WH97Z

Just wondering what kind of heads guys are running on their 396 stroker motors? Also what extra work will i need to have done to the heads to make them flow enough for that cubic inch? Thanks.

speed_demon24

iTrader: (6)

What are your goals/budget and what is the rest of your combo? There is nowhere near enough information in that post for anyone to give decent advice.

lifeisgood

iTrader: (4)

le3's or afr.
but really do need more info. depends on how high you wanna rev that things and power goals

suzookiegsxr

Don't be a dooshbag, he asked what heads 396'ers are running. Do you have a 396 or are you still on your stock shortblock?

Second poster was right le3 or AFR's will move a lot of air for little cash.

I'd just buy the head and cam together and trust a place like speed or thunder. Buy a proven combo from texas speed
I don't know the proper way to port and polish LTX heads, but I'm sure someone around here does.

AChotrod

iTrader: (17)

Larry(LS1 Speed) from speedinc is running ported stock heads and running 10s NA
Im pretty confident I could run 10s NA on a 396 with a bigger cam on my LE2s with alittle weight reduction.

suzookiegsxr

Do you know where a good link is about porting stock lt1 heads?

I ask bc I'm about to pick up a 97 formula with a 224/230 and stock heads. I want to port the stock heads since I hear they flow as much as any others

AChotrod

iTrader: (17)

yes contact Lloyd Elliot, www.Elliottsportworks.com He is amazing and makes custom cams, my stock short bock build it making 420 or so rwhp threw a dana S60 NA
Your gonna need a bigger cam to run 10s NA

James Montigny

iTrader: (13)

Ported stockers will work, but even 285cfm heads will begin to become a restriction on a 600hp motor.
Your head choice depends heavily on your goals, budget and the rest of the combination.
I went with a set of LE-ported Dart heads, they flow about 299cfm@.600, which is
about right to support the estimated output for this motor. I've seen those castings
ported to flow just under 330cfm, which was appropriate for the owner's ~700hp SR setup.

Remember, the goal is to maximize efficiency and "bigger" is not always better.
If you can maintain intake velocity, you'll keep those cyls filled for maximum power in the
cam's peak RPM range.

FASTFATBOY

iTrader: (23)

You need a big head, the bigger the better.

People think that a "300" cfm head will support 600 hp. No it wont and heres why. When you bolt the intake tract to a set of heads you lose upwards of 20% of the flow, depending on how good or bad the intake tract is.

And if you ever see or hear someone say port and "POLISH" heads. Steer away from them , they havent a CLUE. No one who ports heads has "POLISHED" a head or intake for that matter in 30 years.

Porting a LT1 head is no different than porting a regular Gen1 head.

AFR, TFS or DART with 210CC or bigger ports to make some real power on a 396.

Stroked96Bowtie

iTrader: (22)

Well put dave...buy the biggest heads your budget can afford..will just have to think through the rest of the combo to be sure those bigs heads are being well used.

BIG runner CNCed AFRs would be my first choice

joelster

x2

Mine will be here today! They were actually here on wednesday (28th) and on thursday but I wasn't home to sign, oops, lol! Ordered them late in the day on tuesday the 13th. They said it would be about 2 weeks to build them, so they were right on.

ss.slp.ls1

iTrader: (36)

^+2.

^+1.

WH97Z

Thanks for the replys! I'm looking to make around 550 NA and i want the car streetable .
But now that i've added up all the parts to do the 396 and im thinking to do a ls swap. Just seems like the better way to go and i will spend less money for the same power. Plus I got the option to boost it later on down the road. don't get me wrong i want to stick with the lt1 but common sense leans toward the ls motor set up what do ya think?

James Montigny

iTrader: (13)

Be sure to talk to people who've completed an LS1 swap so you have a clear
understanding of what all is involved (for the swap and ongoing).
Also, be sure you are comparing apples to apples when looking at price/hp. (IE: same quality components)

slomarao

iTrader: (6)

I would go with AI/LE Darts or TFS's. Ai's 215 TFS's would work pretty well. You are just going to need something much bigger that stock castings to make good power.

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

Ported stock castings HAVE made enough power to get an NA 383 into the 9s. No bench racing "needs/should/go bigger" just reality, been done.

That said AI Trickflows would be a good choice.

za355tx

iTrader: (108)

TRICK FLOW HEADS. Big valves. Ported by someone good. As long as you have flattop pistons compression shouldn't be a problem since you can only go so far milling the AFR's and TFS heads with big valves. My dad has some LE trick flow heads, they flow 296@.600 and 220 on the exhaust. Chambers are 62cc. Great heads.

taner

iTrader: (6)

actually 300 cfm does support 650ish fwhp. but i don't have a very restrictive intake as well.

pharmd

iTrader: (4)

AI dumdumdum...period.

How would you like to run at least 9.6x @ 140+ in 1000+ DA (530+rwhp) on a pump gas 383 LT1...go get the AI TFS 215's, get a modified intake...and call it a day.

Obviously its not THAT easy, but the parts will support the power and the end result.

joelster

That car is extremely well set up. You could put that motor in your car and be in the high 10's just so you know. I'm not knocking it in any way shape or form, but it can be a little misleading for guys who think their cars are going to run those times because Rick Abare does. I believe there is a disclaimer on the site if i'm not mistaken.

It's exactly the same as buying a protein powder with a picture of Dexter Jackson (Mr Olympia for those who don't know), and thinking you are going to end up looking like that. There's a little more to it than what it seems.