How good are the 400sbc factory heads? Casting#333882 I want to get some performance out of the engin should i change to a edelbrock,vortec,or any other head instead of putting money into the factory heads.

 

Okay for a 4200 lb Impala going to get groceries or Grandma's house. Maybe even towing the Airstream. Pretty much worthless for anything else.

Decide what you want this "package" to do, and pick heads accordingly. Either choice you mention would be better, just remember the Vortecs will require a special manifold, which is only available for carb at this time. I also don't like the press-in studs of the Vortec, and the springs aren't anything to brag about.

With the large bore of a 400, you really ought to have 2.02/1.60 valves. World Products, Edelbrock, Holley, AFR - any would be a better choice than the stock heads assuming you match your induction, cam, & exhaust accordingly.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere w/open diff & slipping tranny. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

Thanks

 

Scott
Dart iron eagles 215's, A little pricey, But well worth it as far as im concerened.
Later
John

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82 Firebird,408,Dart Iron Eagle 215's,Cam 229/239, .498/.520,TH350 Tranny, 750 Speed Demon carb, Hooker Headers(I.E. POS) Manual steering, Also a cowl for the big hole in the hood.
Shooting for low 12's.
Check out my birds new home.

 

Nice setup spud

 

Spud,

What hp are you shooting at. Have you ever ran your set up on a computer generated dyno. I have a similar set up but I'm running 6" rods and bit larger cam. Are you running a roller cam also? I'm hoping for low 11's on motor. Just wanted to compare.

My heads are cool, but pretty expensive. I got a lot of hours of work on them. I have flow #'s at home.

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Michael Graeber

My Garage

1)83 Z-28 T-Top: Full cage, 9" w/ lad.bars, Midwest Engine Tech 406sbc,Strip Dominator, 1000-CFM Demon Carb, Phase VI Chevy Bowtie Heads 2.05/1.60, .630" Crower roller set-up, 1 3/4 coated Hookers 3" true dual exhaust th400, fuel cell & still not running

2)89 Formula WS-6 305 TPI Auto Daily Driver: minor motor mods, more suspension stuff. MODS

 

Mike

I am hoping for 400-425, and about 500 ft/lbs of tq. If you have a computer dyno run it for me. Id be interested in knowing what it says. They were real close on my 355. I am running stock length rods, the cam is hydraulic,(I couldn't justify the cost of a roller to the wife). I have a ? for you is your strip dominator a single plane, or dual. Where did you get you rearend from, or did you have it built. And do you have any pics of it. Never mined I just looked at your page, And answered my ?'s

Thanks
John

[This message has been edited by spud (edited April 13, 2001).]