Blog
Head Flow Numbers Explained: What CFM Ratings Do (and Don’t) Tell You
If you’ve ever shopped cylinder heads and gotten hypnotized by a big CFM rating, you’re not alone. Head flow numbers do matter—but they’re not a magic “more CFM = more...
Port Volume vs Velocity: Picking Heads That Drive Well on the Street
If you’ve ever bolted on “bigger” heads and ended up with a lazier engine, you’ve already met the real street dilemma: port volume vs velocity. On the street, you don’t...
Resurfacing Changes Compression Ratio: How Much Power (or Risk) Are You Adding?
When a head gets resurfaced, most people think “good—flat again, better sealing.” True. But here’s the part that sneaks up on builds: resurfacing changes compression ratio,...
Choosing the Right Head Gasket Thickness After Machining
Machine work is supposed to save an engine build—not quietly sabotage it. But the moment a shop resurfaces your cylinder head (and sometimes the block deck), your head...
Multi-Layer Steel (MLS) Head Gaskets: When Your Cylinder Head Prep Must Be Perfect
MLS gaskets are awesome—until they aren’t. If you’re running MLS head gasket surface prep like it’s a basic composite gasket job, you’re basically scheduling your next...
Pre-Ignition and Detonation Damage: How It Beats Up the Cylinder Head
Pre-ignition and detonation damage is the kind of problem that doesn’t just “make noise”—it beats up your cylinder head like a hammer inside the combustion chamber. One...
VVT Components in the Head: What to Replace During a Cylinder Head Job
If your engine has VVT components in the head, a cylinder head job is more than gaskets and torque specs. VVT systems live and die by clean oil, tight clearances, and parts...
Cam Cap Mix-Ups: The Silent Cylinder Head Killer After DIY Teardown
If you’ve ever torn down a cylinder head at home, here’s the ugly truth: cam cap mix-ups are one of the fastest ways to turn a “simple reseal” into a full-on cylinder head...
Valve Lash and Cylinder Head Work: Why Your Engine Runs Rough After a Head Install
If your engine ran “okay-ish” before the job—but now it idles like a tractor, misses under load, or feels down on power—don’t assume the new head is junk. Valve lash after...
Combustion Chamber Deposits: When Carbon Buildup Mimics Cylinder Head Failure
If you’ve ever chased a “bad cylinder head” diagnosis—only to find nothing cracked, warped, or leaking—you’re not alone. Combustion chamber deposits (carbon buildup on...
Head Bolt Stretch and Reuse: When New Bolts Are Non-Negotiable
Introduction If you’re gambling on head bolt stretch and reuse, you’re not just “saving money”… you’re risking the entire sealing system between the block, head gasket, and...
Cylinder Head Straightening: Myth, Method, or Money Pit?
Introduction Cylinder head straightening gets talked about like a magic trick: “Just heat it, clamp it, and it’ll be fine.” Sometimes that’s true. A lot of the time, it’s a...