I'm looking in to getting heads for my 87 Trans Am. It has a 305 with edelbrock intake, edelbrock headers, edelbrock catback, and a Holley S/A 570 cfm carb. The heads i was looking at were the World Products SR Torker heads. Are these heads worth it, or are there any other heads that will work. Thanks.

 

At the risk of raising ire over being a WP fanatic, I'll offer these tidbits:

Pop Hot Rod mag did a dyno comparison on a TPI 305, fresh .030"-over rebuild, stock-like Comp roller cam, long-tube 1-5/8" headers. Baseline with 3-angle valve job factory heads, it pulled 190 hp (right what the factory rated an auto tranny LB9). Then bolted on pocket-ported WP 305 S/R Torquer heads, pulled 238 hp. Not bad.

Another mag did a 305 buildup using WP heads along the way, picked up about 30 hp bolting on Vortecs. That was with a much more agressive cam & induction, and no mention if the Worlds were pocket ported.

I haven't dyno'd mine nor made a run at the track, but I'm very impressed with the way it runs. I did all the mods at the same time, so it's hard to know exactly how much the heads themselves add.

They come with the "good" stuff - 1.94" intake valves, springs good for higher lift, screw-in rocker studs. High quality castings. Use "regular" intake manifolds, have the exhaust cross-over passages so the EGR valve will work. But, they really should be pocket ported at a minimum to get real benefits out of them.

Although not perfect, and more expensive than Vortecs as delivered, they are the only performance head out there made specifically for the 305 (or other small-bore engines like 283 or 307). Aluminum 58cc heads exist, but they're 58cc for a 350 to make up for the heat loss through the aluminum. Neither the Vortecs nor factory aluminum have the cross-over passage.

If you plan on doing port work yourself, factory 305 heads can be made to work well, but springs must be improved and rocker studs should be converted to screw-in. You can put in larger intake valves, but they will be more shrouded than they are in the S/R's. Port size and shape is better on Worlds than factory.

I think they're worth it, but that's a pro/con arguement you'll have to resolve for yourself.