new heads for 283 build?

[grumpyvette]

Grumpy Im looking to build a performance 283 SBC, and the 2.02 fuelie heads I found won,t clear the smaller bore walls
283 -bore 3.875"
350 -bore 4.00"

The 461 fuelie heads were the first heads to use the 1.94/1.5. These heads is where the term "FUELIE" heads began. These heads ONLY had the 1.94/1.5 valves through 63,and were used on the dual quad and fuelie 283-327 corvettes ,then in 64, when the 365hp(carb) and 375hp (FI) 327s were produced, the 461 heads were opened up to accept the now famous 2.02/1.6 valves.
if your not too concerned with keeping it original, the 175cc port trickflow aluminum heads fit the 283 sbc and significantly out perform the stock fuelie heads

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/tfs-30310002/media/chartsandguides

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/tfs-30310002/applications/engine-size/4-6l-283

http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/chartsguides/t/tfs airflow super 23 175 2014c.pdf

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ed-up-fuelie-heads-for-cheap.2099/#post-50526

How far can I flat mill my old big valve -291's, 66 cc chamber heads?

Same with angle milling them?

I want to install a 50 cc chamber head is all.

Should I just install either 1.94" or 2.02" intakes and 1.60" exhaust valves in my old -601 heads, open them up and then flat mill them back down to 50 cc's?

Money is always tight or I would buy new heads so this is why I ask.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

pdq67

Im placing this here because matching the heads used too the selected cam duration and lift, and engine displacement, is critical to getting good results,yes I'm all too well aware that moneys darn hard to come by, but I'm also pointing out that theres far more effective choices than re-machining and adding larger valves too 30-60 year old cylinder head designs and the cost required to upgrade them significantly!
THINK THINGS THROUGH!
short answer, any time your thinking about spending cash on major components, just step back and think things through carefully, what will it cost and what can you reasonably expect to gain from the money spent?
will the new parts match and work well with the other components?
will the combo work with my cars drive train gearing?
will it work with the octane fuel I will use?
can I get replacement parts in a few years?
can I spend a bit more and get significantly improved performance for the extra cash outlay?
601 heads, or any of the old small valve OEM fuelie heads are by todays standards, are at best door stops, that would be a total waste of financial effort, to upgrade simply because by the time they were modified enough with port work and bigger valves, to even come close to the flow rate of aftermarket heads the cost will be very prohibitive, getting the heads that were designed to produce decent low and mid rpm torque on a 305 to flow even as well as mildly reworked vortec heads is unlikely

Start adding up what you will potentially have in a set of basic 305 heads if you were to start throwing cash at them in the basic hope of improving them

Heads from junkyard
Having them hot-tanked
Having them re-surfaced
buying new valves
having larger hardened seats installed
getting a multi angle valve job
getting the heads machined for larger valve springs
Having the valves ground
New Springs
New Retainers
New locks
Tapping them for screw in studs if you are running much spring pressure
New guides if they are worn out
Regrind the valves for a 30 degree back cut
Multiple Carbide burrs for porting
Multiple drum rolls for polishing
example
http://www.steveschmidtracing.com/machine-shop
Machine Shop - Labor Prices
Head Work
V-8 Valve Grind (Pr) $120.00
Pro Sportsman Valve Grind & Blend (Pr) $250.00
Competition Valve Grind (Pr) $350.00
Grind Valves (Set) $ 40.00
Back-Cut Valves (Set) $ 20.00
Surface Heads (up to .020) (Ea) $ 25.00
O-Ring Heads (.041 wire) (Pr) $120.00
Cut Heads for Loc-Wire (Pr) $120.00
Cut for Teflon Seals (Pr) $ 32.00
Cut for Large Springs (Pr) $ 32.00
Mill & CC Heads (Pr) $100.00
Clean Assemble Set Spring Height $ 80.00
Cut for Seats (1st seat) $ 30.00
Cut for Add'l Seats (2-7) (Per Head) $ 20.00
Hone Guides (Ea) $ 2.00
Install Guides (Ea) $ 5.00
Mill Int. or Ex. Side (Per Surface) $ 5.00
Angle Mill Head Correct Int. Side & Ream Head Bolt Holes $200.00
Clean Heads (Ea) $ 20.00
Custom Machine Work (Hr) $ 60.00

fact! it will be much more cost effective to sell those heads and buy a decent aftermarket head design, that will significantly out flow the ported 601 heads, plus have alot more features


yeah I know not 1/4 of the guys will read through the linked info, but that group is far more likely to have a fast car later as a result


http://www.summitracing.com/parts/tfs-30310002/media/chartsandguides

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...u-buy-bare-or-assembled-heads.534/#post-27236

