pep, any at all, it'll be appreciated.