Best budget heads for a 455?
11-04-2012, 07:23 PM
#1
Best budget heads for a 455? My father-in-law just bought a 66 gto and tasked me with building a 455 for it. We have a complete engine, but Im looking for some reasonably priced heads (preferably aluminum) or a complete top end kit.
I checked out wenzler, but i have to get different rockers and everything.
Would i be better off just having the iron heads ported and decked?
Im new to the whole old school thing.
I checked out wenzler, but i have to get different rockers and everything.
Would i be better off just having the iron heads ported and decked?
Im new to the whole old school thing.
11-19-2012, 09:54 PM
#4
my dad has a 70 gto 455...so ive also done a little research on the subject. the edelbrocks do seem to be about the most popular.
theres also Kauffman Racing Equipment that does tons with the old school pontiacs...i think they've won multiple engine masters challenges and such...
http://www.krepower.com/index.htm
theres also Kauffman Racing Equipment that does tons with the old school pontiacs...i think they've won multiple engine masters challenges and such...
http://www.krepower.com/index.htm
11-21-2012, 07:39 AM
#6
TECH Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cape Cod, MA
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Unfourtunatly theres nothing cheap to building a pontiac motor lol. Anyway butler does a good porting, valve job combo for about 1600 for cast heads. Make shure you get heads with bigger valves 2.11/1.77 as some heads are small 1.96/1.66. Now being a 455 dont use heads earlier than 66' being they have different valve angles and would require piston clearancing. I found that out first hand. The edelbrocks are great being about another 1000 more same being KRE's. Make shure you do a roller, far better than flat tappets. Now for bottom end make shure you use good rods and with good bolts. pontiacs have huge mains and can cause a lot of stress on parts. Stock rods with arp bolts should take 6000 rpm all day, just reall have them checked and balanced. Stock crank should be good for a lot of power. Have it all balanced and youll be making good power.Dont go with the performer if you want rpm, go with the torker intake, better flow. My father is building a 69' 428 .030 over, Hank the crank 4" crank race prepped, 421 super duty rods race prepped and hardness checked, custom pistons, fully prepped ram air 3 heads, full roller valve train, Doug nash matched intake, and HP830 very moddified carb. Its estimated to make 600hp and 7200 redline. You can make good power with stock heads, save your self a thousand, and spend it on the valve train. Hes going with the tko600, Its cheaper than a build 6 speed and have almost the same gearing except one over drive that equals the t56 6th gear anyway. Also 3.73 rear end. The guy doing the motor is huge in pontiacs and has one of the fastest pure pontiacs in the country(being stock block, cast pontiac heads) 9.2's I believe and 434ci. He also doesnt use huge compression. This motor is going to be perfectly reliable, he was really emphasizing that. Spend the money and make it last right off. Butler does nice work and kre also. Good luck and let us know how it works out.
11-21-2012, 07:48 AM
#7
TECH Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cape Cod, MA
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh and if you find superduty parts grab them, well worth it. Carillo had a huge part in making pontiacs bottom end parts, good stuff. Factory round port heads are also great. If you are looking to just make 400hp, it should be easy. Just noticed that lol.
Trending Topics
12-08-2012, 11:06 PM
#9
You can make good power with 400 heads. Look for the casting # on the center port (670, 12, 13, 62, 16, 96, 7K3)
You can also use later 6X heads but make sure you get the big valve version
You can also use later 6X heads but make sure you get the big valve version
12-10-2012, 06:21 AM
#10
Ditto!! That's what I'm running. Big price difference between factory iron heads and the Edelbrock/Kaufmann stuff. All depemds on your wallet. For the money, my #96 heads work great. Eventually, I might good Edelbrock. But, that means different headers, better intake, and better matched cam too.
