I received my first lesson using a flow bench on Sunday at the Bowman Performance shop out of Export, PA. Tim has taught me a great deal of information regarding engine building and this is just one more thing I had the privilege of being taught. The 440-1 heads we flowed were my own 440-1 heads that will be going on my 540. Tim ported these heads back in 2015. They never were put on a flow bench and the engine was never dynod. We only have track results using these heads. Tim bought this flow bench about 2 months ago and since my engine is being prepped for assembly, he wanted to throw the heads on the bench and see what numbers they put up. We compared my heads flow numbers to another set of -1s that belongs to a teammate. Tim is also in the process of building himself a 572 BBM with 440-1 heads, which are currently on the porting bench. This winter we have a set of Edelbrock Victor MW heads which I’m going to be bold enough to port with Tim’s guidance. It will be cool to flow them when we are finished to see how the port job compares to a -1. I had the privilege of porting my father in laws BBC heads last summer. Tim finished the job for me once I got so far but it showed me how difficult, tedious, and time consuming cylinder head porting is. Experience and knowledge is everything. Tim and John Cadamore were great friends who spoke daily about engine work they were both doing. Tim was looking forward to sharing feedback with John after he purchased the flow bench. Sadly that never happened.
Biggest takeaway, which has been relayed many times on the internet, the flow bench is another tool to use for engine building, just like an engine dyno. The data is only as useful as the person interpreting it. So what’s next for these heads? Assembly!
Biggest takeaway, which has been relayed many times on the internet, the flow bench is another tool to use for engine building, just like an engine dyno. The data is only as useful as the person interpreting it. So what’s next for these heads? Assembly!
We know you're in good hands with Tim. I've spent my fair share of time porting and flowing with some good guidance and the last set of SR that I did refinish, I don't know what they flowed but they made pretty good power all considered. I'm still behind the theory that flow is one part of what makes power and there are a couple more parts. I don't have #'s on my -1 stuff and I didn't 'do' them. I'll probably have the same guy go thru the 572-13 heads I have for next year and I'm not sure if I'll have him throw them on a bench...and I'm not sure he'd be willing! I think all the same the -13's can be better by another 50hp. Not that the bench isn't a good tool! I'd be curious to see a dyno test with heads done by Larry Smith when he was prime. He knew his way around these dinosaurs too.
