Not too sure where I was supposed to post this but....
I have a chance to buy a set of heads for my 454.
casting number 3999241
they are oval ports...arent square ports better for big power?
would these be any good to put on a pro street '84 camaro?

 

Rectangular port heads flow more air but they can also be too much depending on the rest of the engine. Racers who use rectangular port heads usually spin the engine past 7000 rpm and produce over 700 hp. Rectangular heads are not recommended for street use since low end torque is greatly reduced.

Oval port heads work fine and build more bottom end torque. I use Merlin oval port heads on my race engine and keep it below 6500 rpm.

3999241 are oval port, open chamber heads originally used on 70-73 402 and 454's. Combustion chamber volume is 114cc however they have also been listed as 105cc. They came with the small 2.06/1.72 valves but like most BBC heads, the larger 2.19/188 valves can be installed since they are an open chamber design. These heads were also used on the 365HP 454 in 1971. These heads use the 5/8" tapered seat spark plugs.

These heads will work fine as long is they don't bump your compression up too high for pump gas. The most popular oval port heads are 781 and 049 castings. Unlike SBC heads, there are very few, if any "bad" BBC castings. Many different casting, many different combustion sizes, many different flow numbers. It all depends on what you can use.