IM a bit confused about this bit of info "Too shallow for the lifters."
I assume your referring to the (ROCKERS), not LIFTERS, because the lifters are in the blocks lifter gallery so the cam can contact them, not the heads
buying out dated fuelie heads with todays increased tech aftermarket heads available if max performance is your goal is a bad joke, as you can easily put $1200 into machine work and porting and not come close to some of the better current aluminum aftermarket head flow levels
these were great heads back in the 1960s but current design and testing technology has far surpassed that flow and power level nearly 60 years after they were originally used.
http://sallee-chevrolet.com/Cylinder_Heads/Vortec.html
can you post the casting numbers on your fuelie heads?
heres some old fuelie heads with the chamber slightly un-shrouding the intake valve pocket walls
typical factory pressed in rocker studs
can you post pictures of the head and valve covers?
when your building a performance engine the cylinder heads you select are a critical component in the combos power potential, the heads you select, depends on the application,in stock condition the stock heads are fine on a car designed for transportation,(they function) but not very effective as a power producing option, but then theres very few stock cast iron sbc OEM heads other than vortecs in stock form that came as original equipment that are worth much by comparison to current aftermarket designs.
its a financial P.I.T.A. but the days of putting a minor port and bowl clean-up on a set of stock heads and being competitive on a track are long gone.
now don,t take this wrong, an extensively ported set of fuelie or vortec heads on a well designed combo can easily develop 400-450plus even in some cases 500 hp , its just that in the long run, its going to be faster cheaper and easier to reach or exceed any specific hp level using the better aftermarket heads currently available.
i
t makes little sense to me to put $1000 or more into additional machine work and porting costs on stock cast iron heads to just equal the out of the box potential of a good set of after market heads, especially when you consider the additional potential power the aftermarket heads still have, plus in most cases aluminum heads tend to be far easier to repair, lighter in weight and less prone to detonation, because they tend to run a bit cooler
look thru these
http://www.purplesagetradingpost.com/su ... eads1.html
notice all the more impressive combos use better heads
http://www.ryanscarpage.50megs.com/combos1.html
READING these threads may help
http://racingfeed.com/downloads/chevy_flow_data.pdf
are you aware there ARE valve cover spacers to convert standard valve covers into TALL valve covers for clearance, in some cases, and adapters to convert center bolt to perimeter bolt cover designs? in case you want to maintain the stock look to some extent issues
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/STF-63900/
http://www.ansenusa.com/shopexd.asp?id=416
Thanks for the help!
