I am looking for some head/cam options for my rebuild. I just took the top end off my car and found that it was already bored 0.030 over and had the original dished pistons replaced with a new style. (Flat with 4 recess)

Looking to spend as close to 1100 for the heads and cam as possible. I only have 3.08 gears so I want as much low end as possible.

I have an Edelbrock 650 and Performer intake that I am trying to use to stay within budget.

These are my current cam specs.. 420int lift 278 duration .443 exh lift 288 duration 59 deg of overlap Is it worth keeping???

What CC head do I want to go with without bumping the compression to high?

Does anyone make a head/cam/bolt kit that would reach my goals? Right now I am leaning towards the E-Street heads..

 

I have a 3.07 diff (close enough to 3.08 to call it the same), and this is the combo that I have decided upon (tentatively)

Edelbrock Performer intake manifold (same as you)
Flat-top pistons (same as you)
Dart SHP 72cc combustion chamber heads (gives me about a 9.5:1 SCR, 930 bucks for a pair of 'em, I think they are a little better than the E-street heads and cost about the same)
Felpro 1094 .015" head gasket (gives me a quench of .040")
Comp Cams XE256H cam (gives me a DCR able to run on premium gas, and should make enough low end torque to work well with the 3.07 diff)
1800 rpm stall converter

I have been talking with folks on the forum and doing research for a while now, and this is what I have come up with. What do you think?


Scott

 

I would think that an 1100$ budget you could do Vortecs. You would have to change the intake to match the bolt patern of th heads, I couldn't say for sure, but with flat top pistons you might want to use the compression calculator at summit or Wallace racing but I would guess 76 cc chambers with out running the numbers. Just changing the heads will make a noticeable difference.

 

Scotty - That sounbds pretty dang close to the direction I am going as of this point. Are you getting the heads as part of a "kit".

Bluedawg - I keep going between Vortec's and not. I think in the end, the Vortec's are going to cost a smidge more, although the initial cost is lower. If I went Vortec, I would need new rockers (100-200) new valve covers (100). I think right now Scoggin Dickey has heads and intake with either an upgraded intake or upgraded spring for about 1000. Dont hink it has bolts with it, so thats extra.. Cam is going to be an extra 200...

 

Lots of good options My only concern regarding the Dart SHP econo-heads remain that I haven't seen a set personally or talked to anyone that's installed them. I don't like experimenting when the budget is tight.

Just a couple of comments regarding the Vortecs:

Rockers: GMPP stamped-steel rockers P/N 12495490; about $65

Valve Covers: I generally get take-off centerbolt covers for $20 or less on Fleabay.

Head Bolts: GMPP P/N 12495499; about $35. ARP is nice; these are fine

Upgraded springs on Vortecs are a waste of money from my perspective; the flow tops out at about .450 lift...which is comfortably under the max lift the stock springs can handle. If you're not going to port them, then leave the stock springs and save some bucks.

 

Billla - Are these stock valve covers you are talking about? I read somewhere that the clerance is tight on some rockers. I assume that you have installed these in the past. Any truth to fitmet issues? Do they also have breather holes??

So in the end, if I end up getting a few bucks for my intake and scrap price for my current heads, the Vortecs might be ther better option....

 

Nope, it's a hand picked assortment of parts. All the kits I have looked at have had some sort of drawback, cam too big, wrong combustion chamber size, wrong intake manifold, etc., for my goals. The only kit I have been thinking about is for the rebuild of the bottom end:

http://www.northernautoparts.com/Pro...uctModelId=380

Give some thought to spending a little more for aluminum heads. The E-streets and Dart SHP heads are just a little more than 900 bucks, and you can use your existing intake, valve covers, and rocker arms. Just the fact that it will make the engine around 40 lbs. lighter is enough reason to think about it, in my opinion. I agree with Billla on the relative newness of the Dart SHP heads, but my engine project will be happening around a year from now, (I am going to be swapping in an overdrive tranny first) so I am hoping that by then, the verdict will be in. In your case, if you are planning on buying the parts right away, Dart has a very good reputation, so I would think the gamble would be minimal.

I am convinced that Billla is the real deal, he has a lot of experience building engines at the power level that you and I are planning, you won't go wrong taking his advice. I'm just a guy who reads alot, basically, definitely not an expert by any means, so take that into consideration.


Scott

 

If you do go vortec, we have the kits to do it with various spring options etc:

http://sdparts.com/category/sdpc-vor...-and-head-kits

 

SDPC - Didnt know you were a sponsor here. I have been eyeing up your site for a while. Do you offer Forum discounts? Can you estimate what shipping a set of iron heads to PA 18072 would run? I might be headed to Ft Sam in San Antonio this year. Might be worth me just stopping by on my way..

 

I do discounts anytime I can. On a kit like this there's not much room, but let me know which parts or kit you would be interested in and I'll see what I can do for you with parts price and with shipping.

 

Didn't know SDPC was here, but I reference those kits all the time - great prices and a very complete kit with the GMPP head bolts, self-aligning rockers, etc.