KT Performance - Engine Heads

* Head gasket not included. We recommend the use of Cummins 3977063 head gasket.

** Core and crate return required - all paperwork & instructions for return included with the new cylinder head. Read our core charge policy here. You are responsible for all return shipping costs of the core.

*** FOLLOW ALL INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS; Valve lash required. Back off adjusters on rocker arms or damage will occur to the cylinder head.

The Industrial Injection 5.9L 24v Cummins Performance Head.


Features:

- CNC Ported Cylinder Head:
The porting process preformed uses a new 5 Axis CNC Cylinder Head Porting Machine with CAD/CAM software specifically designed for cylinder head porting. CNC porting brings unparalleled accuracy to head porting with each port flowing the same. This helps balance the power that each cylinder produces, making tuning easier. After the CNC process we then hand blend each port to perfection.


- New Performance Stainless Steel Valves:
Highest quality upgraded stainless steel valves with a nitrate coating for ultimate durability to out-perform and outlast any aftermarket or OE valves available.


- High Strength Alloy Valve Guides:
New High Strength Alloy, Heat Treated iron based valve guides are installed. These guides are heat treated to Rockwell 22 Scale, which produces the ultimate in wear resistance. This is far superior
to original guide material, including Bronze. The guide incorporates a spiral grove inside the guide to hold oil and aid the lubrication of the valve during engine operation.


- Performance High Temp Valve Seats:
Premium valve seat inserts made from a true Nickel Based Non-Magnetic material that was developed for extreme operating conditions. These performance valve seats immensely reduce the possibility of dropping a valve seat.


- Drilled & Tapped Coolant Freeze Plugs In Head:
The factory head has press in freeze plugs that are prone to leaking and blowing out under the valve cover. This process eliminates the failure from ever happening to you with our cylinder heads. We use high quality steel plugs where others use aluminum that are prone to leak.


- Fire Ringed Head:
The fire ringed head procedure was designed to use with our custom fire ring head gasket which utilizes a radius cut steel fire ring to virtually eliminate head gasket failures while still allowing you to daily drive your vehicle with confidence in its longevity capabilities.


- Valve Springs:
We use the highest quality brand new performance 95lb valves springs custom made right here in the USA. We designed these springs to offer more lift than the competition. Each valve spring is tested multiple times in house before assembly to ensure it maintains it proper spring rate.


The Build Process:

Heads are first jet washed in a high pressure spray cabinet to remove oil and dirt, then glass beaded to remove carbon. Next they are checked by magnafluxing, (cast iron only) or pressure testing. They are visually inspected for defects that would make them unusable. Valve guides and seats are removed as needed for porting.

Port development is accomplished using a superflow 600 flow bench with a computer recording all flow measurements. Many things are considered when designing a cylinder head Port; air flow is only one of the things to think about. Another major concern is port wall thickness.

Anyone can get a head to produce high flow numbers, but if doing so leaves the port wall to thin the casting will crack. High performance Diesel heads are more prone to crack because of the thermal shock experienced by excessive intermittent or long term exhaust temperatures.

The porting is then preformed using a new 5 Axis CNC Cylinder Head Porting Machine with CAD/CAM software specifically designed for cylinder head porting. CNC porting brings unparalleled accuracy to head porting with each port flowing the same. This helps balance the power that each cylinder produces, making tuning easier.

New High Strength Alloy, Heat Treated iron based valve guides are installed. These guides are heat treated to Rockwell 22 Scale, which produces the ultimate in wear resistance. This is far superior to original guide material, including Bronze. The guide incorporates a spiral grove inside the guide to hold oil and aid the lubrication of the valve during engine operation.

Guides are then honed (not reamed) to exact size using a diamond honing mandrel. Diamond abrasives allow for consistency of size, surface finish, and bore geometry with no variation from guide to guide. The guide size is then verified using a valve guide bore gauge.

As needed the head receives new Premium valve seat inserts made from a true Nickel Based Non-Magnetic material that was developed for extreme operating conditions.

Next the head is treated to a multi angle valve job to help maximize the flow of air in and out of the head. This is accomplished using a Serdi 100 guide and seat machine. Serdi uses a solid carbide straight shank pilot. When inserted into the valve guide, it simulates the real valve stem during the centering process. This guarantees the valve seat is finished for a perfect valve to seat match.

Using CBN or Diamond tooling the head is given a new surface. With our Berco milling machine we can control the surface finish to accommodate different head gasket types. For example MLS head gaskets require a very smooth surface finish.

Finally the head is jet washed dried and assembled with new valve seals and new performance valve springs.