My motor:
350, 4 bolt, goodwrench crate engine. Basically this, but was the 290 hp version (just a cam swap difference):

http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Perf...oductId=752506

8.5-1 cast pistons, old 882 style heads, 76cc 1.94/1.5 valves.

Previous owner did following:

Edelbrock Performer RPM cam 234/244 with 488/510 lift,
Edelbrock Performer RPM AirGap intake,
Demon 650 mechanical secondary double pumper,
Edelbrock TES headers, Flowmaster muffler,
Crane Cam HI-6R Ignition with Mallory HEI.
342 gears, 5speed trans

Not really my choice of cams or carbs, but heh....

(The car has a "fresh" T5 in now, and next spring's Bonus from work will hopefully let me pick up the TKO 600 that's on the ole' wish list.)

So I am looking at heads. The cam I want to change to is the Lunati Voodoo 262/268 with 468/489 lift:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Lunati/638/101...47#moreDetails

Or the next size up Voodoo, 268/276 with 489/504 lift:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Lunati/638/101...47#moreDetails

I researched and researched and I've just about narrowed down the head choices to 2. I've gone from thinking "budget" heads: ProComp 210's:
http://www.skipwhiteperformance.com/...tem=S64210272P

All the way to the AFR 190 Eliminators: http://www.jegs.com/i/AFR-Airflow-Re...47#moreDetails

and everything nearly in-between. My budget is around $1500 TOTAL involved (don't tell my wife that, told her I would only spend 500 or so....) so about a grand is all I can realistically go on the Complete heads themselves and still have enough for bolts/gaskets/incidentals and consumables. That's still too much money, but speed costs money, for sure.

No doubt most of you will push and prod and highly recommend AFR's. No doubt they are probably one of if not the best out there, and if money wasn't such an issue, that's probably the direction I'd go. But money is a hugely deciding factor here, as its taken a couple months saving to get only halfway to my goal of $1500. AFR's are just too expensive for me right now, but surely there must be something "cheaper" that's worth buying, which has led me to my 2 choices.

I want a 64cc combustion chamber to up my compression a bit over the 8.5 now, but defiantly want to use pump gas. My "future" plans MAY include either rebuilding my engine with a 383 rotating assembly OR putting together a 406 shortblock, but that's a couple years in the future. I want to consider this tho as I purchase my heads now, with my future goals in mind so that I won't have to buy a 2nd set of heads. I know there is no "one size fits all method" when it comes to things like this, but I am not a rich man and want to make as wise of purchasing decision as possible.

The Contendors:

1. Dart SHP 200cc: 2.02In/1.60 Ex
http://www.jegs.com/i/Dart/301/12732...d=#moreDetails

2. Edelbrock E-210: 2.05In/1.60 Ex
http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/...58#moreDetails

(Jegs website for reference, easy to use/navigate. Can be found cheaper in other places)

Those Edelbrocks are an "E" series head, but not Vortec style like the "E-Street's"- don't wanna have to purchase another intake. It looks like alot of "flow" for the $, however flow isnt everything and I am concerned about that big 2.05 intake valve and my stock pistons. They are a relatively new design, not many real world reviews out there for them. The Edelbrocks would be good on a 383/406, but is it tame enough for a mild 350? Both of these can be picked up for very close to a grand a set complete, if you shop around. There are some others out there that are very comparable, but these 2 catch my eye. The following article was pretty helpful with information:

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...t/viewall.html

One thing I need help in deciding is wether I am " going too big" here with head choices- too much Intake runner flow? It doesn't really cost any more $ for 200/210's compared to 180's....however there's that whole "velocity" issue. I want in the mid 400 hp range, with my current stock bottom end wont be turning over 6000/6200 RPM and its gonna be street driven (spiritivly within the law, of course... ) with a few blasts down the track for thrills and maybe a few track day events for weekend fun. F-body nationals, etc etc. I want a "Super Hot street car", a "sleeper Road Racer", and want to be able to run with a brand new Mustang Gt or Camaro SS, ( which both have excess of 400hp bone stock, not including the Boss or ZL1...) in all regards, including speed, handling, and braking. Think Optima Ultimate Street car with a $10,000 build budget. I have plans for the latter 2 issues, but am thinking about heads now.

Opinions? Other rcommended Heads? Or forget it all and wait for AFR's....

 

Id steer clear of the PC and all those "budget performance" ebay heads. Too many problems if you get stuck with a bad pair youll be buying heads again.

If I had to head shop all over again Id save and wait for some AFRs. Just take them out of the box put them on and go. I will not buy Dart heads again. Took thousands to make them into a good head after I bought them and still not as good as the AFR lol. Nice way to save $200 upfront when I bought them over AFRs huh-

 

Yea, I've talked myself out of the ProComps and such, just too many variables for not munched saved money over the long run. Sure some magazines make good decent power with them, but I wonder for how long and how much advertising money they might've been paid?

What kind of Dart's were you running? My brother runs a set of 235 intake runner ported runner Iron Eagles, he's a Dart fanboy. Has the SHP block and all. Sure the lil S10 is a bada** on the track, but he's got some serious money in his setup. The SHP heads look like a barebones performance head, my understanding is they were made to compete with those Chinese eBay heads that are so cheap, a more "entry level" head if you will...

