Hey All,

I just finished a mildly built 454 using rectangular port heads (990's) and have ran into problems with them. Brought them in for a checkup and valve guide replacement and found that corrosion had eaten clear through the OEM steel valve guide to the bronze bushings that had been installed sometime in the past (exhaust side valve which runs through the water jacket). My machinist says he can install new OEM guides but may have a problem getting them to seal. IF we clear that hurdle, he would need to re-machine the valve seats which he says are also beat to heck...He says with the corrosion, there is a possibility that he may run through the valve seat into the water jacket. If that happens, they (heads) are junk, and he will want all of his $$ for parts and labor thus far. If it worked, he would not warranty them. End result, he was kind enough to let me walk away with my heads and I am only out the cost of pressure testing. So, I did not come here to tell you a long story but I felt compelled to share. He says that this is the first time he has ever seen this happen to this degree of severity. Just my luck.

Instead of dumping a ton of money into them and risk failure and/or more heartache down the road, I am considering using a set of peanut ports (#14092360) that I have sitting on my shelf which are basically ready to go. I have some friends that are willing to buy the RP's from me "as is" so I could recoup some of the original purchase price (which will make my wife happy).

I have heard over and over that peanut port heads are "junk" but have never seen anyone back up that statement. I have actually found more factual data to support their use in a street rod when on a budget. Monster low end torque being the big seller.

My machinist also says that they perform well up to about 3500 and then the range people where people say they start to gasp for air (3500 to say 5200) is "not really noticeable". Above that, forget about it....SO, Given that my setup seems geared for low end...

9.4:1cr, .515/.530 216/219@.050, 1 7/8 headers into 2 1/4 exhaust, TH400, stock converter, 3.36:1 in the rear

...I am back on the fence trying to decide if I should go with it. Can anyone comment on their EXPERIENCE USING these heads? Please dont tell me that you heard they are junk (I've heard that too)...I am hoping someone (or more than a few) has done a build with these heads and can comment on the performance based off what they felt in the seat of their pants (reference to acceleration, nothing uh..weird). I believe GRUMPY427 (?) was in the process of doing a build like this but I never heard how it turned out.
Possible to run 12's with them in a 65 biscayne?

Dang! I need to learn how to get my thoughts out using less words...sorry!

Thanks for your time.