Wow,
I never had a problem like this from my Trick Flow Heads!
Bet AR was easy to deal with on the telephone....right????
Every time I deal with AR they are just plain exasperating.....so now I prefer to buy from Trick Flow. Plus they have the best water jackets of any head built for a Ford. Great cooling is essential to prevent warping aluminum heads.
Make sure to buy a compression guage and write down all your readings. Each cylinder should be within 5 lbs of one another. If not, keep readjusting the valve lash until they are all consistent. If you have hydraulics, make sure you fully unload the lifter and let it set for 20 minutes to go back to full height. Then find zero lash and add a half turn if using Cobra rockers. If using stock arms, 1/4 to 1/3 a turn is probably enough.
If you are using specialty lifters send me an email at
jim_howard_pdx@yahoo.com and I will help you dial them in.
If you can afford a leak down guage, you should take readings from all 8 cylinders and write them down. Every month you race you should be comparing figures. This will tell you when you are having problems with guides, with valve faces, or cylinder sealing like rings and head gaskets.
Hope this helps. I cannot believe AR did not quality control their heads before they shipped them......OH YES I CAN.
BUYER BEWARE!!!!