I need some help with info on BBC heads, we are going to start building our fist BB and I'm starting with a 454 that came out of a 83' one ton pick up. I'm hearing a lot about differant heads, I ran the casting numbers and the info says that they are from 75-87 and open chamber 113 cc. I had another guy tell me that these are called peanut port heads and worthless for what I'm wanting to do.

I'm building this motor for an 89 2wd pick up and would like good driveability and about 500 crank hp, I will also be putting a 100 shot on it.

Any info or advice is greatly appreciated guys, I don't know if this is the best place to ask these questions but the forum has always come thru in the past.

Thanks again in advance,
Bob

 

14092360...86-90...oval...OPEN...454 Truck, "peanut" round ports
http://www.mortec.com/bbc.htm

Are the heads this? If it was me I would look for 049 or 781 heads they are cheap and plentiful and have descent flow. A little porting and they flow better.

500hp and a 100hp shot of NO2 calls for a forged crankshaft. Drive-ability and 500hp are not exactly compatible without spending some money on good parts. Good rods, good pistons, and good flowing heads. How much are you planning on spending?

 

I can't beleive I didn't put the casting numbers in my first post, DUH!!!!
The heads are 346236 castings, will these work?

 

346236.....75-87...oval...OPEN...454, 120cc chamber, 225/116cc ports

Well, they will work. But 120cc will be hard to make compression. You will need bigger domes (which I don't like). You need to have about a 10 to 1 compression.

336781.....73-85...oval...OPEN...454, 118cc chamber, 256/114cc ports

See how much bigger these heads are? 256 vs 225 intake ports. While 2cc may not seem like a lot. But multiply that by 8 cylinders and you have 16cc to make up with piston hight (more weight). Which means custom pistons and more money. And you are still slinging more weight around which costs horsepower.

If it was me the heads would be tossed in the scrap pile.

 

OK, I guess the next question is how much compression will you make by milling the heads? Also can anyone tell me if these are the peanut port heads as I don't find any info online regarding peanut heads and will the heads that I have flow worth a crap even if I get the compression where I need it? Last question what would I expect to pay for a better casting number head, I don't want to put to much into these heads as I can go to new aluminum heads ready to go for around $1500

Thanks again

 

A set of oval port heads should be around $100. Do not pay too much for one vs the other they are both good oval port heads.

The trick in oval port heads is knowing which heads are better than others.

Peanut refers to the exhaust port. If you get the air through the head it has to go out the exhaust (to a certain extent).

 

Peanut port heads were used on medium duty trucks(C-5,6,7) on 366/427/454 tall deck BB's. The peanut intake port is 1.600" x 1.450", oval intake port is 1.600" x 1.820" and rectangular intake port is 1.710" x 2.370". The peanut ports were for high torque/low rpm applications.

John Lingenfelter was involved with a Hot Rod Magazine article titled "Maximum Rat" in Jan. 1993 where he conducted dyno tests with a 502 short block and the peanut and oval port heads. With the peanut heads ported to match oval intake gaskets(tapering back to peanut size before the valve), Comp 268 hyd. roller cam, Performer intake, 9.2 comp. and a 750cfm Holley he made 558 ft/lb @ 4000rpms + 504 hp @ 5000rpms. With oval heads, a Comp 286 hyd flat tappet cam, 9.2 cr, Performer RPM + Holley 750 he made 555 ft. lbs @ 4500 + 548 hp @ 5500 rpm. With the oval heads, a Comp 296 solid roller, 9.2 cr, Dart Single plane and a 1050 Dominator he made 605 ft/lbs @ 5000 rpm + 664 hp @ 6500 rpm.

I understand you're dealing with a smaller cube BB, but with advances made in the last 14 years, you might get pretty close. You really need to make sure everything(cam, rear axle ratio, convertor etc.) works together. You also want to know what you want the whole package to do.

I'd scan you the article if I could get my scanner to comunicate with my PC. Example mismatched components???

 

Bob... Here's the skinny on Head Flow from Chevy High Performance
Magazine... comparing the flow numbers on various BBC heads..
*
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...ench_database/
*
If you need to find a used set.. other than what you have go to
http://www.racingjunk.com
I've seen good flowing BBC Iron heads... and some of the Aluminum
L-88,89 repops selling at racingjunk awfully cheap.

 

"366/427/454 tall deck BB's. "

I would check your proposed block. Coming from a truck, it could be a "tall deck" block. If so, your standard intake manifold and other accessories probably will not match up with the heads.

 

The "tall" deck was only available in the 427 or the 366 variety. You can find them in 2 ton (or bigger) trucks.