I've got a set of Edelbrock performer aluminum heads and I was reading that they are a good head but not the best. Something along the lines of they dont flow enough air. I was curious as to if I could just get a port and polish to help them flow better, or would I be better off buying some different heads. If different heads are your thoughts, which ones might I look at.

 

If you already have the heads, have them ported. It doesn't make $en$e to spend more $$ on another set of heads unless you are going full on race.

 

Well I bought the car with them already on, so from my view buying some new heads wouldn't be to big of a deal. So rather than paying the 400 for port and polish I figured buying some new ones wasn't out of the question. Im just looking for the best route to go, not the cheapest.

However if the cheapest is also the best, is fine by me.

 

Well, the best way to go (most power) would probably be AFR's (or Darts, Brodix, whatever your favorite head is) competition ported, but that will run you a lot of money. So if money is no concern, go with the AFR's. Those performer heads will work good though with a good port and polish job. Just my opinion...

 

For a 170cc port the Edelbrocks flow plenty. mid 230's cfm range.
Out of the box.
They can be ported to flow 260 + cfm with about a 180/185cc port. This is inline with the latest out of the box heads with this port volume. this is good for about 490-500hp potential with the right parts.
Need to know more about the rest of your combination of parts and your intended plans to see if new larger heads are justified.

How fast do you want to go? What other parts are u going to keep/ or change.?

Can your exhaust system keep up?

 

I'll tell you what I know about the car, I bought it like it is.

It is supposedly a 383 stroker (I know it atleast a 350). Based off sound I can tell it is has a pretty agressive cam, but nothing to wild. It has a edelbrock performer RPM intake and a Demon DP carb. It has a hedman headers to straight 2.5 pipes to a 2.5 in/out flowmaser muffler.

It has ran a best time of 13.5 on street slicks, but from looking at others 383 setups I think mines is flawed or not a 383. So I am looking for way to get more power out of the motor. Anything else I can offer up to help out getting help, let me know.

 

What was the MPH at the end of the run??? That's a much better indicator of horsepower than the time is. You may just need a good tune or better traction. Have you done anything to make sure the engine is running up to snuff?? I don't think I've EVER seen a car someone bought used that was running right, they always need tuning.

 

my best mph is 100.56, but that was on regular street tires. There is a good chance it could use a tune up, I know oil was in desperate need of a change when I bought no reason to think other things wouldn't.

 

If you don't want them, I'd happily accept them as a donation to me

Maybe write them off your taxes as a donation to charity, lol

 

You can id a 383 by looking at the balancer and flywheel.
the flywheel will have a weight attached to it.
The balancer will have a weight cast into its shape.

Look at the back side of the balancer.
A 350 does not have these "externally balanced parts"

Don't throw out those heads.
A friend here had a real good performing car with mildly warmed over Performer RPM heads on a 383.
car ran strong 12.2's after a little tuning time spent at the track.
I think the car went 13.9 first time out.

A pretty basic combination that the worked and you can copy it.
If you do indeed have a 383 in good condition then you have a workable piece. The rest is details, but the heads are not your problem.
First thing to do it id the crank balancer and flywheel.