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81 head replacement

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Old Dec 31, 2019 | 04:48 PM
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Default 81 head replacement

Thinking about replacing the heads on my 81. Found 2 different sets of edelbrock heads. One set is e-street with 64cc chambers ,the other is edelbrock performer with 70cc chambers. Which would work better ? Motor is stock now.
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Old Dec 31, 2019 | 04:51 PM
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Get the small chamber heads....you need as much compression as you can get on the stock L-81 350.
Are you doing cam, headers, intake? Is the CCC carb still on it as well as the CCC distributor?
Make sure to use a 1204 Fel-Pro inake gasket with the heat riser block off.

Jebby
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Old Dec 31, 2019 | 05:47 PM
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Still has ccc carb and distributor. Will be replacing those. Probably going with edelbrock performer intake and headers.
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Old Dec 31, 2019 | 07:43 PM
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sometimes, a lower with lotsa miles/wear doesn't last when compression is raised.


Last edited by jackson; Dec 31, 2019 at 07:45 PM.
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Old Jan 1, 2020 | 07:46 AM
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I put the 64cc e street heads on my 75. They are great. The 64cc will raise the CR more than the 70cc. I paired it with the edelbrock performer EPS intake manifold, and edelbrock performer cam.
Installation was a breeze.
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Old Jan 1, 2020 | 03:55 PM
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Since you're doing heads AND intake, Vortecs heads (64cc) and a Performer Vortec intake would make a sweet street combo
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Old Jan 1, 2020 | 05:11 PM
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I like GM Vortecs as well ... but Trick Flow DHC with small 60cc chamber would really boost the compression ... at about $1400 / pair, plus they fit conventional intake pattern.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/t...0006/overview/
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Old Jan 2, 2020 | 10:36 PM
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Are all vortec heads created equal?
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Old Jan 2, 2020 | 10:46 PM
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Originally Posted by 2tone81
Are all vortec heads created equal?
All the ones that were bolted to a GM truck were.....
I believe GM Performance Parts makes two heads in the Vortec style....a 185cc and a 225cc.....

Jebby
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Old Jan 3, 2020 | 06:53 PM
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FWIW, all GM Vortec for production sbc are iron & essentially same ... the above edelbrocks are aluminum as are TF's DHC 175

Yes, GM Vortec w/ 185 or 225 ports are "Bowtie" heads for performance/race and may be too much head for an 81's teeny cam

https://enginequest.com/enginequest/eq-catalog/

EQ Manufactures a line of high quality iron Vortec heads; superior to GM in several ways but still have the good fastburn-type chambers
pn CH350H fits conventional manifolds & doesn't require a vortec intake. Last time I looked, EQ heads were made in New Zealand. YMMV
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