the ultimate HEAD!

how would you guys build your ultimate head?
i just got a spare one off an 89 760, im gonna get it ported and polished,multi angle valve job(3 or 5), and get the intake port matched. im gona use my vx cam, but i dont know if i should get bigger valves and better springs?
gimme some ideas??????


jake

Pressure tested first to make sure it's good.

530 head, big valves, shaved for higher CR, ported, multi-angle valve job, cc'd, etc. Get it flowing as much air in and out as efficiently as possible. It depends on cam and RPM, but you probably don't need stronger valve springs with a mild head.

Start with a small coolant passage head. The 530 you have is a safe bet.
If you're looking for really big power (ie a full on header, hybrid turbo, ems, etc) you'll want a 531.

Bigger valves are a huge plus, and offer few negatives except maybe lower gas velocities and low revs (ie small loss in low end torque). I'd look into stainless with 3mm stems instead of 4 and bronze guides.


If you are having the head ported by a local (non-volvo tuner) shop ask the machinist what they think it needs/what they'd reccomend.
Volvo heads have heavily shrouded valves and poor bowl design, especially on the exhaust side. An experienced machinsist will note the bad exhaust side pretty much immediately. If they start talking about how much they can polish it, or hog out the ports or whatever, walk away.

The head should then be milled just to the point to where it has a good gasket face.
Not a slight against Mike but I don't agree with shaving the head to increase compression- at leats not on and "ultimate head". This thing is going to be $1500+, and you do not want to see cracks. And you want room to be able to mill it again if you blow a headgasket, milling it to near the limit may mean a weak head if it ever needs to be milled again.

Titanium retainers, springs ideally spec'd to work with your stainless valves. But that exhaust bowl/short side radius and combustion chamber design/unshroud are the keys imo.

Start with a small coolant passage head. The 530 you have is a safe bet.
If you're looking for really big power (ie a full on header, hybrid turbo, ems, etc) you'll want a 531.

Bigger valves are a huge plus, and offer few negatives except maybe lower gas velocities and low revs (ie small loss in low end torque). I'd look into stainless with 3mm stems instead of 4 and bronze guides.


If you are having the head ported by a local (non-volvo tuner) shop ask the machinist what they think it needs/what they'd reccomend.
Volvo heads have heavily shrouded valves and poor bowl design, especially on the exhaust side. An experienced machinsist will note the bad exhaust side pretty much immediately. If they start talking about how much they can polish it, or hog out the ports or whatever, walk away.

The head should then be milled just to the point to where it has a good gasket face.
Not a slight against Mike but I don't agree with shaving the head to increase compression- at leats not on and "ultimate head". This thing is going to be $1500+, and you do not want to see cracks. And you want room to be able to mill it again if you blow a headgasket, milling it to near the limit may mean a weak head if it ever needs to be milled again.

Titanium retainers, springs ideally spec'd to work with your stainless valves. But that exhaust bowl/short side radius and combustion chamber design/unshroud are the keys imo.

"Bigger valves are a huge plus, and offer few negatives except maybe lower gas velocities and low revs (ie small loss in low end torque). I'd look into stainless with 3mm stems instead of 4 and bronze guides. "


Where can I get larger valves for a turbo? How important is the sodium fill for exhaust valves? I am going to be building my first head over the winter. I am clueless and too stupid to be afraid of doing something like this. Need all the help that I can get. This head will be getting V15 cam.

Available through european tuning firms such as Unitek...

thanks everybody for the replys. i didnt think it would cost so much, figured mabe 700$! guess i need to save some more cash!

jake

is thare anyone in the states or canada that specializes in volvo heads? most of the places around here dont want to work on any thing unless its from japan! (friggin ricers takin over the world) what could 9i get away with for my 700$?


jake

you wont get nowlt for $750 dollars .

As it happens i went to this guy who specialises in cylinder heads , low and behold hes got a volvo in there for building up , a B230 for grasstracking . Of course i told him that what he needed was a B23 with a 531 , more importantly somethings he was doing like the exhaust manifold were really good , oversize valves and a manifold to fit twin webers . The cam was specially reground by piper on a 102 degree lobe centre , duration being 320 degrees , this was gonna rev to 800o rpm . I took a step back and tried to assimilate what they were acheiving , he could easily expect more power with the mods i told him about . Anyway the long and short of it is , cylinder heads are available for $1500 with oversize valves and the camshaft of your choice (reground) , that includes shipping aswell.

enquiries are welcome .

Dave