what are some good BBc heads i could look for at a swap meet... what casting numbers... and a guess on how much hp a nicely set up 454 would do with them...thats headers, dual or single palne manifold, matching cam, etc...

 

My favorites are the 781 oval ports.They have small valves in stock form,but cut them open for 2.19/1.88 valves,hog out the bowls and blend/smooth everything out with a die grinder,and I don't think 550 HP would be a stretch.
I'm not to well schooled on square port casting #s,but from what I've seen sell used,your about as well off to buy new castings,as restoration guys have run the cost of them through the roof.

 

thanks alot... ive heard a couple poeple takin about dart iron eagles... r they any good?

 

Yes they're OK.

The Brodix Race-Rites are what people seem to be getting the best results out of in that part of the market right now though.

But either of those is a $2000 set of heads, plus prep. Not nearly in the same price league as any of the stock oval-port ones.

Other good stock castings that work well are 049 and 820. They port to about the same runner volume as the 781s. There's ALOT of variation in BB heads in other areas beside port volume though; chamber size and shape especially. You have to be alot more aware of the total combination, compared to SB. Like, don't actually BUY pistons until you have the heads in your hand; but before you buy heads, make sure there are actually pistons available, that will give you the combo you want with that particular casting. There's few things worse than buying a set of heads and sinking a whole bunch of money into them, thinking you're going to build a 10¼:1 motor or whatever; and then finding out you can only buy pistons in the real world that will give 9:1 or 11.5:1 with those particular heads, without going the $"custom"$ piston route.

 

well i can get the iron eagles for less than 1400$ a set... assembled... how much should i look to pay for a set of stock hi-po heads at a swap meet?

 

Honestly,at $1400,I'd a whole lot sooner shell out $2k for new,aluminum stuff that I know hasn't been pounded on or overheated a bunch.Besides,when your talking BB stuff,anything aluminum,especially heads and intake,boots a lot of weight oof of the car.

As far as factory hi po stuff,you'd be really lucky if you managed to put anything togethor for less than new would cost.Where there's factory square port stuff,there's resto guys willing to pay shiney pennies for it.

 

1400 is brand new from jegs.... itd be more then that to get a set of oval port hi-po heads mentioned above?

 

If your talking oval ports,you should be able to find an OK deal.But buy with the intention of dumping roughly $800 into them.If you get off cheaper,great.If not,at least you aren't surprised.
That may seem high,but figure guides,cut out for larger valves,seats,springs,bowl hog and blend,and new valves of a decent quality,and labor.I'm probably being conservative at that cost,it's been a while since I've had used heads reworked.

 

 

Don't forget the 291's the best flowing factory big block head gm ever put out!