The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Just curious if anyone has any suggestions/info on the W2 head (econo particularly) vavletrain (roller/non-roller). Any links to websites are helpful articles to point to would be a great help! Thanks! - Ross

Nothing "econo" about W-2 stuff.

If I remember right the stock intake or exhaust manifolds do not bolt up to them. The rocker arms mount on support blocks rather than the cast-in stands and the rockers themselves are unique because they have a serious offset from the stock location.

I don't know if Mopar Performance don't still supply all this stuff for them or not?

I think you need to talk to some serious engine builders to get the info you want.

I am not sure if there is any advantage to using W-2 stuff these days with the relatively low cost of ported Edelbrock heads etc.

The W stuff is the way to go! If you are able to spent the $$ on it. Don't know which W (2,5,7,8,9,etc) are good or top notch but there are serious $$ and HP differences between them. There are a couple of guys on Moparts with W stuff running times as good as many BB guys can only dream of. Including me... (the dreaming part I meant)

Thanks for the replies guys. W2/W5 heads are the only ones that will fit a standard 59* block, with the W5's being aluminum (and yes there were W2 aluminum heads available at one point in time). The W2 econo head have a cast in stand for the shaft mounted rockers, while the race W2's don't thats the main difference. Bare W2s can be had for about $675 or so (www.parts4mymopar.com has real good prices), MP does make roller rocker gear for them for about $400, so I'll look around an see what the other guys are using. Thanks! -Ross

My point was that a pair of fully assembled edelbrocks will cost about the same as a pair of fully assembled W-2 heads but will take stock manifolds and support 475 HP right out of the box before porting.

But if they don't fit your block I guess you are stuck.

So what are the differences in the block that do not allow stock type heads? I thought the W-2 heads used the stock cylinder head holes/passages etc?

The W2/W5 heads fit all standard 59* LA engines. They'll work fine on my block as far as I know. Its the W7/W8/W9/P5/P7 heads that require one of the oh..15 or so 48* "R" blocks. All of these heads were designed with 1 oval track and 2 drag racing in mind. As for manifolds, I was planning on buying a new one anyways - the MP one I was looking at in particular was about $200. It seems the exhaust side is the real issue. I know TTI makes headers for them, maybe hooker does too? Not sure yet. I even found a 8bbl W2 tunnel ram for $100 - sounds too cheap almost. Not that I'm even considering running one of those damn things on the street.