1979vette1981

Hello, I have a 79 L82 and I was wanting to “wake it up” I saw a video on a head and can combo for a comp cam XE274H and the heads are no longer available to purchase. I have an intake and carb already but I was wondering what a good head combo would be for the cam. My bottom end is good and I have checked it out so I was just wondering for the heads and cam with stock bottom end. Thanks

4-vettes

I'm running Edlebrock heads as an example. Just about any aftermarket aluminium head is a upgrade from your stock heads. Many love the AFR's. But they cost a bit more.
Basically, your looking for 64cc combustion chambers and 180 runners.
Your budget will determine which ones you go with.
I went Edlebrock as they are medium price. Decent quality. AFR's were out of my reach.
been running them for 7 years and many thousands of miles.

7t9l82

Just pick a good set of heads replace the timing chain and advance the cam 4 degrees and you will be surprised. Chevrolet ground no advance into thier cams. Set up the curve in your distributor. It will run pretty good.

ZIOGEO

Advancing cam improves the low end?

ZIOGEO

+1
Im also running Edelbrock E-Street heads. Happy with them as well, just needed to work out the choke.

7t9l82

Yes it does . That's a good cam it just needs to be used right.

Kidster71

Sorry for not adding much for camshaft choice and cam/head combinations but for cylinder heads, MotorTrend Engine Masters TV show, ran a test on 'low buck" SBC aluminum heads.
Season 7 Episode 15 - Low Buck SBC Head Shootout (2022)

Air Flow Research (AFR) Enforcer Line comes out on top but like everything these days, the price has gone up significantly

Cheers,
Richard

7t9l82

Any aftermarket 64 cc aluminum head at that build level is going to give you a good boost in power. You aren't running Pro Stock where 10 more horsepower is the world. Shop your budget.

4-vettes

When I did my engine years ago, Summit racing had Edlebrock heads on sale. With FREE shipping! (Within the U.S.). That made up my mind.
had them shipped to a shipper in LA. put in a container. Many months later I had a pair of decent heads at a fraction of the price Australian seller's were asking.
Shop around. If you find something of interest and are not certain. Ask on here if anyone is running them.

augiedoggy

Yes and these AFR's are the same knock off dart pro 1 casting you can sold for less under many many different names including NKB heads from skip white or assault racing.. even speedmaster carries them. I bought mine 3 years ago this sumer for $300 a pair for the bare castings which I loaded myself but you can buy them complete still for $600-800 a pair with cheaper hardware... Everyone will warn you how bad the hardware is that they come with but the reality is you will be hard pressed to find any negative feedback from those who have.. even on amazon. Personally I didnt want to chance it so I bought my own valves and springs.

I am so impressed with mine I just bought a 406 with brand new never ran edelbrock heads which I will be removing to swap these heads onto after I pull them from my cars current engine.

These are the exact heads I am running (again only I bought mine bare and ported and loaded)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/35163322920...3ABFBM-JL5ludj

Alternatively you can buy them from afr through speedway with quality machinework and hardware for about $1200 for the pair still

1979vette1981

So I’ve been looking into all the heads options you all have been recommending. Any opinion on Flotek heads? And should the 180cc be a deal breaker or is a 190-195cc okay?

augiedoggy

flotek heads are different clones of three different heads one of the versions of the floteks are brodix copies and one is actually these same castings that are sold as the afr enforcers. Eric mentions that in this video.

4-vettes

For what your looking to do. 190 heads will work fine. Very little difference.