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Choose my heads

*AHEM*....... /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif Being the little piggy that i am i just cant resist. They sound like a killer set of heads.......ill take those /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif I think there just what the doctor ordered to wake that little baby up a little. /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif ALTHOUGH= there were some valid points brought up from all of you. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif Thanks Guys,Jake /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif Feel free to post anything else/argue bickcer /nitpick/ whatever about heads bla bla. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
 
Just wondering..What compression ratio are you planning on running?
If you are keeping it close to stock CR, aluminum heads are a waste of money. Cast iron would be better and make more power because they hold the heat better.
If you are going over 9.5 to 1 then alu would be ok.
 
If he ordered them with 72cc chambers that would boost his compression right around 9.1:1, I think. /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

4x4high,
Well I would just be a little worried that if the motor ever did get hot that it could crack them. I have had my 406 to 260 degrees on probably 5 different occasions. It is easy to say, "I have a good cooling system, it won't ever overheat" but a few weeks ago my new defective A/C belt blew into pieces and knocked the other 2 belts off, noticed some pinging and looked down to see the mech. guage at 260* from no waterpump turning. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif My point is it's easy for something to happen and get a motor hot.

Are the AFR heads less prone to cracking than a stock iron head(non vortec)?

Jake, I wouldn't spend all that money on heads that will give you a marginal amount of power but cost a fortune and what do you need all that power for anyway? You don't need to tow with it or anything and how many miles are you really going to drive it? Your fuel system sucks and so does your ignition system and those 2 will be your biggest obstacles. It's a domino effect, then you will want to pull the CCC and go with a holley or edel and a better ignition system....we both know where that leads to. The reason why I built a motor is because I tow a lot and have to pull trucks and farm equipment out of the mud all the time. /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif The 350 will get it around just fine stock. Offroad in low range you will have plenty of power with that motor stock. I'm just saying that if you spend all that money and then wake up one day and relize what you have, you might regret it. I wish I could get my 3K back and just have kept the old 350.

The question is....is $2500 worth maybe 50-60 horsepower?
 
Most aftermarket heads are less prone to cracking than any iron head is because they have been made thicker and have better cooling passages than any factory head.

Cost effectiveness is sometimes a concern but not always for everybody. When I put AFR's on my engine I gained 2MPG and lots of torque.
 
Hey man........ 4X4 high... can you take a look at those and tell me how much better are the other AFRs???? Do the AFRs woop ass all over these worlds?? /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
 
if you want more power Id put the money into a little cheaper (world products) heads and a stroker- (the best way to increase power in and around a stock engine IMO)
 
get a 383 from a good builder and call it a day. Your gonna have alot of money in that engine and its not going to matter because you can't race a k5(to effectively). You've got a lot to learn still..... /forums/images/graemlins/whistling.gif /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif
 
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I definitely wouldn't use Vortecs. They are not set up for stock-style EGR so they'll be a pain in the ass to make work with smog.

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How do you figure? They have the heat risers inthem.


The ARF heads do in deed seem nice. But as stated before they might not reach there full pitential, but you could always get the other ones, for low end torque.

4X4HIGH, whats the reason the Vortec heads crack? I havent ever heard of this. Is it something to do with improper installation?

I would just get the Vortecs, but I might change my decision after I hear why they have cracking problems.
 
yeah ive gotten so mant replies i dont know what to say..........everyone seems to have there own opinion.Wich is what i wanted. I have only 15 thou on the 350(crate motor) and wanted to pump it up a bit within Ca smog regualtions. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif Stupid regulations /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif I will throw in a small cam too. Again within the Ca regulations /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif Its like theres too many heads to choose from. I am still leaning towards the AFRs /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gifAnyone else wanna try?????????
 
Well, perhaps you can limit your choices a bit based on what you have already.

You have the CCC system, so that means you have the perimeter bolt heads (pre-86) which means you can only use heads of that style, unless you plan on swapping intakes.

Whats your actual location? I assume CA, and if that is correct, anything you consider needs a CARB E/O number, right? So that could eliminate a bunch of choices as well, no?

