I think I just opened myself up for some fun comments. Anyway, I am lloking for recomendations for heads to replace the stock heads on my 82. Yes it still has the crossfire set up and the computer which I do not plan on changing. With that being said, what would be crossfire friendly? I am looking to gain some performance. I have been told in the past to buy 64cc combustion chamber but im not sure about the specs on the rest. Any help with this would be appreciated.

 

Well I'm not a computer person but my guess is as long as
you keep the stock cam changing to heads that breath a little
better and have a little more compression may be allright for
the computer. keep the runner size small with your very mild cam
you can't really take advantage of bigger runners, a modern 170
runner 202/160 valve size head with 64cc combustion chambers.
Summit sells part #SUM-152123 iron head with 165 runner 202/160
valves, 67cc chambers and 1.250 valve springs that would work with
your flat tappit hydraulic cam $649.00

 

It's a myth that better heads call for bigger cams. Actually, the better the head, the less cam needed to do the particular job. What you don't want to do is go so big on ports that you kill intake charge velocity. So, why not take the time to do some homework and check out other offerings such as those from Edelbrock?

 

Yeah, but a better breathing head will want a better cam to take advantage of it's breathing capabilities. Short duration/short lift cams are great for stock type stuff, but if you put a set of good heads on, you'll be leaving hp on the table by not upgrading cams. It generally doesn't take much - a 6 -8 degree increase and duration and bump lift as high as you feel comfortable with since most better heads breathe much better at higher lifts. As long as you're swapping heads, a cam change isn't that big of a deal.
GO ROLLER AND NEVER LOOK BACK, YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID!

 

Thanks for the info. Looks like I have some learning and homework to do. But I have a good starting point.

 

Also check out AFR, they are a bit pricey, but well worth the dough... I believe the smallest runner head they make is the 185 which should work great.

 

Point well taken, and yes, absolutely go roller if you can afford to

 

There are a lot of good aluminum heads out there I just put the
summit up as a good inexpensive example, AFR is up to $1400.00
now for there heads, darts around $1200.00, brodix has a 180 runner
head for $1050.00. From what I understand the big breathing
problem on the 82 is the throttle body crossram, without doing
something to it your not going to get any full benefit out of a
head or cam change.

 

Don't forget that there are a number of good iron SB heads out there that are budget friendly. Afterall, it's not as if you're looking at 75lbs difference like on a BB...

 

But couldn't he benefit from smaller chambers ie more compression and a small cam change? If you keep the crossfire, look for some zz4 heads. Al, 58 cc's and 163 runners. It won't be a high rpm set up but it should run good on the street.

 

Sure it would help some the reason I put the inexpensive 165
runner head up, I was guessing he might not want to change
cams or do whatever it takes to get more airflow out of the
throtlle body crossram. If he keeps the stock cam and throttle
body setup he would never get his moneys worth out of a set
of $1050 to $1400.00, 180 runner heads. and the stock cam is so
low rpm a 180 runner would just be wasted on it.

 

Long fogotten... What's the stock CR on that engine? If it's below 9.5 or so, a compression boost could be a good mod with a little more cam and improved head flow. Next, headers, an intake manifold, 700-750cfm Holley...

Of course, he could consider angle milling the existing heads for any compression increase and just put in a much better cam for the combo.

Sure is fun spending other people's money!

 

Far as I know all the heads 71 up were 76cc Im guessing an 82
has a dished piston if it has a dished piston the 58cc aluminum
head would work.

 

The Trick Flow aluminum heads are a bargan, even with there 64cc and 195 intake they run very strong with smaller duration and lift cams.

 

ZZ4 heads
-edit- a possible caveat ... I dunno if Xfire setup requires a heat riser? ... ZZ4 heads do not have heat riser ... most aftermarket heads don't either ... a few do.

 

If your 82 is a street car, check out the Edelbrock aluminum 64 cc, 170 runner heads. You dont wanna go bigger than 180, cause you'll lose the velosity and have no power at low rpms- where you spend 90% of your time on the street.

 

jackson, you bring up a good issue here. On the street, heat risers (although a bit of a crutch) do help maintain fuel mixture at low charge velocities, but I'm not sure how important that is with the cross-fire setup, either. At any rate, I believe the Edelbrock Performers do have them.

 

The 82 CrossFire has the hot water jacket under it and the heat risers for the EGR. I've heard of people have had issues with fuel puddling after doing mods if they live in cooler climates. So I wouldn't dismiss it.

I believe the stock 82 has flat top pistons and 9.0 (or 9.5, not completely sure) Static CR. The stock heads are 76cc. If you go with 64 cc heads that will push the CR up quite a bit. With the stock cam closing the intake valve as early as it does, that might put you up in the detonation range that the knock sensor and computer can't handle. Premium octane gas might become a requirement. I would suggest aluminum heads for sure if you are planning on rasing the compression with the stock cam.

With staying so close to stock I would look for good AL heads with around 170 intake runners 180 might be too big. Double check your compression ratio when choosing chamber size, my guess is you would be looking for 72 -68 cc. But, don't expect much performance increase with your combo.

Now if you are considering porting the stock crossfire and upgrading to a mild aftermarket cam (maybe even one that still works with the stock ECM), then you could easily pick up some performance for all the effort and money.