W41 head to HO head

KillerofRice · Post by **KillerofRice** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:20 pm

I wondering what the true benefits of the w41 head are compared to the ho head. I know the w41 heads produce 10 hp more and have a higher red line. What is also included in the swap. I remember reading somewhere the pistons had to be dished so the valves would clear. Is it true? I figure a new computer would probably be needed too. Just wondering. Please spare my ignorance .

1988GTU · Post by **1988GTU** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 11:21 pm

It's not the head that improves the power from a HO to a W41 it's the CAMS and CHIP.

blindmandesigns · Post by **blindmandesigns** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 4:03 pm

The biggest benefit of a W41 setup is the transmission for pre 92 quad guys. This will make a bigger difference then the chip/cams would by themselves.

KillerofRice · Post by **KillerofRice** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:23 pm

When I meant the head I was including the cams, because I was believe on ohc engines the cams are in the heads. I already know the cams and chip will improve power just wondering if the heads flowed any better or not.

1988GTU · Post by **1988GTU** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:32 pm

Unless SOMEONE ported the head.... A 086 head is a 086 head no matter how you cut it. So what I am saying is find a 086 head with some W41 stuff and a 3.94 trans.
So the W41 should be a 086 head, & so should most High Outputs. Just pop the IDI cover off and have a look.
Look down there where the yellow is at in my picture:

KillerofRice · Post by **KillerofRice** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:18 pm

Thank you. That's all I wanted to know. So its basically a pull off the HO head and cams and put on the W41 stuff disregarding the chip. I know the tranny would be a big help to me. I read an topic on bstuff.com on that already.

1988GTU · Post by **1988GTU** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 6:51 am

If your head is a 086 head already, then all you need is the cams, chip, & trans. While your taking the stuff apart and it seems you want the most out of this setup, you could have the head ported/polished too. Then a header would be great.

rweatherford · Post by **rweatherford** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:58 am

The 086 head is a year specific item, not W41. The 93 W41 Achieva did not come with an 086 head and therefore was not 190 HP even with the larger cams. The exhaust manifold and downpipe are also smaller on 93 model years.

Most other heads can be ported to flow as well as an 086 head. I ran a 14.8 NA on a stock 753 head and HO cams.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:20 pm

If doing the HO - w41 cam swap, is it necessary to change the chip as well?

1988GTU · Post by **1988GTU** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:52 pm

This is what a 086 head looks like:

docrodg · Post by **docrodg** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 12:29 pm

You can do the swap without the chip on most cars as the computer will read the engine data and adjust the timing and fuel based on that, especially if you have a knock sensor on your car. The performance chip simply changes the timing and fuel ratio for more performance. Might have a problem if the car needs smoged on a performance chip tho, requiring a swap every year for the inspection.

blindmandesigns · Post by **blindmandesigns** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:59 pm

Just putting W41 cams in with an HO chip will make the car run rich above I think 5500 and I think a little lean down low. Aaron ran an HO MEMCAL with W41 cams and I think that is what happend.

W41 cams make peak hp at 6800 vs HO's a 6200. W41 chip has a 7450 Redline vs a 90's 6800 redline (7000 on 91 MEMCALs) You wont want a chip in that will hit the limiter at the same RPM that the W41 cams make peak HP

I don't think it has been documented yet but I would imagine with just W41s and the HO chip your car will be slower. Plus the chips are only 60 bucks brand new from GM.

Issue with 90 and 91 GTZ's is that the W41 chip (made for an N-body) will throw a code 26 due to differences in relays for the quad driver circuit. The car will run ok and not be limping along but the coolant fan will remain on. I got the schematics for an 91 N-body and my 91 L-body and see where the differences in wiring/relays are and will be going to the yard this weekend to pick up the N-body relay assembly to get ride of the Code 26.

I have heard that a 92 ECM with a 92 W41 MEMCAL will work in a 90 and 91 L-body without throwing codes although I have only heard of one person who did this. Worth a try but 92 quad ECM's are a little harder to come by in yards.

1988GTU · Post by **1988GTU** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:44 pm

Would it be possible to just have a memcal burnt for the 90-91 Beretta Q4 peoples to have the w41 specs plus a little more (If needed) changes?

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