2000 Carb head vs. 2000 FI Head

[drumbeater]

I'm in the process of putting my engine back together. I dropped the head off at the machine shop today. I was ready Bradley Artique's book/article about the 2000 FI head being a more efficient head to use. I am installing a 1800 intake and a DFEV carb from Mark. I have a 1980 FI parts car that still has the whole engine intact.

Should I snatch the head off of it and use it instead of the carbed version I have now?

John

[mbouse]

confused.

if you use the FI head, are you still intending to use a carburetor? or, will you convert this engine to FI?

AND, what engine are you putting it on?

[racydave]

John, the improvment is margional, and you might want to consider what you want done to the head. First which head is in better shape now? Then do you want a good valve grind, performance springs, ported? Perhaps different cam(s) and adjustable cam pulleys? Are you planning to use the stock pistons. I will do this someday ( not Pistons ) but will have a head done before removing the stock one. You see, its kinda like havin a motorcycle, you always want a bigger one, enough isnt...

[So Cal Mark]

I'd stay with the 1.8 head for compression reasons

[bradartigue]

The skinny is they both work fine. The FI head flows better (the ports and chambers are larger) and you don't have the reed valve ports or the EGR return port to contend with. For my $ I'd ditch the carbureted head.

The 1800 head is a good choice as well, you get a marginal compression bump but it otherwise has the same benefits of the FI head. An early 1800 head does not have the smog pump ports and is as "clean" as the FI head.

If you just desire someone to tell you what to do, buy a set of new valves and seals, disassemble the FI head, have the guides checked and replaced if necessary (unlikely), have them install the seals and cut a new surface on it, then reassemble and go. Use an 1800 or FI exhaust system; the 79/80 type is restrictive.

DFEV -> 1800 Manifold -> 2000 FI Head -> 2000 FI Exhaust
or
DFEV -> 1800 Manifold -> 1800 Head -> 1800 Exhaust

[drumbeater]

Thanks Brad. That was the info I was looking for. To answer the other questions, this is a 2L engine and I am reinstalling either the carbed 2L head or the FI 2L head, I have both to choose from. I do not want to get into the expense of cams/cam gears, larger valves, etc. I'm just figured if the FI head offered some sort of improvement, and it did away with some of the EGR ports that I'll otherwise have to plug, I'd use it instead.

I have an 1800 intake manifold that I will be using with the DFEV carb. I'm contacted someone yesterday who had a 76 parts car for sale. If I pick it up I might use the 1800 head instead of the 2000 FI head. That seems to be the correct way to go. I think I can get the whole car for what people want for the 1800 heads it seems.

John

[drumbeater]

Quick question Brad. I thought the exhaust manifold on the 79 carbed model and the FI model were the same design? You said above the exhaust system is restrictive. Are we talking tailpipe/muffler, or the 4-2 exhaust manifold and 2 pipe downpipe?

John

[So Cal Mark]

with an otherwise stock engine, the .5 boost in compression with the 1.8 head will be a larger benefit than marginal flow increase

[Jim DeShon]

You might also consider using the F.I. head and having it milled to gain the compression increase of the 1800 head. J.D.

[So Cal Mark]

milling the head raises cam timing issues and eventually will result in the need for adjustable gears

[Jim DeShon]

You "pay your money and take your choice" as someone once said. Any time you get into machine work of this nature, you are going into uncharted territory. This is not for the novice ! I would like to get a hold of a 2000 head and see how much "meat" is there before I'm into the valve seats. I have an 1800 head right now on the bench and it looks as if I can't take much off of it. The seats are too close to the mating surface to go much further. It's OK for stock putting around but when I decide to modify, something new will be needed. Has anyone played with this ?...J.D.

[drumbeater]

I ended up using the carb head. The FI head had been sitting on my parts car so long I think it had bonded itself to the block . Seriously, the head bolts were so tight I couldn't break them with an 1/2 wrench or my impact wrench. Could have been the head warped or something, I got the car out of a junkyard for the iron cross wheels, so no big deal.

Most of the smog stuff had already been plugged. The only opening was where that 1/2" piece of steel pipe connected to the front drivers side of the head. I assume it is something that will have to plug with a plate and a gasket of some sorts.

John

[bradartigue]

Why is it I always have to log into this forum twice? Grrowl...

You asked: "this is a 2L engine and I am reinstalling either the carbed 2L head or the FI 2L head, I have both to choose from."

Use the FI head. ALL of the moving parts interchange between the two; the FI head doesn't have the EGR/pump passageways and is outwardly a cleaner head.

You also asked about the exhaust systems. The FI system uses a better flowing design; 4-2-1.

[racydave]

My 79 had the 4-2-1 ex manifold, and I think it was stock...