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Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:06 am

I was thinking of buying those los bandito heads from Cb performance, what is the optimum valve size for a 1600cc motor with dual 40 solex carbs and stinger header, stock everything else.

Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:06 am

i think anything more than 40x35.5 will be shrouded on a 85.5mm bore

lets wait for the seasoned guys

im sure having your stock valved heads at 35.5x32 professionaly ported and worked on, will be more than enough for a 1600

i know it works good to even 1776s

Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:30 am

Those heads should work good on a 1600 especially if you want to 'wind' it up a bit. And the valve size is 40x35.5mm. About as large as most any 1600 needs for proper breathing.

Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:34 am

The Los Banditos still need a little bit of port work and clean up out of the box. Their OK for the price. DRD L3 ported and polished stock valve heads would be a better choice for a 1600 with dual Kadrons anda stock cam.

www.drdracingheads.com

Thu Jun 16, 2011 7:13 am

vwracerdave wrote: DRD L3 ported and polished stock valve heads would be a better choice for a 1600 with dual Kadrons and a stock cam.

www.drdracingheads.com

X2. The best choice by far. Unfortunatly most people just look at valve size and can't "justify" the extra $160 or so for smaller valves.

Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:37 am

I was thining this weekend, i have a stinger exhaust but still have the heat exchangers on the motor, are the heat axchangers causing a major restriction too? If i got new heads would i be wasting the money of i had heat exchangers on the motor still?

So those heads for 200$ each would be a good idea but i should still have them ported? Valve size isnt the major contributor?

Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:54 am

ax2ron@hotmail wrote: i have a stinger exhaust but still have the heat exchangers on the motor, are the heat axchangers causing a major restriction too? If i got new heads would i be wasting the money of i had heat exchangers on the motor still?

So those heads for 200$ each would be a good idea but i should still have them ported? Valve size isnt the major contributor? Whether the heat exchangers are a problem depends on what stinger exhaust you have. If it's 1-3/8" then they are not an issue. Porting the small valve heads is fine for a 1600

ax2ron@hotmail wrote: I was thining this weekend Glad the diet is going well! :wink:

RC

Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:57 am

So getting my stock heads ported would be a good idea instead of getting new big valve heads? I see 044 heads 041 los bandito, and i keep hearing the drd heads. What is the best bang for the money?

Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:36 am

The best bang for the money with your combo is something like the DRD L3 heads. Can't say it any plainer than that. You don't have to pony up for the L3's, you can work a stock set of VW heads to come close to L3's. Multi angle valve job, port work, HD single springs, it all helps. Get the ports sorted out first then worry about bigger valves.

Tue Jun 21, 2011 12:15 pm

Thanks for the call on the drd L3 heads. I just talked to the guys at vw brothers shop. He seems to think you dont need to port a head on a 1600cc motor with dual 40 solex carbs. He said porting was more for motors that turn over 5500rpm, and that the heads he has, 37x32 valves would work well, But maybe he didnt get my point as i was trying to get more performance out of the stock 1600 motor.

Tue Jun 21, 2011 12:38 pm

Mild porting with stock size heads always helps if you have carbs and a header.....even with a stock cam. I do like the idea of 37 or 37.5 heads though. I always wondered why no one was doing that for a mild perf head.

RC

Tue Jun 21, 2011 12:47 pm

RC i did, :)

Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:18 pm

For stock heads, not much to do in the intake runners other than match porting to manifolds and cleaning below seats.

The exhaust ports however will be where the porting will be done. The exhaust guide bosses can be streamlined, and below seats will need to be rounded and cleaned up.

If I were to do a 1600cc, a 1776cc will be a much better choice for the money..even w/ stock new heads. With dual kadrons and mild headers should be hard to beat all around.

Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:51 pm

there is a lot that can be done to the stock heads.but you have to weigh the cost of doing your stock heads and what they need vs getting a set done already. if you get a set of ported small valve heads you have what you have but ported, and when you go up in cc's you will have to buy again or have big valves put in them. I havent seen the lost bandeito or his mule poncho,last set of cb heads I had in my hands (today) were terrible when they arived.(nice but un finished.& seats not concentric with guides, they were bought assembled should of been ready to go) Ive always bought & sold the cb stuff but the qc isant what it should be. might want to check out the mofoco line of heads,I also have the mofoco 042's, they still needed a little clean up work but much less than the cb.but I bought the mofoco's 8 years ago, still going strong.they should be better now. I also have a set of auto lina empi 301 heads, I think they were ment for the 37 intake valve and the 32 exhaust valves, but had 40x35's in them seating on the swirel polish.but other than that it,s a nice head to work with.

Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:05 pm

So 37x32 big mouth heads, 041 with 39x32, and 042 40x35.5, alot to take in. I just want so more power but i guess its not that easy. Oh yeah, i could just stay with what i have and get them ported. Maybe a mild buff of my heads would be the best route?

Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:08 pm

For your 1600cc engine porting is more important than installing bigger valves. Better return on your investment.

Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:11 pm

http://aircooled.net/gnrlsite/resource/articles/mods.htm

Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:58 pm

Get the stock heads ported and minimum of a 3 angle GOOD valve job.

RC

Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:17 pm

i already have a set of used mofoco 042 heads. do you guys think i would be better off using them or just selling them to pay for port work on the stock d/p heads? what am i going to get the most performance out of sense i already have the 40x35.5 heads and stock heads? (34 duel carbs, 1 1/2 in merged stinger, 1600cc stock, ratio rockers coming soon )

sorry for trying to steal the post... in the same boat.

Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:39 pm

ColtonMelson wrote: i already have a set of used mofoco 042 heads. do you guys think i would be better off using them or just selling them to pay for port work on the stock d/p heads? what am i going to get the most performance out of sense i already have the 40x35.5 heads and stock heads? (34 duel carbs, 1 1/2 in merged stinger, 1600cc stock, ratio rockers coming soon )

sorry for trying to steal the post... in the same boat.

The larger valves and bigger ports will not develop enough intake velocity in the lower rpms, fuel will fall out of suspension and torque (bottom end power) and mileage will suffer. A 1600 would have to be built with enough carburation, cam and exhaust to develop power well above 6000 rpm to properly use a set of 40x35 heads; this is why stock valve heads are being recommended for your 1600. It will run (and seem to run well), but it's not the most optimal.

Just my 2 1/2 cents (I'm Canadian, eh). Al