The new INDY/RHS small blocks are now available in both the LA style (La-X) and the Magnum style (Ma-X),
and what follows are some points of interest that our customers may appreciate knowing about.
The La-X head is the one we get the most calls on so we will show it and point out differences in the Ma-X heads as they come up.
This is the La-X head. The oil passage for the rocker arms is pointed out by the red arrow.
Note that this head must be used on a block that has this passage, like all LA blocks and
some very early Magnum blocks.
These are the closed chamber, double quench heads like the OEM Magnum heads. The
chambers are 62cc. The oil passage pointed out in the photo is only on the La-X head.
Other than that, the Ma-X head is the same.
Both heads have the double bolt pattern on the exhaust. The narrow, standard LA pattern
and the wider W2 pattern are both drilled, tapped ready to use.
The valve cover mounting surface is drilled for the 5 bolt cover on the La-X head. The Ma-X
heads are set up for the Magnum style 10 bolt valve covers.
This is a close up of the La-X head showing both the cast-in rocker pedestals as well as the
LA style valve cover bolt pattern. The intake opening is 2.175" X 1.140" which is about half way
in-between LA and Magnum port sizes.
This is a close up showing the rocker shaft oil passage. This head has the LA intake bolt
pattern and angle and, the standard 3/8" bolt size .
The big question, "How about rocker arms?". Will the Hughes Engines "real" Chrysler rockers fit?
The answer is YES! You can see them in the photo above installed with our billet hold-down kit.
Just a little closer view of the rockers and hold-downs installed on the LaX head.
On the heads we checked the tallest spring installed height we could get was 1.627".
Note: That was achieved using this tall retainer in which the stem barely clears the
retainer, about .040". INDY tells us that the spring pockets (bases) can be cut up to
.100" which would result in a 1.725" installed height. What this boils down to is that
for most applications you will need to have the spring pockets cut. Let us know
what you need and we can do it.
Rocker arm geometry...valve closed....roller tip is biased slightly toward the shaft...NICE!!
Shown now at .350" lift. The roller is over center. Oh yeah! Very nice!
Now at .650" lift. The roller is back to the same position it was in when the valve was closed
on the seat. As Chris Matthews said when he heard Obama speak, "I feel a thrill go up my leg"!
This kind of lift can only achieved with a test spring. It was done for demonstration purposes only.
PERFECT WIPE PATTERN!
The rocker shaft hold down bolt/stud holes are not tapped very deep. Our hold down studs
bottomed out. They are not even tapped as deep as the OEM LA holes were. The holes need
to be chased with a 5/16-18 tap. Do this before you install the heads and clean the holes
thoroughly.
In this photo you can see what happens if you do not tap the holes deeper. The stud
bottoms out and you cannot tighten the nut.
The spring bases are cut to fit large O.D. springs, however, with both available head types,
the more common double springs, like our1111, or with the BeeHive type springs, the spring
centering boss will have to be cut to a smaller diameter. As show above, it starts at .925"
The maximum safe lift at the valve will be about .500", like the OEM LA style heads.
anymore lift than that and the guides will need to be shortened to prevent seal damage.
These heads would use our #3806 valve stem seal.
The heads are set up with accessory holes to fit the needs of most LA or Magnum installations.
The way these heads are logo'd up nobody is going to mistake them for an old set of
junkyard heads.
The boxes have nice hand holds for carrying, which is important when you are moving around
a 58 pound head!
In summary these heads appear to be a very nice piece with a lot of potential.
| 
My Cart
