Which heads would you pick?
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 625
Likes: 102
From: New Albany, Ms.
Branch O'Keefe Heads
These are pics , I saved from a seller on e-bay, few weeks back, trying to sell these Evo Branch heads. S&S Replacement Heads, ( which are what I have on the Lowrider) are almost identical. Branch claims these are 8.9:1 & the S&S Replacement's I run, are 8.8:1, 76cc. You can't run domed pistons with the S&S & I doubt if you can run domed with the Branch heads. Both have the bathtub shaped combustion chamber. Both are pricy, but the S&S make good power & believe these do also if set up , correctly!
Just read more in depth that Branch sells pistons to go with their #4 head sets & are possibly 30 deg domed.
Ride Safe,
Harold
Just read more in depth that Branch sells pistons to go with their #4 head sets & are possibly 30 deg domed.
Ride Safe,
Harold
Last edited by LowriderHarold; Dec 26, 2014 at 10:16 PM. Reason: more info
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 625
Likes: 102
From: New Albany, Ms.
Sorry. Don't remember if seller had pics of spring side & can't find the listing, anymore. Looks like you have Branch O'keefe heads. I would give em a call & see what pistons they have to go with em & go from there.
Nice heads to build around. Branch O'Keefe heads was what I had in mind to do, but I didn't wan't to alter my stock heads so I went with the S&S Replacement's & feel I made a good choice. Good Luck.
Ride Safe,
Harold
Nice heads to build around. Branch O'Keefe heads was what I had in mind to do, but I didn't wan't to alter my stock heads so I went with the S&S Replacement's & feel I made a good choice. Good Luck.
Ride Safe,
Harold
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 913
Likes: 5
From: indiana
im not sure those are branch heads but they are like branch with the bathtub design.
I know of 4 guys building heads like this and there are probably more branch wasn't the first person to use this design. I personally don't like it because your limited to whatever pistons you can find getting the compression above 10:1 is hard to achieve.
most modified bathtub heads run between 72cc and 76cc with a w6 cam you need to shrink the combustion space at least another 12cc that's really hard to do without a domed piston.
if you can find a set of custom pistons for those heads the power and fuel mileage will be amazing but it wont be cheap.
I know of 4 guys building heads like this and there are probably more branch wasn't the first person to use this design. I personally don't like it because your limited to whatever pistons you can find getting the compression above 10:1 is hard to achieve.
most modified bathtub heads run between 72cc and 76cc with a w6 cam you need to shrink the combustion space at least another 12cc that's really hard to do without a domed piston.
if you can find a set of custom pistons for those heads the power and fuel mileage will be amazing but it wont be cheap.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: la la land jerzey
you would only get flat top piston on my shop as a matter of fact if they made dish pistons you would get that - the shelf - is the total area covering the piston top not open to the cumbustion chamber, and what happens is at high engine speed when the rod and the piston streach out And they do - if you look at the combustion chamber hole you will see it is uneven wider at one end and that creates a head shake on the piston foward and backwards - this becomes a vibe in the bars that will numb your fingers < we did this all of it -
use a .020 base cometic tin gasket - use a .040 head est tin gasket - and a flat top piston and if you can measure the deck height you would want a negative .005 or .010 for the piston -- this set up will give you good street manners and long life < if non of that matters then drill holes for compression releases so when it hot and you shut it off and it post ignitions - well thats another post
use a .020 base cometic tin gasket - use a .040 head est tin gasket - and a flat top piston and if you can measure the deck height you would want a negative .005 or .010 for the piston -- this set up will give you good street manners and long life < if non of that matters then drill holes for compression releases so when it hot and you shut it off and it post ignitions - well thats another post
Last edited by johnjzjz; Dec 28, 2014 at 02:48 PM.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 40
Likes: 1
I hear you D_gyver. Hammer Performance makes pistons for the setup but I think Im going with the Cut "D" heads this season. Ill put a combo together using the bathtub heads for next winter. Something with the wood w9b or w9f cam (115 - 120 hp). I have all I need for this build so Im going with it. Thanks to all for the help. I'll post my dyno results in a week or so.
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