The best heads
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 362
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I wouldn't say there is a "best" head. It really depends on your setup. Staying stock cubes and only running 150 shot or 8lbs of boost? Might want to look at porting your stockers.
It all depends on your setup, there is no best all around head for all setups and you can hurt performance by having too much head. And I never thought that would come out of my mouth since I thought there was no such thing as too much head.....BUUUUUUUUUT back to the subject.
If you aren't planning on going too far with your setup, I'd look into a set of Lloyd Elliots heads. While I had mine ported locally, the numbers I have seen from his heads are VERY good.
If you're needing to go further look into some AI, AFR, race-prep, etc..aftermarket castings.
It all depends on your setup, there is no best all around head for all setups and you can hurt performance by having too much head. And I never thought that would come out of my mouth since I thought there was no such thing as too much head.....BUUUUUUUUUT back to the subject.
If you aren't planning on going too far with your setup, I'd look into a set of Lloyd Elliots heads. While I had mine ported locally, the numbers I have seen from his heads are VERY good.
If you're needing to go further look into some AI, AFR, race-prep, etc..aftermarket castings.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 549
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From: St. Peters, MO
Yeah...I have to agree with ghost. However if by best you mean most HP potential you can't beat a SBC2.2 head converted to reverse cooling by LME or someone like that. My new favorite head is the GM "615" casting converted. Thats what a very well known person is running and lets just say he is close to 600rwhp N/A on a 383. 
I ruin the end of films...
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Taking back some video tapes
If you want all-out power, start thinking SB2.2, Buick 10*, some of Brodix's short angle heads, etc. If you want more off the shelf...AFR is about the only choice for aftermarket castings. Their 215RR will make some good power and I know a couple people running the 227s w/ forced induction.
Best head comes down to how much your willing to spend. If you have to keep it 23*, a max effort SBC Dart head or Pro Action can be prety mean when its all said and done, plus you wont have to add weight to run in the series if you convert and stick to a 23 degree. Rick's 96 ran on a pair of older AFR 220s, so just imagine what some Darts or Pro Actions would do.
Every so often I see someone start a buildup with those but have yet to see so much as a pic of an assembled car much less a short vid or anything.
On the question at hand 11s and better should be achievable with ported stock heads and a power adder or boost, do you want to go faster? If an all out racecar 10s should be doable with stock castings. Just yesterday one of the Impala guys broke into the 11s with ported aluminums and a cam with a stock bottom, the car is lightened but still 4000 with driver, a Camaro with a poweradder should beat that by a good margin.
On the question at hand 11s and better should be achievable with ported stock heads and a power adder or boost, do you want to go faster? If an all out racecar 10s should be doable with stock castings. Just yesterday one of the Impala guys broke into the 11s with ported aluminums and a cam with a stock bottom, the car is lightened but still 4000 with driver, a Camaro with a poweradder should beat that by a good margin.
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Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
Every so often I see someone start a buildup with those but have yet to see so much as a pic of an assembled car much less a short vid or anything.
. I've already seen the block. It's a great start 
. - Fresh Fully Prepped LT1 Block. Full Set of 5 Oliver Splayed Caps. Wet Sump Rear Cap, Bored to 4.030, Line Honed, Decked, O-Rings in Deck Surface, Notched for Stroker Crank to 3.875". Block is Hardblock'd filled to the Plugs. Waiting on a 100+ mm turbo... Full wolfe suspension. Pics to be posted in the spring . For now the pic would be a Camaro - as told be the doors and rear quarter panels.. W/ a chute mount in back. LS1 Tech Stories
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To answer the question asked...
AFR and Trcikflow heads are best suited for power adders because of their deck thickness and the ability to run what ever cc combustion chamber you need. The stockers are limited to about 58cc which wont be enough for a blower/turbo.
AFR and Trcikflow heads are best suited for power adders because of their deck thickness and the ability to run what ever cc combustion chamber you need. The stockers are limited to about 58cc which wont be enough for a blower/turbo.
