Shovel head- Heads
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Stage IV
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: daly city ca
Shovel head- Heads
I've had the ole' shovel over 20 years now and the spark plugs are inserted the exhaust studs are inserted , heads are just done. What should I replace them with? S & S? What about Delkron or STD? Who made the 3 bolt exhaust flange? Or should I just send them to Branch and have them welded up? Looked online and didn't find much but S&S. Thanks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,518
Likes: 57,069
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
I believe that STD made the head with provisions for the 3 bolt exhaust flange but I think that you can still use the original single bolt exhaust pipes ... I believe that Paughco makes a pipe for the 3 hole flange assy .... Good Luck Brother!
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,122
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From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Unless you racing the 3 bolt system is a huge pain in the *** , you have to make your pipes & flange nobody sells any .
S&S are nice but $$$$ and there's somebody else selling heads that come in 3 different configurations or stages & finish depending on your wants . Check Ebay can't remember the name of them .
Personally I'd send your out to be done , there's a few places in the midwest I use and the prices are very reasonable compared . I use Truett & Osborn in Kansas and DragonMan Machine outside Colorado springs , been using both for over 30 yrs for shovel work .
S&S are nice but $$$$ and there's somebody else selling heads that come in 3 different configurations or stages & finish depending on your wants . Check Ebay can't remember the name of them .
Personally I'd send your out to be done , there's a few places in the midwest I use and the prices are very reasonable compared . I use Truett & Osborn in Kansas and DragonMan Machine outside Colorado springs , been using both for over 30 yrs for shovel work .
Novice
Joined: Mar 2006
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From:
I sent mine to Dragon Man in Colorado Springs, and he ended up cracking BOTH heads when he replaced the valve guides. When I went back to him about it, he told me there's no warranty because it's a "performance modification" to switch to unleaded guides. I took it to another shop here in Denver to have it repaired, and they all laughed, telling me that they make a good living fixing Dragon Man's "repairs".
Just a head's up...
Just a head's up...
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,122
Likes: 51,431
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
I sent mine to Dragon Man in Colorado Springs, and he ended up cracking BOTH heads when he replaced the valve guides. When I went back to him about it, he told me there's no warranty because it's a "performance modification" to switch to unleaded guides. I took it to another shop here in Denver to have it repaired, and they all laughed, telling me that they make a good living fixing Dragon Man's "repairs".
Just a head's up...
Just a head's up...
Novice
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
From:
It wasn't just the heads either. He also bored out the jugs, and the shop that fixed it told me that the bore wasn't straight. They said it was wider in the center of the bore than on the top and bottom of the cylinder. I ended up having to buy a new set of jugs too, because they were beyong being able to be repaired.
Amazing that he's still in biz...
I googled "Dragon Precision machining complaints", and it looks like I'm not alone in my experience with him.
Last edited by Shovelhead; Aug 10, 2012 at 12:08 AM.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 23
From: East of Tulsa
Richard, owner of R&L Machine in Jay, Oklahoma, does good work on Shovels. He did the unlead valve/head setup on my '80 back in '94. Still runnin' them. Course he's only 30 miles from me and has done lots of work for me over the years. He loves building strokers. Which I haven't had him do yet.
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