Head Recommendations Needed
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: Spartanburg SC
Head Recommendations Needed
I'd like some recommendations for some better heads. Here's the background on my car: 1980 L-48, auto trans, mostly stock, dynomax headers, true duals, performer intake, edelbrock carb, and I plan on getting the comp cams XE262. I want the car to just be a street performer. Budget is somewhat tight though. Right now, I can't even break the tires loose, and I'd love to do that, especially with my shift kit, so I need more horsepower. :cry
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 842
Likes: 3
From: Woodruff SC
St. Jude Donor '10
Re: Head Recommendations Needed (SCVetteGuy)
K,
Let me know about how much$$ you want to spend & do you want GM or aftermarket? Got a few local connections on GM, maybe!!
E-mail me!
Dan
Let me know about how much$$ you want to spend & do you want GM or aftermarket? Got a few local connections on GM, maybe!!
E-mail me!
Dan
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 2
Re: Head Recommendations Needed (SCVetteGuy)
If you really want to save $$$ you could have your stock heads lightly worked (bowl blend, short side radius, fresh valve job, maybe even bigger valves). That would help alot, and depending on the shop might not cost much (less than $300?). If you haven't already bought your intake you should get a set of Vortec heads from Chevrolet. There is a limit on the lift of the stock castings/springs, so check that against your XE262, and you will have to buy the Vortec bolt-pattern intake, but it's easier to install anyway.
They are the best bang for the buck heads and should work great with that cam.
I have AFR 195 heads, and I love them, excellent power, but at $1250/pr they don't qualify as cheap.
Jeff
They are the best bang for the buck heads and should work great with that cam.
I have AFR 195 heads, and I love them, excellent power, but at $1250/pr they don't qualify as cheap.
Jeff
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 2
From: New Zealand
Re: Head Recommendations Needed (SCVetteGuy)
.......if you buy Vortec heads you'll have to buy a new intake manifold, plus you'll probably have to muck around getting the 262 cam to work.......I doubled my budget (or blew it wide open depending on how you look at it :) )buying new Dart Iron Eagle heads......
......so if you're on a budget....you are better off working your smog heads (provided it hasn't already been done) to get a noticeable increase in grunt...
......you can also add these roller tip rockers to gain a little more lift and retain stock valve covers:yesnod: .....
......so if you're on a budget....you are better off working your smog heads (provided it hasn't already been done) to get a noticeable increase in grunt...
......you can also add these roller tip rockers to gain a little more lift and retain stock valve covers:yesnod: .....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Re: Head Recommendations Needed (SCVetteGuy)
Your Car's performance is right where mine was before I added the heads. As a first step, I'd recommend a good distributor rebuild and recurve. You may also want to evaluate your air/fuel ratio. I see you have rwhp numbers so you may already have a/f info.
If your distributor is original, Lars offers an excellent rebuild/recurve service.
After recurve and re-jet, I achieved 190rwhp and was easily spinning the tires. Consider that is the flywheel hp rating, that's pretty good with stock (in my case 882 castings) heads.
Now, with the 222.5rwhp the tires howl. Any more than that and it will start slipping sideways (not a bad thing).
[Modified by TedH, 3:19 PM 2/5/2004]
If your distributor is original, Lars offers an excellent rebuild/recurve service.
After recurve and re-jet, I achieved 190rwhp and was easily spinning the tires. Consider that is the flywheel hp rating, that's pretty good with stock (in my case 882 castings) heads.
Now, with the 222.5rwhp the tires howl. Any more than that and it will start slipping sideways (not a bad thing).
[Modified by TedH, 3:19 PM 2/5/2004]
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,398
Likes: 0
From: If the world didnt suck, we would all fall off. Troy,Ohio.
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 1
From: Shore NJ
Re: Head Recommendations Needed (SCVetteGuy)
The CC262 cam is an excellent cam to go with some quality heads, I'm waiting for my AFR 180's to arrive this week :hurray: You might want to rework your stock heads as the other Forum members suggested or save your $$$$. Also what will help is changing your differential to a 3.55 if your running a stock 3.08, 3.55 is very streetable and will give you some tire spin if that's what your looking for... :thumbs:
[Modified by 73jst4fun, 8:28 PM 2/5/2004]
[Modified by 73jst4fun, 8:28 PM 2/5/2004]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: Spartanburg SC
Re: Head Recommendations Needed (73jst4fun)
I probably need to go with the cheapest thing to do, so that may be reworking the heads. I believe my distributor is stock, so I guess I should look into recurving that. I don't actually know about the A/F ratio, the HP numbers are from my G-tech pro, and those numbers are before the headers. I'd like to change the gearing sometime too, but that's also pretty expensive is it not?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Re: Head Recommendations Needed (SCVetteGuy)
If your differential is original (not rebuilt), you will spend about $450 to have it refreshed and new set of gears added. Assumes you remove and re-install the unit in the car. That is the price I paid to have my unit disassembled, 3.54's added and blueprinted/assembled.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu Hawaii
Re: Head Recommendations Needed (SCVetteGuy)
I wouldn't spend a dime on the 1980 stock heads. Thin casting prone to cracking and leaves you very little material to port. Try to get factory high performance heads (pre-smog) with 64cc chambers. You'll need adequate static compression to support a performance cam. The low compression pistons found in the 1980 engine need all of the help it can get. Plan on using steel shim head gaskets too.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 2
From: New Zealand
Re: Head Recommendations Needed (SCVetteGuy)
nunus79 makes a very good point about your stock heads.......you need to build up compression and low end torque for a good street motor.....and since you're on a budget, you don't want to go into the bottom end to make compression......
......talk to a cylinder head specialist in your area to get more ideas.....they may have the 2nd hand heads you want...... :thumbs:
......talk to a cylinder head specialist in your area to get more ideas.....they may have the 2nd hand heads you want...... :thumbs:
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Re: Head Recommendations Needed (standup)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,581
Likes: 14
From: Tolar Texas
Re: Head Recommendations Needed (SCVetteGuy)
This appears to be a pretty nice package IF the price is within your budget.
Vortec Head Kit, Edelbrock Performer Intake. Price: $729.95
http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...=2173&pid=1120
SDPC Vortec Cylinder Head Kits
http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...art&catid=2172
[Modified by MIKER, 10:25 PM 2/6/2004]
Vortec Head Kit, Edelbrock Performer Intake. Price: $729.95
http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...=2173&pid=1120
SDPC Vortec Cylinder Head Kits
http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...art&catid=2172
[Modified by MIKER, 10:25 PM 2/6/2004]