Indy's 440-SR heads make great...
Indy's 440-SR heads make great power as we've shown in our '68 Barracuda. Raised exhaust ports do make exhaust clearance an issue in A-bodies, but by lowering our engine slightly with the motor plate, our Hooker Super Competition fenderwell exit headers worked just fine.
440-SR
Indy's 440 SR head gives great performance for the dollar and is the head we utilize in ported form on our '68 Barracuda bracket car. This head also uses stock-style rocker arms, 2.19-inch intake and 1.81-inch exhaust valves, and the typical Indy heart-shaped combustion chamber in 75cc volume. Indy claims these heads to be good for 770 hp, but we've actually made nearly 800 hp with these heads. The 440-SRs are oiled externally via oil lines to the galley at the rear of the block, giving added area in the intake runners for porting. These heads do have raised exhaust ports so header clearance, especially in A-bodies, can be an issue.
440-1
The 440-1 cylinder head is the one that made Indy famous. Fully CNC ported to Max Wedge size ports, this head has the potential for 900-plus horsepower and will support engines up to 540 ci. Like the SR head, the 440-1 has raised exhaust ports and requires external oil lines for the rocker arms. The rockers are also specially offset to accommodate wider intake runners, meaning more power producing intake volume. The combustion chambers are heart-shaped and offer a 75cc quench design. For the money, this cylinder head package offers great power potential and is very durable. We've put nearly 1,000 trouble-free passes on a 540-inch wedge topped with these heads and can attest to their ability to provide reliable power.
572-13/600-13
If displacement of more than 572 ci and high horsepower is your goal, Indy's 572-13 or 600-13 cylinder heads may be in your future. These heads are designed to be the ultimate wedge head, offering normally aspirated power potential of 1,000-1,200 hp. Jesel rocker arms must be utilized with these heads, as well as valve covers with spray bars installed for rocker arm and valve train oiling. The 600-13 heads also require a special block with 4.840 bore centers to accommodate huge 2.40-inch intake and 1.94-inch exhaust valves. we just finished installing the engine in a '71 Duster bracket car and plan to test it in the near future, so look for a 572-inch wedge/572-13 head build in an upcoming issue.
All of Indy's heads, like...
All of Indy's heads, like the 440-1 shown here, utilize a heart-shaped, quench-style combustion chamber. Notice the large valves and relocated spark plug that promotes efficient combustion. This head has been O-ringed for maximum combustion chamber seal.
All Indy heads, except the...
All Indy heads, except the 440-EZ, utilize external oiling of some kind. The SR heads and 440-1s use lines from the rear of the block (shown here). The 572-13 and 600-13 cylinder heads use spray bars in the top of the valve covers.
This picture shows the difference...
This picture shows the difference in offset of the 440-1 Indy rockers (bottom) and standard 440 rocker gear (top). The additional offset is required to accommodate the wider intake ports of the 440-1 heads. Indy offers these heads in kit form, including everything you need from the carburetor to the block.