Need Help Choosing Heads

DO2G

DO2G

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Joined
May 10, 2008
Messages
23
Location
Cheshire, CT
I’m ready to upgrade my heads. See specs below:

1978 L-82
4 Speed
3.70 Gears
Edelbrock 2101 Intake
Stock Carb
Dual Exhaust
Stock Exhaust Manifolds
Cam Lunati Spec:
Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 268/276
Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 227/233
Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .489/.504
LSA/ICL: 110/106

Budget is $1000 on the heads.

Questions:

1. Which heads do you recommend? I was looking at Edelbrock E-Street or Brodix IK180.

2. Which head gasket?

3. Can I reuse my factory rockers and push rods? If not, what would you recommend for use with factory valve covers?

4. What do you think the HP would be?
 
Edelbrock Performer RPM heads are under $1000 and will work with what you already have. Quality is usually very good when it comes to edelbrock products although many others are happy with the cheaper Proform heads and some others had bad luck with these...

Your intake and the cam are not the best match but the Performer intake fits under the hood, I assume that's why you chose it.

With 64cc heads you'll bump the CR a bit so you should be fine with a standard .040" Felpro gasket. If the stock L82 pistons are flat tops the CR will be 10.3:1 acc to the CR calculator http://www.race-cars.net/calculators/compression_calculator.html

You'll need different pushrods - buy a pushrod length checking tool ($12 or so) and determine the pushrod length you need during assembly.
 
Running "log" manifolds will kill any preformance the heads can deliver. Since you are for the most part stock, I would opt for a set of late model 113 corvette heads. Easily ported and should bolt on no problem, I hear they flow decently ... With 64cc stock heads and flat tops I don't see how you could be remotely close to 10.3:1 compression. The 90 vette has flat tops and 58cc 113 heads and I believe only make 10.25:1 compression.

Maybe even some vortec heads might be an option.
 
JeffP1167 said:
Running "log" manifolds will kill any preformance the heads can deliver. Since you are for the most part stock, I would opt for a set of late model 113 corvette heads. Easily ported and should bolt on no problem, I hear they flow decently ... With 64cc stock heads and flat tops I don't see how you could be remotely close to 10.3:1 compression. The 90 vette has flat tops and 58cc 113 heads and I believe only make 10.25:1 compression.

Maybe even some vortec heads might be an option.
Click to expand...

With "0" piston cc the CR is 10.3:1 -- are the stock L82 pistons -5cc ?? Then the CR would be 9.65:1
 
Imo Apita said:
I've been eyeballing the aluminum heads sold by Skip White:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBC-...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

for my everlasting 383 build.
Click to expand...

$649 with free shipping is a good deal on the ProComp heads but it seems quality varies .... I think TT had a few photos of some ugly Procomp castings... others are happy with their heads so it seems to be a gamble with this brand but maybe their quality improved over the past year ????
 
The negative comments about the quality are often based on politics, but not facts. My PROCOMPs are of much better quality than I expected. I have no problems to recommend such cylinder heads for a mild 350/383 build. I have bought a lot parts (no cylinder heads though) from Skip White thru E-Bay with no issues. The PROCOMP 190CC (PC3002) will be fine for your build. To reduce CR, 68cc combustion chamber is available.

http://kmjent.com/procomp/ProComp-Cylinder-Heads.html

http://www.vettemod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4203

http://www.vettemod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3918

As for Edelbrock E-Street or Brodix IK180, both are nice cylinder heads and will both deliver 325 - 350 HP with your setup if you install headers instead of your restrictive stock manifolds.

Arne
 
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