Modify Stock heads?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
if you use cast iron heads other then you who is going to know??? most people don't understand the casting impressions on the end....or you can spend money on your old heads
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Westchester ohio
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
if you use cast iron heads other then you who is going to know??? most people don't understand the casting impressions on the end....or you can spend money on your old heads
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
there are tons out there.....low cost starters would be the Summit version of the old fuelie heads fully assembled with screw instuds for like $600...and the price goes up from there.....the problem is any really good work on your old heads will almost push you into the price range of new heads with everything you want on them.....
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 22
From: Yooperville MI
I assume you have the sharp red Vette in the avitar. I'm not sure there will be any benefit from the heads alone. You will probably need a cam, intake and carb mods as well to gain any performance. Also, to have a machine shop rework your heads, check the price, will be very close to brand out of the box iron heads.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
i went that route re-working the l-48 heads the first time the 383 was built,, this time i spent the money and got the edelbrock 64 cc heads. and w/ the cam i runnin the hp was up to 431/523 torque,,-----------------------
Last edited by carl a; Feb 18, 2006 at 07:11 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
I asked the same thing in a thread a couple of years ago. The general consensus was that the heads on the L48 were not one of the best heads for performance. If you tried to port them, or install bigger valves, you would spend more money that buying new iron heads that breathe better.
Summit sells some heads from World Products that would probably do the trick.
Summit sells some heads from World Products that would probably do the trick.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
If you go with used heads here is an article that describes the characteristics of different casting numbers.
SBC Cylinder Heads
If you re-work your heads or get used ones make sure they have been magnafluxed to verify they do not have any cracks.
SBC Cylinder Heads
If you re-work your heads or get used ones make sure they have been magnafluxed to verify they do not have any cracks.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 32,519
Likes: 1
From: central America
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Not that Lingenfelter is the definitive source, but he gives some pretty good advice in rebuilding SBC heads. When I rebuilt mine I put in larger 2.02/1.6 valves. That was a start. I should have also had them pocket ported (that occurs in the combustion chamber, opens them up a little bit, flows better) and then polished and ported on the intake and exhaust. For a street motor that would have worked very well with my cam and exhaust set-up. I'm considering pulling the heads off so I can have it done now.
trw
trw
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 2
From: Castle Hills Texas
If you want to keep the "look," go buy some decent heads and a can of Chevy Blue spray paint. That will be cheaper than reworking L-48 heads.
You might consider recurving your distributor if you haven't been down that road yet.
You might consider recurving your distributor if you haven't been down that road yet.