After that, you've got the heat riser/EGR issue. If you get something like Vortecs that don't run EGR like older heads, you have to pay to route it some other way, which means another intake change, if one is even available for "remote" EGR and carb.

If I were selecting truck heads, I'd make sure they had a fastburn style chamber, thick castings, good springs, good studs, and good velocity but with less volume.

I wouldn't worry too much about AL vs. non-AL, AL is great for reducing weight, but in these trucks, thats not much of a concern. If I were dead set on AL heads, I'd run as much compression as possible for whatever octane you want to run, to make up for the power lost to the iron heads.

I am running Vortecs, and I'm regretting them somewhat. I didn't know better at the time, and there weren't as many options as there are now. Of course the TPI setup throws more curves than yours does, but what can I say?

At this point, if you the Pro-Toplines come with what you need (EGR crossover essentially, right intake bolt pattern) they might be a real good bet...but I don't know what the bolt pattern/EGR situation is with them.

Everything that has options makes your choices harder. Carbs, cams, computers, you name it. Take your time deciding, or you will find a better option AFTER you buy something.
 
i am running the Edlebrock Performer heads, very good improvement over the stock heads. I guess the only downer so far is header bolts like to work themselves loose but I just go over the engine daily and all is well.
 
Cool......what i can tell you is that it is a 85 blazer, and its carbed and in Ca. The only thing comming from the motor now is the tube that goes from the left head(facing the truck) to the air cleaner assembly. Thats it. BTW its a little 350 goodwrench motor. With all the smog goodeis /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
 
Stage 8 locks will stop that.
Other than safty wire that is the best set up I have used to keep problematic header bolts in place.
 
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Cool......what i can tell you is that it is a 85 blazer, and its carbed and in Ca. The only thing comming from the motor now is the tube that goes from the left head(facing the truck) to the air cleaner assembly. Thats it. BTW its a little 350 goodwrench motor. With all the smog goodeis /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

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You have the california only Computer controled carburetor setup along with an ESC distributer. I think we have been over this before. The system is extremely primitive and it is about as far from hi performance as it gets. That is going to be one of your biggest obstacles to make good power IMHO. that carb sucks and so does the ignition system.
I still think it would be a waist of money for the amount of power you would gain from heads.

It's kind of like headers.....the stock manifolds aren't costing you much more than just a couple HP compared to if you had headers. Now if that motor was a 383 with a nice cam, heads, 9+ compression, holley carb, ignition system then the stock manifolds would cost more power because that built up motor needs to breath much more.
 
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that carb sucks and so does the ignition system.

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Why does either one suck? Nothing much different about either except you have timing controlled by an ECM, and the carb is only computer controlled for cruise, essentially.

Those carbs aren't a whole lot different than TBI, except they can flow a lot more.
 
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Cool......what i can tell you is that it is a 85 blazer, and its carbed and in Ca. The only thing comming from the motor now is the tube that goes from the left head(facing the truck) to the air cleaner assembly. Thats it. BTW its a little 350 goodwrench motor. With all the smog goodeis /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

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You have the california only Computer controled carburetor setup along with an ESC distributer. I think we have been over this before. The system is extremely primitive and it is about as far from hi performance as it gets. That is going to be one of your biggest obstacles to make good power IMHO. that carb sucks and so does the ignition system.
I still think it would be a waist of money for the amount of power you would gain from heads.

It's kind of like headers.....the stock manifolds aren't costing you much more than just a couple HP compared to if you had headers. Now if that motor was a 383 with a nice cam, heads, 9+ compression, holley carb, ignition system then the stock manifolds would cost more power because that built up motor needs to breath much more.

[/ QUOTE ] Actually we havent been over this before /forums/images/graemlins/deal.gif So what you are saying is either build a 383 or give it up??? just forget about it??? Its not worth it, so dont even try????????? /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
 
All i know is that i want more power ,,,,,,,the little 350 is too boring.There has to be some way of doing this legaly. /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif PS......what a pain /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
 
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