Ok guys I know jack **** about old heads. I'm from the newer generation.
I have a 78z that's all original. I want 350-400whp.
A good cam I can pick out. What I plan on doing is taking the original engine and 4spd trans out and building a different combo. I wana save the original stuff 75k miles in it.
So I have a 70ish block as a foundation. I'm looking at heads...what the best bang for buck to reach my power goal?

 

Look for some dart iron eagles unless you want to spend the money on aluminum.

AFR, Dart, RHS, and TF all make good heads. I am going with TF 205 on my road race 383 with a procharger.

If you just have a block build a 383 since the price difference is a mute when you need everything.

350rwhp can be done with some vortec heads but then you need a correct intake.

 

what type of intake are we talking. im trying to spend the least amount of money.
im im not looking for an all out bruiser, just a fun ride to a cruise. you cant tell me lt1 heads are better than most cast?

 

LT1 heads wont work on a gen 1 sbc. they are reverse water flow.

On a budget look into some vortec heads. Get a nice .480-.500 left cam. A vortec intake (not bad on price) headers and a cam. Should put you in the upper 280-lower 300s depending where your at.

gen 1 sbc dont make power as easily as LS series.

I have a baby cam in my 383 and MAY crack 380rwhp with heads and whatnot

 

I know they won't fit.Lmao not with out machine work....wasn't trying to use the m just a comparison. I'll look into the vortec...what type of number on a flow bench?

 

For ur power level and no power adder the patriot alum heads for 895 pr at jegs would rock

 

They are essentially truck heads so after .500 the flow sucks but up to there they can flow around 210cfm IIRC

I was thinking VERY budget but yes they would work very well if he was to go that route

 

I'm a member here and there is tons of the exact info your looking for and lots of knowldgeable and helpful people. Sign up is free. Good to see the 2nd gens finally getting popular and some attention. GL with your build.

http://www.nastyz28.com/

 

Thanks for the input, those heads are exactly the kind thing I'm looking for. This thing isn't gona see any track time, and I'm only wanting a lil Umph to it.lol
I've got other cars for power.
And yeah the second gens are coming in. This one is a very nice car. For what I paid for it, I stole it.
Just wanted to keep the original parts for. Later restore

 

I'd go the vortec route if you want a driver, they'll have plenty of low end punch cruising around town. Good valve job and a back cut on the valves would be all you'd need. Don't go too crazy on the cam, as said above, no magic happening above .500, but you'll have quite a bit of low-mid grunt.

 

World Products makes a Torquer S/R head that we have used in the past. It was a capable street head when coupled with an Edelbrock Performer RPM camshaft and a Victor Jr (2975). Went high 12's on motor and mid 11's on a 150 shot.
If you are going to use the stock shortblock, make sure to get the smallest combustion chamber you can. Stock compression ratios during the smog years were often in the 8.7:1 range.
I had a 1979 Z28 with a stock shortblock, stock heads, Edelbrock Performer RPM cam, Air-Gap Performer RPM intake and a 750 carb backed up with a 4 speed and 4.10 gear and the car went mid-13's all day long.

 

Yes the compression is terrible. And yes its just a driver. Something to play with for the time being
That's actually pretty impressive on the 79 z. I plan on doing a dif block though so I will change the compression to help things a lil.lol
That 750 carb wasn't too much for the engine? I figured u could run a smaller one for that power or am I wrong.
I'm an efi guy lol

 

It's not really the power, more so the RPM of a given CID. There's a point when you don't have enough carb, but a warmed over 350 with a 650 or 700 carb wouldn't have an issue (That's a 350 spinning to 6k).

 

Do you mean LT-1 heads/ double humps, i have a old set of 202 fuelies id get rid of.

 

I'd tie a rope to those and throw them off the front of my boat as an anchor.

 

I was talking lt1 new style.
I was always told the dbl hump heads were good

 

Funny but they r worth a lot to someone restoring there car to original so i would not b doing that !!!!!!

 

You laugh at those...but before there was an after market for sbc heads, those were prized possessions! People have been deep in the 10's with those heads, don't forget your past!

Yes, a 750 carb was too much for my '79Z. It was the correct carb if I would have ran Edelbrocks Performer RPM heads, but not for stock heads. It was a little lazy down low, but pulled really nice up top. My little hyd flat tappet revved to 6600 many times lol. Even 7100 once by accident

 

(flyin)"You laugh at those...but before there was an after market for sbc heads, those were prized possessions! People have been deep in the 10's with those heads, don't forget your past!"

AMEN to that,

i have good expierience with RHS, coutomer service, quick delivery,

take a look at there "pro action" series steel heads, good bang for you buck.

had a set of 220cc/2.02,1.60,(to large for your app.) steels on my 383 sbc. freakin monster.

 

i think he should buy them. i had a set of those on my 80 malibu 355 sbc. it was pushing 350hp. sure there are better heads but if your looking for a budget build then they would be great for you.