Afr vs Ai vs Le heads
03-13-2018, 11:59 PM
#1
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Afr vs Ai vs Le heads I’m looking for a set of heads to make 500 flywheel hp on a 355 and I don’t which way to go. What heads would you guys use. I know ai heads are cnc for around 1900 I could also go with le2 heads for around 1300 or I can go with afr 195cc heads. I was also looking at the lt4 afr 195cc that flow around 308 cfm. I have used afr heads on a sbc in the past and made great power so I know they work, but how does a ported stock casting compare? I know the decks on the afr heads are thick. How thick are the decks on the stock castings? I plan to shoot a 250 of nitrous on this build.
03-14-2018, 07:18 AM
#2
I don't have your HP goals, but I went LE due to cost/results and customer service.
Lloyd is a great guy to talk to IF you can get him on the phone (but he admits to not answering calls since he would get nothing done all day). His detailed emails back and forth with me explaining questions I had is what sold me on his services.
Lloyd is a great guy to talk to IF you can get him on the phone (but he admits to not answering calls since he would get nothing done all day). His detailed emails back and forth with me explaining questions I had is what sold me on his services.
03-14-2018, 10:27 PM
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I had my AFR heads ported by Lloyd. Could not be happier. His customer service is exceptional. It did not matter how many questions I had, he always got back to me within 24 hours. Can't say that about the other two mentioned.
03-15-2018, 01:19 AM
#5
Go LE or Ai.
Have them spec a cam for you too. That would best for you to make you goal.
I would suggest getting LE heads, cam, and ported intake which is about the same price as Ai heads and cam. LE is the best valve for your money.
If you have the extra cash then I'd get Ai heads, cam, and ported intake. You will get a little more power out of them.
Have them spec a cam for you too. That would best for you to make you goal.
I would suggest getting LE heads, cam, and ported intake which is about the same price as Ai heads and cam. LE is the best valve for your money.
If you have the extra cash then I'd get Ai heads, cam, and ported intake. You will get a little more power out of them.
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03-15-2018, 10:51 PM
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My AFRs are the older 180cc. I believe I bought them in 2006. You have to watch AFRs flow #s on their LT1 heads. They use a 4.080 bore. So the numbers will be inflated a bit. My AFRs stock flowed a max of 251/174@.600 on Lloyds flow bench. After porting, and keeping the stock AFR valves, they flowed 297/210@.600. Max flow is 301/214@.700. The flow #s pick up everywhere, especially .400 on up. I picked up a little over 3mph in the quarter just from the heads, no other changes.
03-19-2018, 12:14 PM
#10
I went with AFR 210 Eliminators for my build. There were a few fitment issues I encountered. The exhaust ports are higher than stock. I believe the 195's are 0.1" higher and the 210's are 0.25" higher. This required some "massaging" my exhaust to make it fit. Also, some of the exhaust manifold bolt holes weren't deep enough for the stock bolts, so I had to use some washers as spacers.
03-20-2018, 01:44 AM
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I went with AFR 210 Eliminators for my build. There were a few fitment issues I encountered. The exhaust ports are higher than stock. I believe the 195's are 0.1" higher and the 210's are 0.25" higher. This required some "massaging" my exhaust to make it fit. Also, some of the exhaust manifold bolt holes weren't deep enough for the stock bolts, so I had to use some washers as spacers.
03-21-2018, 01:14 PM
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For your combo a set of AFRs would be a waste of money, yes you would probably reach your goals, but you would be about 1000$ behind a set of LE or AIs. That grand can be spent on the valvetrain.
03-21-2018, 06:49 PM
#18
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My AFRs are the older 180cc. I believe I bought them in 2006. You have to watch AFRs flow #s on their LT1 heads. They use a 4.080 bore. So the numbers will be inflated a bit. My AFRs stock flowed a max of 251/174@.600 on Lloyds flow bench. After porting, and keeping the stock AFR valves, they flowed 297/210@.600. Max flow is 301/214@.700. The flow #s pick up everywhere, especially .400 on up. I picked up a little over 3mph in the quarter just from the heads, no other changes.
08-10-2018, 08:55 AM
#20
Well I have not really been active on this board or in the LT1 scene for a good 8 years or so. But I certainly do remember that when ever an LE vs. AI thread discussion was had, there would be a major ****-storm to follow and lots of but-hurt to go around. Looks like things have gotten more civil during this time, which is certainly a good thing. 
Okay, I am needing new stock ported heads for the LT1. I recently overheated the motor and the LE2 castings (ported in 2007), were totally destroyed. So I have the options narrowed down to LE, and AI. So here is the deal. I was looking to have AI do the 190cc porting on my new set of stockers, simply due to I like the idea of it including a CNC process. Now this is no slight to Lloyd, and I never had an issue with the port work he did for me, but I simply like the idea of the CNC process. But LE doing the work, is not out of the question either.
So after visiting the AI website, I was very disappointed that the option to call them and discuss their services, is NOT an option. But rather, send us an email and we will respond in 48 hours to your questions and concerns. Well, its now day 11, and no word from them at all. I have also now sent two friendly reminders to please contact me via email, and have also left a reminder text on their text line. Still...crickets! This is very disappointing to say the least, and this is certainly NOT the excellent customer service that I read about, so many years ago. So in contrast, I can certainly see that Lloyd appears to still have phone access and I remember from back in the day, he was ALWAYS available to discuss services over the phone. I have not called him yet, but I am going to assume, that this still is the case.
Now I really dont want to start any LE vs. AI hi-drama, but I do want to hear how the two products are comparing these days, compared to how they did, ten years ago. More specific, are they the same heads that they were ten years ago? Or, have they evolved to become an even better product than ten years ago? I still want AI to port them a of now. But if they cant manage the time to even respond back to my questions after nearly 2 weeks, I will certainly look elsewhere.
Thanks guys.
Okay, I am needing new stock ported heads for the LT1. I recently overheated the motor and the LE2 castings (ported in 2007), were totally destroyed. So I have the options narrowed down to LE, and AI. So here is the deal. I was looking to have AI do the 190cc porting on my new set of stockers, simply due to I like the idea of it including a CNC process. Now this is no slight to Lloyd, and I never had an issue with the port work he did for me, but I simply like the idea of the CNC process. But LE doing the work, is not out of the question either.
So after visiting the AI website, I was very disappointed that the option to call them and discuss their services, is NOT an option. But rather, send us an email and we will respond in 48 hours to your questions and concerns. Well, its now day 11, and no word from them at all. I have also now sent two friendly reminders to please contact me via email, and have also left a reminder text on their text line. Still...crickets! This is very disappointing to say the least, and this is certainly NOT the excellent customer service that I read about, so many years ago. So in contrast, I can certainly see that Lloyd appears to still have phone access and I remember from back in the day, he was ALWAYS available to discuss services over the phone. I have not called him yet, but I am going to assume, that this still is the case.
Now I really dont want to start any LE vs. AI hi-drama, but I do want to hear how the two products are comparing these days, compared to how they did, ten years ago. More specific, are they the same heads that they were ten years ago? Or, have they evolved to become an even better product than ten years ago? I still want AI to port them a of now. But if they cant manage the time to even respond back to my questions after nearly 2 weeks, I will certainly look elsewhere.
Thanks guys.