Edelbrock Hemi Heads Vs. TFS 270 Heads

[DJOHAGIN]

Guys,

On the Ford 460 platform, one of the best wedge heads, Jon Kaase P51 heads, produced 109 hp less than his Boss 429 Hemi heads on a motor that he tried to reduce all other variables down to just a head change. For the Mopar RB, I could not find an answer to compare the Edelbrock Hemi head to a TFS 270 head. Has anyone done this, and how much more power the Hemi can put out in comparison to the wedge head? To compare, 528-572 cubes, 11:1, 270-ish on the intake, single plane intake with Dominator. Thanks.

Dave

 

[Xcudame]

Unfortunately you're comparing apples to oranges. A hemi cylinder head will always make more horsepower than a wedge. It's in the design. If I had to guess, I believe the Ford results are very similar for a Mopar engine - ~100hp more for the hemi heads.

I don't intend to make anyone angry, but the second generation Hemi was (is) a race engine. The street hemi built for production cars where detuned and not much faster than the 440 until it got wound up to high rpms (6000+). That rpm range guarantees an unlawful speed on streets, freeways and highways. The crazy unsafe things we used to do!

"Gentlemen, the only way they can beat us now is with a pencil!" Tom Hoover upon seeing the power generated by the 426 hemi.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

I agree that Hemi heads will always make more power BUt I am no fan of Edelbrick
For a conversion Stage 5 heads Rule .

 

[Tig]

A guy I know switched from a 572ci Hemi to a 499ci Wedge with TF 270's for this season. He's almost 2 tenths faster than the hemi was. I asked if he'd done anything else, he said he had a different converter and numerically lower rear gears. I was surprised but not as much as him

 

[Xcudame]

Converter and gears could definitely change things. And not knocking a 499 wedge with TF 270's because we all know that's a nice setup, but there's a reason Top Fuel and Funny Cars run a 500ci Hemi as opposed to a wedge. Makes me wonder about the tune and wear and tear on the 572 Hemi.
I remember a guy telling me the fastest his 70 Corvette went was went he bolted in a 426 Hemi in place of a built 454!

 

[Tig]

Converter and gears could definitely change things. And not knocking a 499 wedge with TF 270's because we all know that's a nice setup, but there's a reason Top Fuel and Funny Cars run a 500ci Hemi as opposed to a wedge. Makes me wonder about the tune and wear and tear on the 572 Hemi.
I remember a guy telling me the fastest his 70 Corvette went was went he bolted in a 426 Hemi in place of a built 454!

Agree on the conv/gear choice being important but strangely it's stuff he had hanging around, he might have just got lucky. 9" ford rear BTW. The hemi was recently rebuilt, he changed it due to a water leak, I'm not sure if the leak was an internal one but I got that impression. He'd run the same hemi for years so pretty much scienced out, it was an all aluminium deal and the 499 is a iron block/aluminium head combo so weight difference isn't going to be much. Frustrated by being unable to cure or solve the leaking issue, he bought a ready to go wedge to get him out racing. The wedge made less on the dyno but I can't remember what the difference was. He's pretty pleased with the result and now is unsure about what to do with the hemi ??

 

[6PKRTSE]

Hemi wins every time. Yes, someone can build a Wedge to out perform someone's Hemi. If budget is no limit the Hemi will eventually beat any Wedge or brand X engine. Which is why all Top Fuel cars are still Hemi's forever for decades. Even today they are still the same basic architecture as the original. I enjoy my Hemi. However, I still enjoy my Wedge engines also.

 

[Tig]

Hemi wins every time. Yes, someone can build a Wedge to out perform someone's Hemi. If budget is no limit the Hemi will eventually beat any Wedge or brand X engine. Which is why all Top Fuel cars are still Hemi's forever for decades. Even today they are still the same basic architecture as the original. I enjoy my Hemi. However, I still enjoy my Wedge engines also.

View attachment 129500

Back in the late 80's when I decided to mess with big blocks, Hemi's were just wayyy to expensive and difficult to find in the UK so I've sorta stuck with wedges. The 655 we recently re-built made well over 1200Hp N/A but I'm pretty sure the dyno is optimistic, the timing tickets will tell the tale . Long term plan is to run a 500hp fogger kit, after a 'box and axle change.