I'm building a 350 for my '86 TPI Iroc and trying to decide on a set of heads. I want to go with stock ones for now and just port those, but I don't know which ones to get. I'm down to either the L98 iron heads (083s) or a set of old heads (either 992, 993, 997, 441, 041, or 492s). Are the newer L98 heads better than those old castings, and if not, which of those old ones are good?

 

The older ones aren't better enough to be worth the trouble of coming up with them. Of the ones you listed, only the 041 or 492 would be really a step up. 186 or 292 would be other ones. But if you're going to go to that much hassle trying to come up with double-hump heads that have bolt holes, go aftermarket instead, it's easier and probably cheaper in the long run, and you'll get more results.

 

The late TPI heads #081 083 217 etc have good potential
when ported. go for it.

 

Well, since I have an '86 and of course there were no 350s that year (well, almost none), then I am having to start from scratch so I don't already have a set of 350 heads. I can get any set of stock casting heads (almost) for $299 shipped bare (except 292s, I think). That includes resurfaced, ground out for 2.02 and 1.6 valves, stage I porting, bronze valve guides, valve job, and cut for screw in studs and guideplates (ads section of Performance Chevy mag). Since I have a set of those valves, rocker arms, and a set of springs, this would be a much cheaper alternative to a set of aftermarket heads. Now I must just decide which casting numbers I want since whatever casting number I get will cost the same.