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/milling-heads-and-intakes.2988/#post-9055

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/ccrp-1209-eight-budget-sbc-head-shootout/

http://www.stockcarracing.com/techarticles/scrp_0801_budget_racing_engine/

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/engines-drivetrain/sucp-0705-budget-chevy-cylinder-heads/

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/en...e=cxrecs&cx_navSource=related-bottom#cxrecs_s

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ed-up-fuelie-heads-for-cheap.2099/#post-50526

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/unleaded-fuel.11498/#post-52990

http://www.ws6transam.org/ported.html

http://www.strokerengine.com/SBCHeadsFlow.html

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...olishing-combustion-chambers.2630/#post-48319

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...at-angles-and-air-flow.8460/page-2#post-32923

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/whats-a-valve-job-cost.8596/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-old-heads-in-the-scrap-bin.10728/#post-46832

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...king-piston-to-valve-clearances.399/#post-488

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...g-vortec-heads-and-other-heads.401/#post-7853

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...u-buy-bare-or-assembled-heads.534/#post-27236

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/sellecting-cylinder-heads.796/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...e-springs-and-setting-up-the-valve-train.181/

 

[Loves302Chevy]

If you don't want to spend $550. (min) each for the Trick Flow Aluminum heads, there is another alternative. If you want a cast iron head, then for $700. for the assembled PAIR, you can get World Products S/R Cast Iron Chev SB Head, 170cc/58cc, Assm., Pair from Competition Products. They have the cheapest price on these that I have found. Summit & Jegs want $550. EACH. You have to use a 350 bore size head gasket with these because of the shape of the combustion chambers. Here is a link: http://www.competitionproducts.com/...Head-170cc_58cc-Assm-Pair/productinfo/4265KA/. You can upgrade the springs for a few dollars more. Or, if you want to save even more money and assemble them yourself, then you can even get them BARE ($600.) or UN-ASSEMBLED ($680.). Here's a link for the flow data: http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rld-305-torquer-head-flow-data-for-283-s.html. Depending on how wild you want to build it, these and the Trick Flows are basically your 2 choices. Mike.

 

[Grumpy]

http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/chartsguides/t/tfs airflow super 23 175 2014c.pdf

I guess it all depends on your goals and budget, but as a rough guide, with a fairly mild cam limiting lift,
those world product heads max out at about 200 cfm,out of the box, and they are heavy iron heads that are harder to repair.
the trickflows are aluminum,and flow in the mid 250 cfm range and the afr are aluminum and flow in the 260 cfm range
but before you get locked into building a 283, Id point out that finding a 350 in a salvage yard or in a accident involved car in the locally classified adds may be a better option than dealing with a small bore 283, and it will certainly allow far more cylinder head choices.
ID also point out the the 283 crank could be used in a 350 4" bore block to build a 301 which is going to produce noticeably better power than a similar 283.
any time you buy new cylinder heads it makes a great deal of sense, to verify they are designed to match the block youll use, the piston dome shape, and to look for several independent reviews, from previous purchasers, that are NOT on the manufactures web site and to read through the fine print on specs on valve size,valve spring load rates , max valve lift, port cross sectional area, combustion chamber volume,suggested head gaskets, intake manifolds, and look for advice on matching cams headers etc.
It certainly won,t hurt to shop for vendors selling at a lower price, but be aware component quality in valves, retainers and machine work do vary wildly as does the care taken in the machine work being done, so you tend to get what you pay for!

 

[Loves302Chevy]

I agree. If I ever build another SBC, it will be a 377 (4.125 bore x 3.480 stroke). No clearance issues, no small bore issues, greater parts choice selection, etc.

 

[Grumpy]

yeah! back in the day, (1970s-early 1980s) we used to build 377 engines from those 400 blocks as fast as we could get our hands on them and they make astonishing power for a SBC, but as cylinder heads technology improved we found that building a 406 sbc from those 400 sbc blocks produced even better power,where in the earlier days the heads we had were too flow restrictive.
using something like mildly ported fuelie heads on a 377 produces just as much power as you get from a 406, but put something like the current 200-210 cc heads from the better brands on the two short blocks and the 406 starts to show both more torque and equal or better peak power (the reason building 377 engine has tended to become rare vs the 406)

 

[Loves302Chevy]

Good to know. I do have that pair of Canfield 220s.