Advise on heads
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Advise on heads
I just got back Thursday night from the local El Cajon, CA car show and on the way home I got spanked bad from a basically stock Z-28. :(
My friends don't think it's my cam selection but the stock heads (well they have 2.02 valves but that's it) They say I need to upgrade to AFR or TF alum. heads. The problem is I just dumped serious $$$ into my new house. I see a lot of these aftermarket heads on Ebay and even the Forum's parts page but I have always believed if their selling the parts they are 1. bad, 2. worn out or warped 3. disappointed in the results. I won't have the cash to dump in the Vette for some time so what's my options? I also have 23.5K in a 77 worth maybe 16K and hoped after the A/C gets charged and the painter fixes the scratches the money hole would close, it's not worth any further expenditures. Anyone out their have heads they want to sell, and how can I protect myself from being ripped off? :confused:
[Modified by Cali,77,L-82, 4:31 PM 7/19/2002]
My friends don't think it's my cam selection but the stock heads (well they have 2.02 valves but that's it) They say I need to upgrade to AFR or TF alum. heads. The problem is I just dumped serious $$$ into my new house. I see a lot of these aftermarket heads on Ebay and even the Forum's parts page but I have always believed if their selling the parts they are 1. bad, 2. worn out or warped 3. disappointed in the results. I won't have the cash to dump in the Vette for some time so what's my options? I also have 23.5K in a 77 worth maybe 16K and hoped after the A/C gets charged and the painter fixes the scratches the money hole would close, it's not worth any further expenditures. Anyone out their have heads they want to sell, and how can I protect myself from being ripped off? :confused:
[Modified by Cali,77,L-82, 4:31 PM 7/19/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 1
Re: Advise on heads (Cali,77,L-82)
Cheap fix would be to port your stock heads" a little bowl work" and get another cam
That cam is way small in my opinion. You could also while the heads were off replace the head gaskets with a .015 steel shim or Felpro makes a coated .015 head gasket to get some more compression.
I think the 272 Crane Energizer or the Comp HE 268 would be a great help in the HP department along with some bowl work on the heads.This can be done at home and maybe if you are not familiar with this a friend of yours that is could help
These two single pattern cams will make more midrange and upper rpm torque which will help with your 3.08 gears
If you do that for less than 200.00 there will be no chance of getting ripped of right?Yep,more head would make more power but this head mod is free as apposed to dumping more money in the car and all this will wake it up!
For those that are curious to about the cam he has it is the Comp Extreme 4X4 cam
250- 206-432 intake
258-214- 452 exhaust
111 LCA
[Modified by mountainmotor, 6:48 PM 7/19/2002]
That cam is way small in my opinion. You could also while the heads were off replace the head gaskets with a .015 steel shim or Felpro makes a coated .015 head gasket to get some more compression.
I think the 272 Crane Energizer or the Comp HE 268 would be a great help in the HP department along with some bowl work on the heads.This can be done at home and maybe if you are not familiar with this a friend of yours that is could help
These two single pattern cams will make more midrange and upper rpm torque which will help with your 3.08 gears
If you do that for less than 200.00 there will be no chance of getting ripped of right?Yep,more head would make more power but this head mod is free as apposed to dumping more money in the car and all this will wake it up!
For those that are curious to about the cam he has it is the Comp Extreme 4X4 cam
250- 206-432 intake
258-214- 452 exhaust
111 LCA
[Modified by mountainmotor, 6:48 PM 7/19/2002]
Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,463
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
Re: Advise on heads (mountainmotor)
yikes! that is a small cam :eek: bet it pulles like a raped ape to about 3000, though :lol: i gotta agree with MM on this one but maybe even expand on it just a bit. although the 2.02 heads are pretty old technology, they still flow a significant amount of air, which your cam doesn't. one of these two elements in the equasion must be changed for you to maximize benifits. just remember the old addage, "all things in moderation" (or in proportion would be more accurate). IMO, you certainly shouldn't be running a head larger than 1.94 with that cam *or* you shouldn't be running a cam smaller than 268 (and that is borderline) with those heads. then we have to factor in CR, intake, carburator size, etc. etc. :crazy:
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Re: Advise on heads (clutchdust)
Yeah the cam in there right now is the CC-12-231-2,
DURATION @.05O"
INTAKE-206
EXHAUST-214
LIFT
INTAKE-432
EXHAUST-453
A 4x4 GRIND BUT TOO SMALL
[Modified by Cali,77,L-82, 8:03 PM 7/19/2002]
DURATION @.05O"
INTAKE-206
EXHAUST-214
LIFT
INTAKE-432
EXHAUST-453
A 4x4 GRIND BUT TOO SMALL
[Modified by Cali,77,L-82, 8:03 PM 7/19/2002]
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,685
Likes: 202
From: Waterford Mi
Re: Advise on heads (Cali,77,L-82)
Before you spend alot of money on engine mods you need to loose the 3.08 gear. even bumping up to 3.55 will get you off the line alot better. The engine, trans (torque converter), and rear gear need to be matched to what you expect to get from the car. 3.08 gear was standad equipment for GM to meet government required gas milage and thats all it is good for.
[Modified by redwingvette, 3:10 PM 7/20/2002]
[Modified by redwingvette, 3:11 PM 7/20/2002]
[Modified by redwingvette, 3:10 PM 7/20/2002]
[Modified by redwingvette, 3:11 PM 7/20/2002]
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,063
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
Re: Advise on heads (Cali,77,L-82)
get on the phone and call every chevy dealer service manager. Ask for a "core" VORTEC 350 that was pulled out under warranty. Ask what was wrong with it. They often go for $100, a great buy on excellent heads. then get the rpm airgap, a better cam and you can make 390-415hp.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Re: Advise on heads (Matt Gruber)
Matt what would be the acceptible reasons the heads would be pulled and discarded off their original block? I assume since Chevy deals in bulk they would not waste time fixing heads.
Red I have thought about the rear end change, I figure 3.70 up to 411 is too much with highway driving so 3.55 sounds good, let's see what Summit wants for the set.
Red I have thought about the rear end change, I figure 3.70 up to 411 is too much with highway driving so 3.55 sounds good, let's see what Summit wants for the set.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,063
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
Re: Advise on heads (Cali,77,L-82)
you buy the complete engine. could have a knock, ask, but severe overheating would be junk so forget that.
if you are lucky you may be able to sell
the block
don't ask for core heads, that would be dumb
or get a pair from a junkyard about $200
if you are lucky you may be able to sell
the block
don't ask for core heads, that would be dumb
or get a pair from a junkyard about $200
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Re: Advise on heads (Matt Gruber)
Matt I think your onto something, my friend over here just showed up with his 69 Chevelle, SWEET!! He says stop screwing around building blocks that develop <300 HP and bite the bullet and get a ZZ4, no fuss no muss, 350HP all day long. Sounds great but another 5K would put me at 28.5K and for that I could have a 68-72 convertible BB, honestly the car I really want. Used to have a convertible 70 LT-1, well before my ex-wife came into the picture :rolleyes:
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Concord Cal
Re: Advise on heads (Matt Gruber)
Remember you must pass California smog every 2 years. You can change cams and put 3.55s in it but Vortexs aren't legal neither are most intakes that will make any difference.
[Modified by oger, 8:59 PM 7/20/2002]
[Modified by oger, 8:59 PM 7/20/2002]
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Re: Advise on heads (oger)
I cheated the system. I gave my Dad, in MI, power of vessel and registered the Vette in MI=no emissions. Problem being I WILL have to smog once I retire from the Navy in Dec 05. I'll deal with that when the time comes, but for now it's not an issue.
