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VS HEADS RED 355


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#1 _whitey355_

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Posted 01 May 2016 - 06:29 PM

Gday fellas!
Long story short i bought my SS torana from adelaide as a result of a divorce settlement his loss was my gain but its in good hands. Ive been slowly fixing her cosmetically but the driveline remains the same. Red 308 earlt heads scat 355 kit hydraulic 286, 9" 3.25 ratio worked trimatic. The top half of the motor didnt seem right and even had msd ignition wires coiled up etc. 600 vac carb etc i did in fact get in touch with the owner as we were guessing he raided it before sale and we were right. The motor doesnt perform how it should but its got it there if that makes sense. It seem constapated lol! So whilst i do hav a missus and kids im slowly finding the time to get it right. Ive since installed a new msd kit and it improved alot. But still not what it should be. Everyone tells me VN heads and never look back. So my question is, ive just scored some standard VS heads. Im aware of intake etc so thinking a torque power or jarrop single plain hi rise manifold to suit plus a 750 or 850 dp, and a crane 288 solid cam. Im a fan a quarter mile time and id like 10's 11 flat. The car doesnt get used much it will be my getaway! Will VS heads (with work) work compared to VN heads, and im sticking to carb. Am i on the right track? What can u advise? Any advice massively appreciated thanks!!

#2 Redslur

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Posted 01 May 2016 - 06:49 PM

Having played a fair bit with this set up of late, The VS heads are pretty much the same head as VN.  Pretty sure only the VT heads have a different combustion chamber and port design.,  So in short, they will work fine.

 

VN style heads flow approximatelty 430 HP with a .500 thou lift cam.  So having a Crane solid 288 with minimal work to the heads they will work a treat. You will need to machine the valve spring seat to allow for bigger double springs, machine the rocker stud pads for adjustable rollers (may have to redill the mounting holed from 3/8 to 7/16 if you ant good quality rollers).

 

Basically I just had a set of heads done with these mods and they were VS and it cost me $1500 which included a small amount of porting around the bowls and runners.  I am using a Crane F280 and my set up should run easy 11's.  10's is a different story though :-)



#3 _whitey355_

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Posted 01 May 2016 - 07:11 PM

Champion mate thanks heaps! What do you think of gearbox and diff ratio? Shes got a small 2500 stall so gotta up that of course but yeh. 10.9 im a happy camper and im sure its capable with my car with the right work. Me and my dad are very oldskool even tho im only 28 so im passing all this advice onto him since we are tackling it together. Thanks again mate

#4 Redslur

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Posted 01 May 2016 - 07:41 PM

I just ran a 10.9 @ 123MPH a month a go. But my engine was too wild for the street in my opinion hence me detuning it at the moment to make it more street friendly.  I guess the question remains, do you want a drag car or street car?

 

My combo was 550+HP, 5500 converter and 4.11 gears.  It had a huge roller cam, big compression, Harrop highrise single plain, massive head work and a 950 DP carby. I am sure you can achieve a high 10 with a milder engine set up but everything else will need to be spot on with your car. I have a mate who has built a VN headed 288 solid cammed 355 and it has also run a high 10.



#5 _whitey355_

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Posted 01 May 2016 - 08:09 PM

Sounds perfect mate, im not worried about it being grumpy on the streets as i dont take it out much but want the fun while im youngish! The car isnt hacked or molested and want to keep it that way but the motor came as is so want to make to most of it and go for that low key look but wild at the quarter.thanks again mate im lookin at 4000 stalls and i have a t350 and t400 sittin there so the options are open. Chasin 500 at the wheels

#6 Redslur

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Posted 02 May 2016 - 12:08 PM

Well I have the perfect cam for you then.... :-)  I am selling mine which is what you need to get big horse power.  Done less than 1000km's. I have the right size pushrods and roller lifters all to match.  $750 if you are interested. Very wild cam which needs good compression...A lot bigger than a Crane 288 solid..



#7 _whitey355_

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Posted 02 May 2016 - 12:42 PM

Far out mate i never thought of going beyond the 288!! Can u send the details of it so i can check out the specs?

