Cylinder Head recommendations please
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 681
Likes: 31
From: Nebraska
Cylinder Head recommendations please
Soon I will be upgrading my '79 L48. I am going to put an L82 cam in, and want new heads. I want proper flow for the cam and more compression. This car is a cruiser, and I am going to leave the short block alone. I am also gong to stay with the Q-jet.
What have you guys used or suggest?
oh yeah...I don't wanna spend a ton of money. 1/2 ton maybe.
What have you guys used or suggest?
oh yeah...I don't wanna spend a ton of money. 1/2 ton maybe.
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 421
Likes: 6
From: Chicago IL
You get what you pay for with heads. I went the cheap route in the beginning - 3 pairs of heads later, I bit the bullet and bought AFR heads. Could have saved myself a lot of time and troubles by going that route in the first place...worth every penny IMHO.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,400
From: SW Florida.
half ton will get aluminum from jegs. edelbrock to brodix 800 to 1200. or AFR's for 15 or so. stay under 210cc intake runners. staying q-jet but you wanna research how much more intake will fit under the hood. just paint heads and intake orange. and keep the old parts. the next buyer will never reinstall them either, but he considers the car worth more it they are there.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
The Dart Iron Eagles available from many vendors are a bargain and flow better than almost anything the factory ever installed on the small block Chevy. And, they won't break the bank!
As you'll see in the video, these aren't exactly OEM cylinder heads either...
Good luck... GUSTO
As you'll see in the video, these aren't exactly OEM cylinder heads either...
Good luck... GUSTO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,470
Likes: 985
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
Assuming you have 8-8.5:1 compression you would want a 64CC head for a 1 point bump in compression so you would end up at something between 9-9.5:1 which is perfect. I went for the gusto on my rebuild of my L-82 with AFR Aluminum 180 64 CC heads and a roller cam but if you stick with a flat tappet cam I would think maybe a comp cam XE268 might be better with .477/.480, LSA 114, Duration 224/230, Operating range 1,800-5,800 RPM, depending what you want...Stick/Auto. The L-82 cam is .450/.460, duration 222, LSA 114. With an aluminum head versus Cast iron you could probably run 87 octane with no issues. I run 89 with my 10.2:1 compression with zero detonation....aluminum heads have great detonation resistance versus iron.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,046
Likes: 1,123
From: North tonawanda NY
The Dart Iron Eagles available from many vendors are a bargain and flow better than almost anything the factory ever installed on the small block Chevy. And, they won't break the bank!
Dart Iron Eagle - OEM Cylinder Head Face Off - YouTube
As you'll see in the video, these aren't exactly OEM cylinder heads either...
Good luck... GUSTO
Dart Iron Eagle - OEM Cylinder Head Face Off - YouTube
As you'll see in the video, these aren't exactly OEM cylinder heads either...
Good luck... GUSTO
Last edited by augiedoggy; Aug 16, 2015 at 12:05 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,046
Likes: 1,123
From: North tonawanda NY
Heres the dyno 2000 printout for my setup... The newer cam technology is vastly improved over the older l82 cam so its more efficient... closer to the performance of a roller cam. the flow numbers for the iron eagle heads are in here too.
I tried many different similiarly sized cams in the simulations and this cam had the best performance and power curve for our gearing.
The one difference you have though is dished pistons (i have flat tops) So you may want a cam that bleeds off less dynamic compression for your setup....
I tried many different similiarly sized cams in the simulations and this cam had the best performance and power curve for our gearing.
The one difference you have though is dished pistons (i have flat tops) So you may want a cam that bleeds off less dynamic compression for your setup....
Last edited by augiedoggy; Aug 16, 2015 at 12:10 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Very often overlooked here are the Sportsman II heads.
They are great heads and flow very well for the price. I got 300RWHP and 340RWT with them on my warmed over L48
They are great heads and flow very well for the price. I got 300RWHP and 340RWT with them on my warmed over L48
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,046
Likes: 1,123
From: North tonawanda NY
They were designed by dart where they not? I though I remember someone telling me the older dart and sportman heads were the same and the companies later split and are unaffiliated now.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 681
Likes: 31
From: Nebraska
This is great! Thanks for all the advise. It's been a long time since I have put together a 350, and I didn't have the internet back then for help. With all your help, I'm sure I will be able to get a good cam/head match.
