The Cal-look Lounge

Trying to lurk out some experience on these heads.
The basic design is very old and good.
Now the new design since some years back take care of most bad stuff.
Now if order time is long and if the customer service sucks, I am not going that way.

Anyone with hands on experience?

In this thread I have one good feedback but I am looking for more, in short time.

http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=133890&p=1111636#p1111636

Hi Fredrik
I bought some Scat split ports last month to use on my 2600cc (78mmx103) T4. They are not on the engine as yet, but let me tell you about my experience so far. I ordered them with IDF/DRLA intake manifolds so I could use the CB throttle bodies. I ordered them ported, also. I did not receive the manifolds and the heads did not come ported, but had guides installed. I was told the manifolds would be ready at the end of March after I called to ask about wht they had not been sent. The seats did not come cut for the valves and I took them to the local machine shop to get cut. Turns out the seats are not central in relation to the guide and the valves were also very tight in the guides also to the point were they barely moved. I was a bit disappointed as I have dealt with Scat for over 20 years and generally get good service and a good product.
I will let you know how we progress with these heads, but the racing season starts here in 2 weeks and we have 2 cars of our own to get ready as well as finishing customers cars, so this engine will not be ready until the end of the summer.
All the best
Chris

I would also like to know what others have experienced. Perhaps I was unlucky and the rest of the Split Port experience will be pure joy.

Not directly, but I have a friend who just fitted a new set to his type 4.
He said the rocker box screws stripped out almost immediately,
so has now fitted thread nserts to assist the cap screws.

If I recall, the original verion had only 1/4" coarse fasteners,
but thought that the new vesion had the rocker box cast as one piece?
perhaps I was dreaming.

Again no direct experience but N2O here on The Lounge used them for a while on his nitrous race engine and in order to get them to perform he sent them to JPM. He later changed to CE heads and sold the Scat heads. I asked him why and he told me that the ports had such a poor design that they would never flow enough for his use. Perhaps you can ask Johannes for his opinion?

BB

Thanks for the inputs.

Rocker box was never as one piece.
It should not be an issue and my previous exeperinec on this was good. i ran a LOT of miles and many assemblies/dissassemblies.
Now I fully agree thata mm thread or a UNF wuld have been much better.
If i go for them agaian, mm insert it will be.

As posted some years ago, the amount of screws holding the force of two valve/springs is three. Compare that to how many screws and what size are holding a T1 OEM setup.
The design as such is sturdy today. Needs refinement though.
Finish work on the ehads is very clear. I would never run them without passing thrugh a pro workshop with new seats (bronze as always when doing it well) plus final touches inclusdng thread inserts.

Flow numbers, I am pretty curious to see any documented numbers.
For all these years they have been around, everyone, until today has "said" that they flow very well. Compared to what?
Numbers would be nice.
I will ask Johannes if he did any tests.

Now dealing with Scat and not getting response and them not managing expectations, is probably as much as serious problem.
That is the most difficult part to deal with.
Hard stuff is easier to fix than the soft stuff called people.

More info and pictures of the heads I mention above here:

http://www.nitrousbeetle.com/nyheterdetailE.asp?ID=98

BB

Look!

Flow numbers from JPM. 225 CFM at 25" That is after Johannes ported them. Interesting.  ...and THANKS for sharing.

Then it would be a better solution to buy a new set of AMC´s and let someone experienced work on them. Even I can make a type 4 head flow significantly more than 225 CFM.
T

;D

and after that they even cool great too, which cannot always be said of the 5-rib type 1 aftermarket heads  8)

Now I think we should be careful in throwing anything at the porting skills of Johannes. More at the basic potentials of the heads maybe.
I know JPM did a set of TIV based heads and an engine delivering 300 hp plus.
Now it involved some kilos of welding. Another story.

Funny though.
For years these heads "Flowed like a toronado"....Maybe they did in comparison when they were released? When was that?
1984? In any case, very long time ago.

I have also seen these types of numbers over a 94 bore
with just some chamber work done, and just a tidy of the casting of the inlet port casting.

The original sectional views from hotVWs magazine from back in the 1980's
indicate perhaps a good cylinder fill per CFM number.

I believe that Texas drag racer Damon Harmon did some R&D on a set for his pro-stock car,
and while not "the best" when compared with the current technology,
they did perform very well.

I think Scat were heading in the right direction with the valve angle change to 6 degrees.

I was NOT bashing Johannes´s porting capbilities, at all.
I was merely referring to how much they could flow w.o. welding.
Perhaps I should have pointed that out.

T

Hi Torben,
Sorry if I was not clear towards you. I did not think so either but just as you mention the capability and potential without welding.
My comment was more directed at "third party" reading it.
100% aligned.
 :)

Fredrik