Cheap Good Cylinder Heads

J

jelco

Active Member
Where do you find good and cheap cylinder heads?
A set of these for $280 + valves + springs, reuse old rocker arms = $400
https://www.ebay.com/itm/393005918509
https://www.ebay.com/itm/322892146731

sellecting cylinder heads

you might want to watch this, its comparing the vortec SBC heads vs a CNC aluminum 210cc SBC head on a 383 (yes a head that large actually works and has a great deal more low and mid rpm torque that you may have been lead to believe, with 210cc ports and yes there are better heads in the...
garage.grumpysperformance.com
Buy used, cleaned Vortec heads with old valves and springs + Vortec intake manifold = $570?
*Currently I have this*
Engine Name: 350 LM1, #10066036
Horsepower: 249 HP @ 5,000 RPM
Torque: 304 Ft/Lbs @ 3,500 RPM
Compression Ratio: 8.50 to 1
Block: 4 – Bolt, 2 Piece Rear Seal, 4.000” Bore
Crankshaft: Cast Nodular 3.480” Stroke
Heads: Cast Iron, 76cc
Valves: 1.940” / 1.500”
Camshaft lift: 0.390” / 0.410” Hydraulic
Duration @ 0.050”: 195° / 202°
Intake: Not Included

I probably have this stock cam:
Hydraulic Flat tappet Camshaft- #14088839
Intake Lift-.383" Exhaust Lift-.401"
Intake Duration @ .050"- 194 Exhaust Duration @.050"- 202
Lobe Seperation-112

Carburetor: edelbrock 1406
Intake manifold: Edelbrock 2601

Headers: currently just have exhaust manifolds
The goal is to have a little bit of power on a budget for a daily driver.

valve seat angles and air flow

USE THE CALCULATORS http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/runnertorquecalc.html http://www.wallaceracing.com/chokepoint.php http://www.wallaceracing.com/header_length.php http://www.wallaceracing.com/chokepoint.php http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/runnertorquecalc.html...
garage.grumpysperformance.com
promaxxperformance.com

Project X SBC 215 (Sold in Pairs) - PROMAXX Performance Products

promaxxperformance.com promaxxperformance.com
watch this video
keep in mind technology is always changing and frequently improving, what might be todays hot ticket, might be only a bit above average in a couple years time
 
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you DO REALIZE you can,t just drop the valve train parts, from kits they sell,
into or on, those bare cast heads
and have the result work RIGHT???:rolleyes:

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/valve-seat-runout.15104/#post-86003

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...u-buy-bare-or-assembled-heads.534/#post-81754

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/multi-angle-valve-job-related.3143/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...gree-valve-seats-tpi-motors.14662/#post-98674

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...gree-valve-seats-tpi-motors.14662/#post-98674

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/ccing-my-heads.14187/#post-71989

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

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...at-angles-and-air-flow.8460/page-2#post-33298

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/removing-valve-seals.4283/#post-11290

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

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...and-setting-up-the-valve-train.181/#post-1397
 
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if you skip over reading the links and sub-links,
you're surely missing:rolleyes:the VAST majority,
of the related info you'll need
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-1209-eight-budget-sbc-head-shootout/


are the stock aluminum corvette L98 heads any good?

most of us want to save money and theres almost always some guy selling used " C4 ALUMINUM CORVETTE HEADS" at a good price so I get asked if thats a good performance upgrade, as they are usually far less expensive than new aftermarket heads,those used aluminum corvette heads can usually be...
garage.grumpysperformance.com

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


OMG I cracked my CYLINDER head!!!

I CAN NOT BELIEVE A MAJOR, world renown company like automotive company named ARP would make such a piece of crap stud like the one that just cracked my cylinder head… WHAT were they thinking?? How many cylinder heads have the stupid insane studs have been cracked by these. And the package...
garage.grumpysperformance.com

hey I just picked up FUELIE HEADS FOR CHEAP..

"hey GRUMPYVETTE,I just picked up 492 FUELIE HEADS FOR CHEAP..CAN I GET THEM TO PRODUCE 400 HP!" SURE you can get those heads to produce 400hp, but for the same money you could most likely make an additional 40-60 more hp with better aftermarket cylinder heads,TECHNOLOGY HAS ADVANCED A GREAT...
garage.grumpysperformance.com
www.youtube.com

Testing Stock Open Chamber SBC Heads

I flowed and give results on sbc 882,441,487,and 487x heads.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/engines-drivetrain/sucp-0803-performance-cylinder-head-comparison/

https://www.chevydiy.com/ultimate-chevy-big-inch-small-block-cylinder-heads-cheat-sheet/

https://www.chevydiy.com/the-complete-cylinder-head-guide-for-chevy-small-block-engines/

port speeds and area

I CAN,T EVEN TELL YOU HOW INSANE SOME CONVERSATIONS I HAVE SEEN GUYS GET EVOLVED IN ARE! GUYS TELL YOU A 210CC air flow research HEADS GOING TO ABSOLUTELY KILL Torque ON A 383 BUT ITS FINE FOR A 400 SBC, WHAT TOTAL b.s, your cylinder heads port size needs to be selected with both displacement...
garage.grumpysperformance.com

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/performance-aftermarket-chevy-small-block-cylinder-heads

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ed-up-fuelie-heads-for-cheap.2099/#post-85190

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...d-to-head-test-stock-vs-dart.5364/#post-16066

https://www.enginebuildermag.com/20...ars-cylinder-heads-key-unlocking-performance/

yeah everything thats even decent quality is expensive but shop carefully

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bro-1021004

https://www.jegs.com/i/ProMaxx-Performance/723/2181/10002/-1

https://www.jegs.com/p/ProMaxx-Perf...hevy-Aluminum-Cylinder-Heads/2786544/10002/-1





www.youtube.com

YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
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Yes, I would make sure to get the correct valves. I was asking for opinions on the type of heads to get based on the camshaft and engine I have.
Information overload but looks like lots of good links. Thanks!
 