Kacy, I chose the L82 cam for a couple reasons. Keep vacuum for the headlights, easy driveability, and I wanted to keep a Corvette cam in it, I want it to sound like a Corvette, not like every other SBC out there. Vettes seem to have a distinct sound, and I think the cam is a part of that. Feel free to tell me if I'm wrong on that last point.
Thanks again guys.
Edit...I, I...I dunno. getting late.
Kacy, I chose the L82 cam for a couple reasons. Keep vacuum for the headlights, easy driveability, and I wanted to keep a Corvette cam in it, I want it to sound like a Corvette, not like every other SBC out there. Vettes seem to have a distinct sound, and I think the cam is a part of that. Feel free to tell me if I'm wrong on that last point.
Thanks again guys.
Edit...I, I...I dunno. getting late.
Last edited by COOLTED; Aug 16, 2015 at 11:20 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,470
Likes: 985
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
This is great! Thanks for all the advise. It's been a long time since I have put together a 350, and I didn't have the internet back then for help. With all your help, I'm sure I will be able to get a good cam/head match.
Kacy, I chose the L82 cam for a couple reasons. Keep vacuum for the headlights, easy driveability, and I wanted to keep a Corvette cam in it, I want it to sound like a Corvette, not like every other SBC out there. Vettes seem to have a distinct sound, and I think the cam is a part of that. Feel free to tell me if I'm wrong on that last point.
Thanks again guys.
Edit...I, I...I dunno. getting late.
Kacy, I chose the L82 cam for a couple reasons. Keep vacuum for the headlights, easy driveability, and I wanted to keep a Corvette cam in it, I want it to sound like a Corvette, not like every other SBC out there. Vettes seem to have a distinct sound, and I think the cam is a part of that. Feel free to tell me if I'm wrong on that last point.
Thanks again guys.
Edit...I, I...I dunno. getting late.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,046
Likes: 1,123
From: North tonawanda NY
Any of the cams suggested including either of the 262 cams will have great vacuum for the lights and brakes... mine work fine. and as for sound... if I parked a bunch of cars in a row and ran each one for you to listen to, you would have no idea which had the l82 cam. I would not go with that cam. It would be a step backwards from your goals.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Any of the cams suggested including either of the 262 cams will have great vacuum for the lights and brakes... mine work fine. and as for sound... if I parked a bunch of cars in a row and ran each one for you to listen to, you would have no idea which had the l82 cam. I would not go with that cam. It would be a step backwards from your goals.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 479
Likes: 93
From: Tennessee
I paid $150.00 for two sets of vortec heads. One set were 062's and the other were 906's. I sold the 906's on ebay for $280.00. How much were those AFR's? I bought the new Hooker Competition ceramic coated headers that were sold as blemished ( I still haven't found the blemish) for $225.00 shipped. I paid $100.00 for a vortec intake. So far, I am $195.00 in the red. I know most will not find these heads this cheap but they are out there and are a great performance upgrade if you are budget minded. You can tie up more money negating some of the savings if you go high lift. It's always basic math - It cost more to go faster.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,736
Likes: 56
From: anchorage ak
Sametime here with the exception that i bought one set prior to buying the afr. The thing is that a decent set of heads needs a camshaft to compliment the combo.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
An AFR 180 head, Isky 270 mega cam good dual plane, 1-5/8 headers would be a strong reliable street combo. Yes its an old school cam but it works well and should operate your vacuum stuff fine, can def tell it has a cam in it but wont shake the fenders off, can DD it no problem;imo it will run stronger and sound better than the L82
Never had an Isky go flat to boot.
If it were me Id have that logo ground off the front of the heads, rough it up then paint. Never cared for large by huge logos. Youre getting good advice on heads, spend it once buy the best one you can. Wish Id listened to that yrs ago (did the ported world/dart head thing money down the drain)....one day Ill have some AFRs on mine.
Million ways to skin a cat opinions will vary
Never had an Isky go flat to boot.
If it were me Id have that logo ground off the front of the heads, rough it up then paint. Never cared for large by huge logos. Youre getting good advice on heads, spend it once buy the best one you can. Wish Id listened to that yrs ago (did the ported world/dart head thing money down the drain)....one day Ill have some AFRs on mine.
Million ways to skin a cat opinions will vary
Last edited by cv67; Aug 17, 2015 at 03:58 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Duvall, WA