Dragula

After lots of research and many suggestions from y'all, I finally went with the AFR 190's. I ordered them, waited 4 weeks, and finally got them yesterday. These things are sweet! I had them upgraded to the bigger springs and race valves for use with a solid roller cam. They also milled the heads for a 64 cc chamber. AFR suggested using Fel-Pro 1404 intake gaskets with these heads. I bought some and lined them up with the bolt holes...PERFECT FIT! The intake ports are exactly lined up and correctly sized....NO PORTING NEEDED!
These things are sweet. Thanks to all of you guys that talked me out of Edelbrock RPM's and TrickFlows.
They did screw up one thing though, I ordered them with 7/16" rocker studs and they sent 3/8" studs. I called them and the correct studs are already in the mail.
I am extremely happy with these heads and their service. They will top off my 383 quite nicely!:lala: :rockon:
Of course what did I expect for just under $1700

Sals82Z28

Dragula,
We are highly anticipating see pics of this ride!!

Dragula

Yeah, I'm highly anticipating driving it! Here is a pic

Dragula

I think I can have it on the road by this weekend

Sals82Z28

OH MAN!!!!
But in all seriousness that's great what your doing, it's all part of the hobby. Zupman did it and I'm doing it myself now. Need to get my hands on a digi cam so I can take a pic, but when it's done you'll can look back and say "man, look at where it started"! Keep us posted!

Dragula

Yeah its been time consuming. In the picture you can tell that the entire suspension was removed, cleaned, rust removed, and painted with POR-15. The entire front frame also. If you look closely you can still see the TPI manifold on the engine....its all gone now. The rearend is also apart. Off to the right of the picture is the fuel tank, StreetFighter tranny, rear axle (new 3.70 gears and all internals along with new calipers and stainless steel hard line and braided brake lines), and the rest of the parts....too many to list. The car is basically going to be mostly new when done. I can't wait. Should only be a few months now. By the end of the weekend, I hope to have the fuel tank in, rearend in, Hotckis rear package in, with the new fuel lines and brake lines underneath. Then all I have left is drop the new engine in and put the body back together and paint, and new interior. When all said and done, I will have close to $19,000 tied up in it (including purchase price). Sounds like a lot of money but the majority of the parts have been bought over time. Besides, how many brand new $19K cars can run in the low 12's (high 11's hopefully) and still have cheap insurance! Whew....still lots of work to go until done though
Besides....my wife wants her parking space in the garage back

Sals82Z28

Your 100% right and when you blast down the track and clip those times, you'll be in all your glory.
Definately looks good, I can see the work you've done and what you see in the future too. Cars.....are a wonderful thing..

Blackened

1700 dollars for a set of heads ?? *** damn! Does money grow on trees where you live ? Why would spend almost twice the price of TrickFlows when they flow the same and they're just as nice (when new anyway) ?!????!!!

Mkos1980

iTrader: (8)

Dam I spent only 850 on my TF heads. 1700!!!!

92BLKL98

Trickflows aren't in the same class as AFRs, look at the options. I haven't heard but very few who had good luck with them and CNC'd Trickflows are about $1250.00.

Dragula

Your comparing TrickFlow 23 deg heads to AFR's???!!!!
No comparison. By the time I did the work to get the CNC TrickFlows to flow up with the AFR's, they would no longer have a 64cc chamber. Besides, with the 7/16 studs, dual springs with dampers and race valves that are setup to run with a solid roller, I could have just bought the AFR's. Besides, the AFR runners are 190cc, the TrickFlows are 195, by the time they were CNC'd, port matched to the intake and smoothed out for enhanced flow, they would most likely be upwards of 200cc.
I love my AFR's
I have never read a bad thing about these heads (except for the price). I did lots of research on TrickFlows and did not like what I found.
Besides, yoou get what you pay for.....see you back in the pits!

DURTYBIRD

I guess I will find out soon enuff. I have a newly delivered set of trick flows - $925 to my door. The flow rates I saw for the trick flows vs the AFRs were lower - but I think based on the cost this was justified. I suppose if I were feeding that 383, I might have been more concerned - but this is a HUGE step up from the L98 heads I have so I'm sure I'll be happy.

Blackened

I make over 500 horsepower with my 408 and trickflows. AFR's will PROBABLY make 10 HP more. Is that really worth 800 dollars more ? Dont think so...

Dragula

Don't get me wrong...I have nothing against TrickFlows. They were my first choice until I started looking at the AFR's. But you guys need to understand that the TrickFlows are not ideally set up to run with a solid roller cam. By the time I upgraded the springs, valves, and the other stuff, I woulkd have not been too far off from the price of the AFR's. I have seen many fast cars using TrickFlows, but most have been Mustangs. From my reasearch and the suggestions of MANY people....the AFR's are the best heads.......if you want to spend the money.
(In all honesty......I think it's more about owning a pair of AFR's than the added performance. Why do people buy Corvettes when for less money they can buy a Camaro and make it faster than the Corvette...... They just want the distinction of owning a Corvette! )
Besides.....I will be making over 500 streetable horsepower with the 383.....which is less cubes than a 408.

laiky

Here's a heads up, get rid or the AFR rocker studs!!! i have your same setup. I broke a rocker stud last friday on a bridge!! It just separated at the poly lock. Looks like it just broke in tension there is no evidence of fatigue, or any stess riser that propagated the crack, it just let go. I put the new ARP's next to the Chinese AFR's and the diffence is obvioous. I have about 4000 miles on my motor and my valve train is spot on so please don't tell my about checking pushrod length, bind etc. This is just another bad experience for me and AFR products.

Rancid87

and to think i used a set of ancient angle plug 492's when AFR's were only $1700 dollars away.