Anyone used Avenger heads before?

[Chris]

So it seems there is very little information out there about the Avenger heads, they seem to be chinese heads previously modelled on ProComps if the info ive found is correct?

Has anyone ever used or seen anyone who has used them?

I was looking at speccing up an engine myself but have seen one advertised with the below spec for a reasonable price.

ford 302 based 347 stroke long block, 302 prepped roller block, 4.030 bore x 3.400 stroke, RPM 4340 forged crankshaft and H beam connecting rods, JE forged 10:8.1 compression, Avenger 205 CNC aluminum heads with Manley 2.05 x 1.60 stainless steel valves, heads flow 315 @ .700 intake / 235 @ .700 exhaust, Pacific 1.460 dual valve springs, Parker funnel web aluminum intake manifold, Comp Cams., .625 lift, 242 @ .050 lift, PRW 1.7 ratio stainless steel roller rockers, 7 quart oil pan, sfi balancer, dual roller timing chain, call for details, makes approx. 500hp @ 6200 rpm / 440 tq @ 4500 rpm


Otherwise i was thinking of building either a 347 engine or going all out with a 363 with the below specs:

Scat 9000 3.400 crank for the 347 or RPM 4340 internal balanced for the 363 with Dart block
Scat lightweight 4340 i beams
Manley flat top pistons for 10.7:1 CR
AFR 195 renegade heads
1.6 or 1.7 rockers dependant on lift.
Custom cam

Parts wise i can buy the above (Excluding block on the 363) for the same price as the complete built engine advertised above. Idea for the build is high 400's for the 347 and above 500 for the 363 with the best torque curve and drivability possible. Will be utilising Jim Inglese 8 stack with emerald ECU as it stands currently. Its not a no budget build so if money can be saved where it can then i want to! I don't want to end up with c##p though because i chose to save a few £'s.

Thoughts appreciated!

 

[Randy V]

I just built a SCAT 10:1 CR 331 (no dyno yet) for my street rod and I used the 190cc Procomp heads packaged by SpeedMaster.
Other than the heads needing a deburring and cleaning, I can find no fault with them. Also, there were no markings on the heads nor in the packaging that indicated country of origin. At one point I thought I had read that the Procomp heads were cast in Australia. That was a few years back though..

 

[colin artus]

If you are prepared to fork out for the Dart block which will be a 4.125" bore (or larger if desired), then you could use an internal balance
3.25" crank for 347 cu in. That would be pretty much the sweet spot in stroker combos and, depending on your valve gear, the ability to
rev above 7k rpm with safety.

 

[Chris]

Am waiting on some dyno graphs with the avenger heads on a 347 as am intrigued to see how they perform.
I mean naturally the dart block would be a much better choice for every reason. The only issue is IVA time as would have to run cats etc
Is going to be fuel injected but still a hassle id wanted to have avoided.

 

[Mike Pass]

I had pair of these chinese heads a while back. They were "very similar' to the Dart Pro 1 heads. The castings looked good and on a par with the Edelbrocks. However because the valves, springs etc were not the best they were all replaced by Manley parts. I took some pics of them next to some used Edelbrock Performer RPMs. The main difference was that the Edelbrock had much smaller exhaust ports. I did not get chance to try them as i sold them on with some other bits. The engine builder i got them from had not run the SBF ones on the dyne but he had run a couple of sets of the Chevvy ones and said they were as good as the Edelbrocks. They were half the price of the Edelbrocks even with with the Manley parts fitted.
The funnel web manifold is bit much for street use. An Edelbrock Performer RPM Air Gap dual plane will be better for street use.
An internal balance is a good idea as it eliminates the beating the mains get from from the out of balance crank. They seem to run "sweeter". A neutral balance flywheel and harmonic damper will add to the cost also. There are several cranks and stroker kits available which are set up ready for neutral balance, mainly forged steel items.
In the UK a new block means the highest level of emissions will have to be met at the IVA test and this will stay with car for ever. Fuel injection mandatory. A pre '75 block will only need "no visible smoke" and this level of emissions stays with the car for ever.
500 ft lbs torque can be done but getting a trans to take it is another matter.
Cheers
Mike

 

[Ron Earp]

I put a set of the Pro Comps on my daughter's 5L Mustang. Not bad for the money really and with a stock 1985 Ford Mustang 5.0L roller cam (around [email protected], 0.448 lift) they put down right at 260 rear wheel hp on a Dynojet. Compression 8.5:1, all stock bottom end, Edelbrock Air Gap intake. Heads were using the stock valves and springs, turned right to 6k.

However, they paled in comparison to a set of AFR 165s I have on there now. No other changes other than tuning and the motor now has a fatter torque curve and 295 rwhp, same dyno, etc.

 

[Randy V]

I put a set of the Pro Comps on my daughter's 5L Mustang. Not bad for the money really and with a stock 1985 Ford Mustang 5.0L roller cam (around [email protected], 0.448 lift) they put down right at 260 rear wheel hp on a Dynojet. Compression 8.5:1, all stock bottom end, Edelbrock Air Gap intake. Heads were using the stock valves and springs, turned right to 6k.

However, they paled in comparison to a set of AFR 165s I have on there now. No other changes other than tuning and the motor now has a fatter torque curve and 295 rwhp, same dyno, etc.

Your swapping heads and picking up power is proof that too much volume is detrimental to performance. Same thing holds true of exhaust systems / headers. The heads I bought were 190's and had 2.06 Intake / 1.5 exhaust. Way too much head for a stock engine...
But the $560 price tag for complete pair of heads shipped was irresistible...

 

[Ron Earp]

Yep, absolutely true. The price was really good on those heads and quality not bad. I did have some pushrod guide plate issues but that's about it.

I was impressed that with good heads, well matched intake, and honestly a pretty crappy cam the motor is developing around 330hp crank hp. It's unbelievably smooth and easy to drive.

Now, clearly with a couple more points of compression, a bit longer duration and higher lift cam we'd make a lot more horsepower. Pretty easy to see generating maybe 360hp at the crank with this combination. I know, sort of weak compared to a modern 5.0L or a Ecoboost engine, but I'm still sort of rooted in the past.