Still like to hear some thoughts on those Edelbrock E210's. for a non-vortec style head they really look impressive for the price. And cheaper than the Performer RPM heads as well. What's the catch I wonder?

 

Could a moderator please move this thread to the "Aftermarket Product Review" section?
This topic would probably fit in better there and get more attention as well.
My apologies.

 

I have Etec-210s, I don't have HP/TQ numbers but the quality of the heads are top notch. And the intakes valves are 2.08

 

Haven't used the Dart SHP heads myself but a few dragstrip buddies have and plenty of guys I know only over the internet. The Dart SHP 180s are, for sure, rock solid performance heads. As good as they claim. Probably very little beyond them except for a full-on set of AFRs. The 200s I haven't heard being any better, quite frankly. The 180s seem to be the "sweet spot" in that product line.

Certainly I've used a few sets of Dart heads over the years with good results, but I can't PERSONALLY vouch for the SHPs. Everything I've heard (and seen run), however, tells me they are what they claim to be. Very good bang for the buck.

Combine with one of the two "milder" cams you're considering and I think it would be a good combo to work on top of a stock dished-piston 350 bottom end. 64cc chambers will get you around 9:1 compression and should work well well with either of the cams you're considering (Personally I would do the smaller cam, but I always tend to err on the side of a cam that's one size smaller than I need as opposed to one size larger than I need).

 

Before you do anything, take a look at Pro-filer. They fit your budget, and are rivaling AFR stuff for a hell of alot less $
I use 195's with a small cam and its shocking how well it works.
http://www.profilerperformance.com/
Google search them, you won't be dissapointed

 

Shp's are old pro 1 castings before dart updated the pro 1 lineup. Good heads for the money

Also consider pro filer or the jegs brand heads which are same thing

If you went 195 pro filers you can use that casting down the road on any motor you can imagine. The casting can be ported to over 245 cc and feed 4 second 1/8 mile cars with juice or boost

 

I wouldnt go edelbrock, their intakes are top notch but everything else is just decent

 

And i mean power wise, not quality wise. I would use them on a mild street only engine

 

Finally! Someone who actually owns these! I'm not really all that interested in actual HP/TQ numbers, but am interested in what the rest of your motor consists of. Did you shop around for heads? What was the deciding factor?

I've heard some people say that Edelbrock makes good intakes and such, and I've got a lot of products of the Edelbrock name on both my car and truck, but I hear a lot of people say their heads aren't really on par with the competition.

I have to wonder tho, have you actually "looked" at this E210 head? (*Rehtorical question, lol** Not physically, but the links?) I agree that most Edelbrocks aren't the "best" for *****-out performance- Edelbrock is kinda "old school" in designs, theyre Perf RPM's and Victor series are kinda dated compared to the market, but these E210's look like something fresh. The numbers are impressive, quality looks great, made in USA, and damn what a price tag!

As far as Profiler goes, without having them ported up by Speier (or someone comparable), are they really all that? I hear a lot of awesome things about PORTED Profilers, but as cast what are they like? I was under the impression that Chad Speier could port up about anything (pro Comp, Dart, etc...) and make them flow great. I just thought that Profiler heads are what Speier recommends IF you get into porting heads...

Anyone have some as-cast Profilers they can vouch for? I punch the numbers for a 210 with 2.08 intake valves and it comes up 11 hundred complete, not a bad price, still more than the Edelbrocks tho. What's a hundred bucks if its worth it, right?

And, my question remains- is a 210 intake runner too damn big for my crate engine bottom? Some say yes, some say ehhhh, some say its likely not the best choice for ultimate performance for what I currently have, but its negligible if I plan on upgrading....??

 

Kind of works like if you go beyond 180/195 cc you need a cam to compliment that and to do that you need more than a 9.1 SCR.I suggest you play it safe on the smallish side with a cast bottom end.Remember flow=hp=increased rpm.

 

Thanks. That's what I tend to believe.

I spent last night going looking over the 195 Profiler head. I can get it with a 2.05 valve, and the exhaust-to-intake flow ratio beats everything I've compareable, at around 70% out-of-the-box. Edelbrock's are in the 60% range...great intake but not so great exhaust, which might hurt street performance in my lower compression 350.

Plus, if I wanna get freaky, the 195 head can be upgraded to massive flow rates by Chad Speier. Amazing what's being done with these heads.

 

I have a Pair of Profiler 210 CC Heads on my 408. I bought them from Chad without Porting.
They Flowed 304 CFM out of the Box ... I would Buy them again in a Heart beat!

 

Through my eyes cores are very much different. The end user just wants a great head at a reasonable cost.

I have worked closely with Pro-Filer on a few projects including the porters core SBC I use for my VFactor line. It's unlike most cores available.

I have a few RHS CNC programs that I'm moving into Dart cores. They are expensive, but the casting speaks for itself.

There are many good offerings available, and it's a lot to digest when choosing a head for your project.