Butler Performance takes a typical Edelbrock cylinder head and customizes it for a buyer's specific application. Prices start at $2,000 per pair.
Butler's Basic
Butler Performance in Leoma, Tennessee, is often associated with hardcore Pontiac performance. Not only has the company produced power-added combinations that generate thousands of horsepower, it has also built some of the quickest, naturally-aspirated Pontiac engines in the country. The Butler family isn't just race oriented, though-they know what it takes to build successful street and street/strip engines. David Butler says his company's mildly-ported Edelbrock heads are a key element to that success.
"They're an affordable option for high-performance, street-driven engines," adds Butler. "Pricing begins at $1,995 for 72 cc castings, and $2,195 for the 87 cc units, and each pair is built to customer order. We start with a bare casting, polish the combustion chambers, and mill the deck surface if it's needed to achieve the desired volume-the aftermarket heads can sometimes vary from the advertised amount. The oil-return holes are modified to promote quicker drain back into the pan, and the pushrod holes are elongated to prevent any issues when using high-ratio rocker arms."
In addition to port work that increases peak intake airflow to 300 cfm, B.P. also adds a 1.77-inch exhaust valve, polishes the combustion chambers, and assembles the castings using high-quality valvetrain components. Additional porting and a 2.19-inch intake valve are a few of the available extra-cost options.
He continues, "We use new stainless-steel 2.11-inch Ferrea intake valves, and enlarge the exhaust to 1.77 inches unless the customer has a small-bore engine like the 350. Our port work increases peak intake flow to 300 cfm at a maximum of 0.700-inch valve lift, at 28 inches of pressure, while still maintaining very good low-lift flow and velocity through 219 cc intake ports. Exhaust flow is typically 70 to 75 percent of the intake flow. Race porting is available at additional cost, and boosts peak flow to 315 to 320 cfm with the standard 2.11-inch intake valve, or 325 to 330 cfm with the optional 2.19-inch unit."
Though Butler Performance uses the highest-quality valvetrain components when assembling the cylinder heads, David adds, "We offer several valvetrain options that include lightweight valves, springs for a solid roller camshaft, titanium retainers, and additional milling to further boost compression. Our heads are fully blueprinted during assembly, and each pair is accompanied by a specification sheet denoting such infor-mation as chamber volume, intake and exhaust airflow, open and closed valvespring pressures, and the point of coil bind."
When asked which offering generates the greatest volume, Butler replied, "We have a large number of customers using the entry-level 87 cc castings on 461 to 474ci engines, and are producing around 500 horsepower on pump gas. They can take their cars to the track and run respectably on weekends, yet the combination is very manageable on the street. That's what seems most popular within the hobby right now."
Conclusion
Any of the cylinder heads featured in Part I of our story could be considered excellent choices for street-driven applications. As McKellar shared, Pontiac learned that a casting with specific port volume may be better suited for a specialized combination producing maximum power within a specific operating range. After hearing what each company says about its offering, it's obvious that a great deal of research and development has gone into ensuring that customers get maximum value from their investment. Stay tuned for Part II, as we explore the next level of offerings presently on the market.