I am trying to decide which heads I'm going to put on my car. We have some 350 horse double hump heads in the shop near where I used to work and I could get them ready for bolt on and spend about $600 doing so. I can even drill the accessory holes and all. Should I go with these or just by some aluminum heads. Anyone know the flow rating comparisons (General, I don't need a technical lecture). I plan on installing a bigger cam when I do this along with a 2800 stall converter and new rear (I destroyed all the spidergear spacers and warped the whole freakin differential in the stock one----very interesting story for that). I am also planning on a centrifugal type supercharger in the future. Thanks in advance.

 

For 600 bucks, you could get a new set of Vortec heads. These will easily outflow old 350 heads; they also have the advantage of the fast burn combustion chamber. This means great effeciency (mpg) and power even on crappy 87 octane gas.

The disadvantages are, you need a different new style intake manifold, and a factory type rocker arm, if I remember right. The stock springs won't handle a great big cam, but they should handle enough for a street engine. With a supercharger, you wouldn't need a monster cam anyway.

The other option is to save up a few hundred bucks more, and step up to aluminum heads. Saves weight, a bit better flow than the vortecs. Disadvantages, more easily damaged by overheating or wrong torquing proceedure. Also, sometimes there's a chemical reaction between the iron block and the AL head, which bonds them together. I think that's caused by ionizing in the coolant, but somebody else would have to elaborate on this, I'm not too sure.

Also, whatever head you get, be sure to check on all the other necessary items you'd have to purchase, such as pushrods, rocker arms, springs, etc.

 

You can't drill the bolt holes if they're not there, there's no metal to drill. If they're one of the castings (such as all the ones that came on 350s) that already have the bolt holes you don't have to do anything, just bolt them on. The ones I have in my car for example have the holes, they're 186 casting.

 

I read an article within the last year, comparing Heads and the iron vortec did very well against the Aluminum heads with the lowest flow numbers. Then when you factor in cost of the heads, versus flow, the Iron vortec gave you the best value for dollar spent. By comparison if you are talking high end Brodix or Cannfields and money is no object, you can go faster.

 

Considering there's a head gasket between your block and heads I dont see how they'd bond together with no mating surfaces

 

RB83L69 yes you can. I have done it many times before. Thanks guys...keep em coming. Are those vortecs $600 for a fully assembled head??