Iv gotten alot of different opinions on this, and just wondered what you guys thought. My 383 buildup for the Firebird has begun, and I am buying heads tonight. The guy at the speed shop told me to go with the 210cc heads when I suggested the 190cc's. Both have 64cc chambers and are aluminum. The 190cc's are rated at 460 out of the box with a healthy 236 duration, .550ish lift cam and flow 243 cfm at .500 lift, 248 cfm at .600 lift. The 210cc's flow a little better, are rated at 500 horsepower out of the box, all things being equal and he says the 190cc heads will run out of power about 500 rpm sooner. My buildup is fairly mild, around 10.0 to 1 compression, cast crank, KB dished hypereutic pistons, looking for around 425 to 450 horsepower. This guy builds engines for a living and has forever, he knows his ****. He said the larger heads would be better even for my build, and that if I match cam and compression properly I won't notice any difference in the bottom end. I want something extremely responsive and torquey for the street. It's not supposed to be a 6,000+ RPM screamer. Just wondering what you guys thought. Carb will be something along the lines of a 750 holley on top of an ebelbrock performer rpm intake or something similiar. This thing isnt going to get sprayed or have forced induction. Just a nice simple street/strip bruiser in a 3,300 lb F-Body that will pin you back in the seat at will.

With your mods and intended use I think you would
be happier with the 190s
Bigger is not always better.
Been there/Done that
Street gearing also comes into play.

If you think that in the future you will be building a
different animal go with the 210s.



Later

I'm not in his league, but I'm a professional automotive machinist, and I'd say insist on the 190s. 190s can always be worked up to 210, but it's a different matter to try to epoxy 210s to 190.

Assuming I swap a five or six speed overdrive manual trans into the car like I plan *T5 or T-56*, and run some steep gears 4:10 or so, would the 210cc heads be better then? Right now Im stuck with a stock 700R4 and peg-leg 2.73's but the trans will be upgraded to handle the new power and the gears will definetly get steeper even If I don't go all the way to 4:10's.

CORRECT

I just didn't want to sound to pushy

Later

not goin over 6000? stay 190s they will get you exactly what you need

i got 195's from AFR on my 383 and it makes power to 6300 and shift by 6500. Probly 480-500 on motor with a 230 degree cam

I'm this close to doing a bigger cam and POSSIBLY AFR 210's just cuz i can care less whats below 4000 rpm

Your starting to change the rules of the game.
Even with the 4.11s the 190s would be more than
enough for what you are trying to do.

5800-6200 you'll have what rules for what your looking for.
You can see in my sig what I'm running,although did a little
bowl blending,port matching ect.
But I'm running over .600 and 234 on lift and duration.
Also more compression. My Hp & Torque is dynoed.
Torque monster with 3.27s on the street.
Mine pulls hard to about 6600 but light valve train and
Rev Kit.

Street car, Not Race car

Later

i am running 200cc and I thought they would be a little to big for my combo. But a 210 would be to big. Stay with the 190's

Ok guys I appreciate all the feedback, thanks. I went ahead and picked up the 190cc's, i shouldn't have any problem reaching 450 horsepower with them when matched with healthy cam, good intake, carb, good headers, etc? I bought them bare, so if anybody has suggestions for a cheap package set of hardware for heads like valves, roller rockers etc... It deosn't have to be top of the line, but I dont want junk. Something that will hold up to a .550ish lift hydraulic roller cam and the wear and tear of daily driver duty during the warmer months. I'm not going to pushing it all that hard, some spirited street driving and an occasional trip to the track.

Pricewise it probably been cheaper to get the heads
with valves, locks and retainers installed.
Springs with the lift you'll be running.

I've always been partial to Comp Cams and thier techs
as to cams, ect for application.

If not savy about cam selection give them a call with all your info and intended use.
Suggestion: Call twice and talk to two different techs and
see how close they are in selection.

Your probably have the 2.02/1.60 setup and have always been partial to Manley as to valves. I run thier light valves
but run lightwieght valvetrain because of HYD Rollers being
heavy.


HTH

Later