Wenzler Engineering's Super Chief is marketed as a semi-complete casting that engine builders can finish for its intended application. As-cast intake airflow measures around 320 cfm, but Larry Wenzler says that airflow as high as 430 cfm has been reported after porting. Prices start at $1,250 per pair.
Wenzler's Warrior
Larry Wenzler of Wenzler Engineering in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, has been producing Pontiac cylinder heads for nearly two decades, and his original round-port was among the first aftermarket cast-aluminum units ever made. Though that same basic cylinder head is presently marketed as the Series II, it's the high-flowing Super Chief that carries Wenzler's torch in today's hardcore performance market.
"We recognized that large-displacement engines built with aftermarket blocks needed at least 400 cfm to take advantage of the available horsepower potential, so we developed the Super Chief to meet that challenge. We started from scratch and created a unique casting that we feel is best suited for a bore diameter of at least 4.375 inches," Wenzler says.
Since most customers in the Super Chief market segment prefer to tailor cylinder head assembly to fit the unique needs of a specific combination, Wenzler says he delivers the castings in a semi-complete state, which includes valve seats and guides, and CNC-machined combustion chambers, with prices that start at $1,250 per pair.
The fast-burn combustion chambers are CNC-machined, and are available in any volume measuring between 56 and 85 cc, depending upon customer request.
The Super Chief boasts of raised and widened intake ports, which are said to flow around 320 cfm at 0.600-inch lift in as-cast form. "We offer optional hand-porting that can increase that number to more than 400 cfm, but flow as high as 430 cfm has been attained," Wenzler says. "We suggest 2.25/1.80-inch diameter valves, but the intake bowl contains enough material to increase that valve to 2.3 inches." While the casting has been used successfully with as little as 4.25-inch bore diameter, he adds, "Valve shrouding can become a concern at that point."
Wenzler says the Super Chief works best with his Gutsram intake manifold, which is a unique high-flow design. "This head is cast with runner extensions, so a conventional intake manifold can be used as long as its port size matches. The exhaust port, which flows roughly 70 percent of the intake port, features a typical round-port exhaust flange, but its outlet has been raised to improve airflow, and requires custom-built headers."
The additional intake port width requires 0.18-inch offset lifters and, due to this, Wenzler suggests that the Super Chief be used with solid roller camshafts only. He also notes that traditional rocker arms are not an option. "We designed the Super Chief for use with a T&D rocker shaft system, which we offer for an additional $850, when ordered with the cylinder heads."
The intake ports feature cast-in runner extensions that allow the use of conventional Pontiac intake manifolds. It's milled away when a high-flow manifold, such as Wenzler's Gutsram, is used. A T&D rocker shaft system is also required.
Wenzler feels his Super Chief is among the best in its price range and, when combined with his tunnel-ram intake, is an inexpensive way to extract horsepower from large displacement engines. "It has the potential to produce some serious power. Our 430-cfm castings have made 1,075 hp and 770 lb-ft of torque on a 517ci engine-and that's hardcore performance that's backed by track-proven results."
Conclusion
While other engine builders and/or cylinder head specialty shops are certainly capable of producing airflow and/or performance numbers similar to those discussed in our two-part series, few have invested the resources necessary to market such packages on a grand scale. With so many high-quality packages covering such a wide application base available today, it's no mystery why a growing number of hobbyists are no longer attempting port work at home. So the next time you find yourself in the market for high-flow Pontiac cylinder heads, consider the packages featured in our two-part series, and you'll likely find what makes them so attractive!