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I have an '85 vette. I need heads. I want to stay stock looking, so I'm looking at Dart's Iron Eagle. I also want to add 1.6 roller rockers, but I'm keeping my manifold and runners for another year or so. I'm running 13.9's now and I'm expecting a little help. I'm open for all comments and suggestions.
Fast Burn Alluminum heads with an Edelbrock TPI to Vortec Manifold. :yesnod:
Get a set of 1.5:1 roller rockers and a cam-shaft while you're in there. Change the timing chain too. You'll have a very nice package. Look at the hot-cam or whatever, something that will match the big valves of the fastburns.
However, if you want to stay looking stock...why? If you do, go for Vortecs. :yesnod:
run AFR 190 series, or Brodix Track 1's with a camshaft selection..heads alone will not give that much. Try finding a head with a 64 or so cc, to maintain a heathly compression. Have fun
Track 1's are WAY TOO BIG. They have a 220cc intake runner and you need to be around 185-195. The AFR's are good heads, so are the Brodix Street heads. The Track 1's were designed for all out race purposes, ie 6000+ RPM not for a TPI motor. The best thing you could do would be to call TPIS and tell them how much you have and go from there. Don't discount your stock heads too much, you could have a local machine shop open them up with 2.02/1.60 valves and have them pocket ported. They would be good for close to 400 horespower with some work. That way it would give you more money for your valve train. You are going to find out that 1500 will go very fast for what you are wanting to do so try and be realistic about your goals. The Brodix alone would ahve cost you close to 1800 complete and that is just for the heads.
I have to stay stock looking! I believe the Vortec is center bolt and it needs a special manifold, so the Vortec is out. I do want to add 1.6 roller rockers and I am changing the timing chain. I know I should do the cam too but I cannot do a cam or manifold at this time. :(
If you want to keep it stock looking (so I assume you will keep the TPI) I would get AFR non centerbolt 180 cc heads, grind off the letters AFR cast on the side of the head, and then paint them black. They'll look stock to the untrained eye but will really wake up your 85. Because the 85 used large chamber heads, you can easily increase the compression ratio to 10.5:1 or more by getting the AFR's with a smaller chamber. I would install a mild cam at the same time - something like the LPE 214/224 hydraulic flat tappet cam. It's inexpensive and will really compliment the heads. When you upgrade the intake later, I would go with the extruded aluminum large tube runners to keep it stock looking and port the stock base and plenum. This all assumes you want to keep it stock looking. Aftermarket base and a superam intake would make a lot more HP if you don't care about the stock look.
I just bought a new set of Dart Pro1 200's to go with my new ported superram and accel base manifold for my `85. I am taking off my ported 883 casting iron heads with 20K on them with comp. springs, retainers, s/s 2.02/1.60 valves, screw-in studs and guide plates. I'll take 350. for them and I will get them back from being cleaned at the machine shop first of next week if you want pics..just a thought if you don't want to fork over all your money on the heads only.
There is a guy selling some Trick Flow twisted wedges in the parts section. Look like on page 2 or 3 or something. However, really try for a cam. Stock L98's heads flow 185cc in the passages. Aftermarket flow around 190, 195 etc...
what that does is give you flow up around 5-6K RPM supporting around 400 HP etc...
I don't think you would truly see that much benefit at normal everyday street RPM's . Unless normal is daily racing, which would be really cool(and my dream cuz I would like some AFR 190's also). But, by all means, if ya want them, get some! :cheers: You will be prepared for future intake upgrades.
I recommended the 180cc AFR heads because they flow within a few cfm of the larger AFR heads but will have better velocity for improved low to mid range power. They outflow the iron 200cc heads you were looking at. I am talking out of the box flow, 200cc heads will flow more if ported properly but the 180 cc head provides all the flow a stock type TPI will ever need. If you plan on a superam or miniram intake in the future then I would go with AFR190 cc or 195cc heads.
I just had to respond. Not because I just put a set of new Air Flow Research heads on my '85, but because of my last name...SKORPen!
Make that THREE!!
Joe
By the way, the mascot of my High School was the SCORPION's. How tough do you think THAT was?! One thing you can't argue...Us "Scorp's" have excellent taste!