I'm looking to build a 377 and want it to rev to like 8000, but i don't really know what I should be looking at for heads. I know flow is important but how do I know it will support that high of RPM. I think its between AFR, Brodix, and Canfield. Suggestions?

 

not even a suggestion or some help on what makes an engine rev?

 

the ability of the engine to move air in and back out as quickly as it can has a direct bearing on how high it can spin

 

Don't assume you need a "bigger" head because of high RPM either. Smaller heads that flow a lot are the better way to go.

Think about it.... a 377 isn't that much bigger than a 350, yet smaller than a 383. And there are plenty of heads that flow more than most 350's actually use and are better suited for a 383.

So any head you see or hear of that does well on a 383 will be more than adequate for a 377.

As ede has said many times before. The air doesn’t care what the bore and stoke ratio is. All it knows is it needs to occupy 377 cubic inches of space. Flow is more relevant than the size of the runners.

What's your goal anyway. Is this going to be a street/strip car? Strip car? Street racer? Road race?

Those are all things that should be considered when deciding "how" to build an engine.

 

If you want to keep things very streetable in the lower range, I would go with the AFR 195 heads. If you want to go a little more wild try the Edelbrock victor juniors. Do you already have a cam picked out? That and the compression will also affect what size ports work the best.

 

I want it to be street mostly. I will occassionally bring it to the strip and road race it, but nothing serious. I love having a highway car with a great top-end. I have like 225 HP now and thats fine for the bottom end, so I dont need much down low. No cam yet, I'm gonna be running about 10.5:1, or the highest I can on pump gas.

 

If it is going to be mostly street, stick with the smaller heads. Just remember to spend some money in the valvetrain dept. Things come apart pretty easy at 8K unless you have good parts. A solid flat tappet or solid roller cam, full roller rockers, stud girdles, screw in studs, hardened pushrods, and many other things will be needed to make it last. not to mention a stout bottom end. Are you using bearing spacers to use the 350 crank in the 400 block?

 

AFR 195 has my vote. A little expensive, but have been proven to yield the highest overall flow of any cylinder head of similar size.

To save some bucks, you might want to consider Edelbrock or Trick Flow.

 

Would I be able to use a hydraulic roller cam or should I stick wih solid? Yeah I'm using the bearings to fit the crank, unless there is another way...

 

If you really want to rev to the 8K range on a regular basis, stay away fom a hyd lifter cam. They will collapse enough to cause valve float. I recommend a solid roller if you have the money

 

no question if you want 8000 go with a solid roller