By the time you buy a nice valve train and have them ported......you won't be THAT far away from a set of AFRs.......especially if you can find them used.

 

yeah, but you have your valve train go with AFRs then i still need to drop cash on valve train.... I see where your coming from man. AFRs/TFS are the way to go.. im just trying to see if 317s will get the job done. And so far ive got some mixed reviews here..

BUT, im thinking i can get the 317s bought/ported & valve job for about $1,500 *HOPEFULLY*, some double springs, and some rebuilt stock rocker arms.. i can see that being around $2,000...

 

I'd save the extra ~$500 for some AFRs. They come with bad *** springs and valves......not to mention the 3/4" head-deck :woot:

 

How would you define S480 w/ 1.32 turbine for 370, too small, too big or just right size?

What about headstuds, where would be the upperlimit hp vice for 11mm studs?

 

WTF Joey. When was this plan in the works

I get your engine thats in there now, right?

 

you can put in head studs without pulling the motor-but it is a real pain in the ***

 

a 1.32 is a tick large for a 370 but i would go with it-i like a little large

and i have run 11mm studs to over 1500hp,there was some other tricks done with heads gaskets as well as aftermarket heads,but the studs will hold if everything is done properly

 

I was in the same boat as you sidewayz. I have $750 wrapped up in my 317 heads. Budget was my concern at the time, with the goal of 600-650 rwhp thru a th400 eventually at 14psi.
I had a nice TEA ported set of 853 heads (from like '02, kinda outdated, but a nice set), already had a forged bottomend and didn't wanna change pistons though (compression with the 853s was too high for my liking for any kinda psi from this kit - see sig for specs). Soo...bought a set of 317 heads with one broken stock spring on them for $200, disassembled them myself, bought a set of TSP .650 lift dual springs (the good ones with all the goodies included - around $280 I think for the set?). I reused the stock valves that were in the heads and had the machine shop clean up everything, vat the heads, smooth the surfaces of the valves - made sure they were all good, had them do a 3 angle valvejob, take a teeny tiny bit off the deck to make sure they were good and perfectly flat, and had the shop assemble them... got all that done for about $300. I decided to not have them ported, that would have about doubled the cost of the heads had I gone that route. These heads are essentially an LS6 head with larger chambers (I'm sure you may know this if you've researched them much) and have better flow characteristics than the other 853/241 casting ls1 heads.
I used the 5 layer MLS gaskets, 12 pt ARP head studs, and torqued them to spec. The next day I went back and retorqued the heads again. I plan on being very conservative with the tune and not even close to too lean. I'm also planning on retorqueing the heads after the first full power pull on the dyno at 8-9 lbs (starting here, eventually moving up to 14ish when I do a th400 and 9"). I'd rather not push any water if at all possible!

So, long story short, like said above, if you want a great ported set of heads (unless you find a cheap set of 317s already done) save a lil more dough and get the AFRs....but 317s can be made to work if you use good stuff, take your time, and do it right.

 

Lol! I couldnt see doing it without lowering the engine & by the time you drop the K-frame you might as well pull it out, imo.

 

soon..... sometime in the distant future!

 

very good advice man.. yes i've been researching, and i was suprised because until *boost* came into my mind i wasnt even aware 317s existed.. im running stock 243s and their a kick *** stock cast head. This is kinda the reason i was thinking of using another GM head, and just getting them tweaked. AFRs would almost be the cost of my shortblock (going 370ci). i would have no problem spending $1000-$1500 on a nice assembled 317 head. I already got my intake (using my 90/90) which i'll probably have some port work done to as well to match the heads and what not..