you've got dozens of options, but I generally use the brodix IK 180 cc heads on similar builds,
or the brodix 200 cc port heads on more aggressive builds,used mostly on street driven cars
simply because they are high quality at a reasonable price,
and you see few issues, something that's much less true in some less expensive heads,
and it really sucks to spend $600-$700 on the cheaper heads and find out you have
valve train clearance, component alignment, the wrong valve spring load rates,
port flow restrictions, valve sealing, rocker arm alignment, push rod to guide clearance .
,valve seals that don't fit correctly, spring bind and similar issues



https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bro-1021004

related threads
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...train-clearances-and-problems.528/#post-79625

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...tched-valve-spring-required.13774/#post-77425

OMG I cracked my CYLINDER head!!!

I CAN NOT BELIEVE A MAJOR, world renown company like automotive company named ARP would make such a piece of crap stud like the one that just cracked my cylinder head… WHAT were they thinking?? How many cylinder heads have the stupid insane studs have been cracked by these. And the package...
garage.grumpysperformance.com

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...rect-custom-length-pushrods.14241/#post-72353

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/stock-gm-push-rod-length.3844/#post-70588

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/rocker-push-rod-wear-issues.9815/#post-56169

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-rockers-and-the-pushrods-rub.198/#post-46839

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ting-up-the-valve-train.181/page-2#post-43988

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/removing-valve-seals.4283/#post-98512
 
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www.trickflow.com

Trick Flow Specialties TFS-32410007-C01 Trick Flow® Super 23® 215 Cylinder Heads for Small Block Chevrolet | Trick Flow Specialties

Free Shipping - Trick Flow® Super 23® 215 Cylinder Heads for Small Block Chevrolet with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Cylinder Heads at Trick Flow Specialties.
www.trickflow.com www.trickflow.com
www.youtube.com

Testing Stock Open Chamber SBC Heads

I flowed and give results on sbc 882,441,487,and 487x heads.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
for an off brand head these promax 215cc SBC heads,
provide a decent value once cleaned up and a decent valve jobs been done
(ideally a multi angle valve job and use steel cup valve spring seats , to protect the aluminum heads,
and light weight retainers and maybe beehive valve springs)(smaller diam. retainers weigh less and beehive valve springs less prone to harmonic valve spring surge issues) and (a rocker stud girdle might help also)
as usual talk too both the cam and head manufacturers and your machine shop, or cylinder head shop guy you trust
tfs-30400701_w.jpg
116_0310_02_z-vortec_valvesprings-spring_compressor_tool.jpg

obviously you'll need the correct valve springs and a decent hydraulic roller cam,
with between about 230-240 duration and about a .550-610 lift (use 1.6:1 ratio roller rockers)
that in turn will require a manual transmission or a 3200 rpm stall converter and about a 3.54:1-4.11:1 rear gear,
and about a 383-406 cid and about 10:1-11:1 compression ratio, in most cars to max power
 
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grumpyvette

Thread 'should you buy bare or assembled heads'

should you buy bare or assembled heads ?
well lets put out a few facts for you to decide,
the ADVANTAGE in buying bare heads is in that you get to select each component to be used in the valve train,"THIS IS A HUGE ADVANTAGE", and THEN YOU select a shop you trust, that can assemble and carefully custom fit those components you selected, too get the ideal balance between cost, light weight and durability,and make sure you get quality components,
but keep in mind you'll rarely save any money going this route, because most assembled heads are sold with crappy import...

all new heads regardless of manufacturer or source must be carefully disassembled, cleaned and examined ,
then obviously reassembled , clearance checked valve train valve spring installed height and clearances verified,
and leak tested before use.
the truth is that product availability, quality and prices are constantly changing, the technology is slowly improving and any cylinder head you buy after doing the required research ,even the best available are very likely to be surpassed with better tech and improved components within a few years,or a vendor will find a cheaper source for a similar head, and you will no longer be able to purchase the heads you originally were researching, and its even more likely that you won't be able to buy the same heads from the same source in under 5 years time, simply because vendors change, discontinue the heads they carry, as suppliers and materials and technology changes, you are very likely to find that if you do the required research, to find the best heads for your application, that you better purchase them rather quickly or they will be out of production within a year or so as vendors constantly change suppliers or components or discontinue slower sellers, even if the heads are exceptionally well made and make excellent power. its good practice to always purchase heads as a matched set, as it's not all that rare to find any particular part number ,discontinued or no longer available from many or any vendors within a few months, THEY MAY HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR YEARS , BUT VENDORS ARE CONSTANTLY MAKING CHANGES IN INVENTORY
 
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the truth is that product availability, quality and prices are constantly changing, the technology is slowly improving and any cylinder head you buy after doing the required research ,even the best available are very likely to be surpassed with better tech and improved components within a few years,or a vendor will find a cheaper source for a similar head, and you will no longer be able to purchase the heads you originally were researching, and its even more likely that you won't be able to buy the same heads from the same source in under 5 years time, simply because vendors change, discontinue the heads they carry, as suppliers and materials and technology changes, you are very likely to find that if you do the required research, to find the best heads for your application, that you better purchase them rather quickly or they will be out of production within a year or so as vendors constantly change suppliers or components or discontinue slower sellers, even if the heads are exceptionally well made and make excellent power.
 
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always purchase heads as a matched set, as it's not all that rare to find any particular part number ,discontinued or no longer available from many or any vendors within a few months, THEY MAY HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR YEARS , BUT VENDORS ARE CONSTANTLY MAKING CHANGES IN INVENTORY
 
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