#8 Redslur

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Posted 02 May 2016 - 06:29 PM

If you want big horse power (500 at the wheels as you stated which is probably around 700 FWHP) a 288 won't cut it. Don't get me wrong, they are great cam and probably one of the best for a street combo, but a solid roller cam is where you will need to go to obtain 550+ FWHP. A Crane 288 solid is more good for around the 500ish FWHP. You can achieve more power using a bigger solid but it gets harder to achieve where as a roller cam does it easier.

 

The cam is a Camtech solid roller:

263 and 272 duration @ 50

658 thou lift

107 lobe separation.

 

This cam needs high compression of at least 11.1 -12.1 and it needs highly modified heads,

 

If you are interested, I suggest talking to a good engine builder to get their views on what you want. It isn't a simple slap the cam in and she'll be right mate project.

 

My engine was built by a proffesional engine builder using all the best bits. Supposedly a 20k build. It is very aggressive cam and states that it is suited to strip use with minaimal street use.

 

Happy to sell you the cam but want to make sure you make the right informed decision before jumping in. No pressure to buy it by any means..

 

Cheers, Gerry


Edited by Redslur, 02 May 2016 - 06:30 PM.


#9 gtrboyy

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Posted 02 May 2016 - 09:21 PM

For engine these things need high comp & good cam...minimum f280 11.1cr,depends how crazy you want to go or street driving required otherwise go bigger.

 

Decent sized stally anything over 4500-5500

 

gears 3.9-4.11 & 26-28 inch tyres.

Then pray for traction & rev bejesus out of it to get a timecard lol.

 

Probably more left in your current early heads/286 cam set up if you know what's in it like comp ratio etc

 

Depends on budget & amount of time willing to do on current engine....2500 stally & 3.25 gear definately would hold it back make it feel lazy.


Edited by gtrboyy, 02 May 2016 - 09:23 PM.


#10 TerrA LX

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Posted 03 May 2016 - 06:49 AM

Red heads on a 355 would have gotten you 10's so no reason VN> heads won't...



#11 _whitey355_

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Posted 03 May 2016 - 10:05 AM

Cheers for the replies fellas greatly appreciated. Thanks gerry ill talk to me old man about it and go from there. Its crazy the different things you hear from people thats why i thought id ask on here. Thanks again

#12 gtrboyy

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Posted 03 May 2016 - 08:30 PM

No reason car wont go hard with early heads & what is in car if set up right...besides already got most of the gear for it just need to make it work.Heads on it might be stock,hard to say without going through engine as 600 vac sec carby sounds weird

 

Vn heads/harrop just generally easier & cheaper 'when' starting from scratch...either set up will need good compression bump up,big stally & short gears if fast streeter/drag times are end goal.



#13 TerrA LX

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Posted 04 May 2016 - 06:16 AM

^ Agree, 10.9 been done on stock stroke red head 308.



#14 TK383

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Posted 04 May 2016 - 09:13 AM

To run 10's in a torrie only takes around 450hp - if the car (driveline & suspension) is set up to use the engine well.

 

With a basic 355 bottom end with unknown oiling mods (if any), unknown clearances & probably cast pistons you don't want to push it much past 450hp anyway, it will probably take 500hp but that'd be a gamble.

 

A set of VS heads with stock valves, good valve job & pocket port will get the job done no probs, to aim a little higher use a 2.02" intake valve & mild full port.

10.5-11:1 comp, 288 crane is hard to beat for a street engine that'll see a little strip time.

A slightly more aggressive cam that I often use is a 258/263 on 108 centres SFT custom grind, behaves quite similar to the 288, a little more chop at idle & more top end HP.

TP or harrop single plane with a match port & plenum cleanup is plenty - TP will make a little more midrange & drive a tad better, Harrop makes a little more top end & has more potential to step it up down the track without having to do excessive porting.

 

Pacemaker 1 3/4" tri-Y pipes are good for 500+HP no problem, will need a twin 2.5" mandrel bent system.

Holley/Quickfuel 750 carb, stock Hei distributor with a Crane Hi6 ignition.

 

Will need a 4000+ stall converter & 4.11 gears to make the most of it & run the times it's capable of.






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