So here's the deal, after nailing an overheating problem (timing was just a "hair" off), fixing all of the leaks, painting the intake and valve covers and getting 2nd in a car show, I think I'm ready to start getting into the fun stuff. So as a foundation for some intake and exhaust mods I will be doing, I thought it would be a good idea to upgrade the cam and heads (all while keeping it looking as stock as possible). I use the car as my daily driver and I occasionally take it to the track to play with (after all, whats the point of having a Corvette if you don't get to have fun?).

I went to start looking at the heads on Summit, and there were so many choices I had no idea what I should get. I don't want to be doing too much work to get them to fit. I would like them to be as easy to install as possible while giving me better flow than the stock cast iron heads that I have. I also think I found the cam that I want. It is here on ebay.

I have done heads before with no problems on my Camaro's L98 and the head on an I6 Ford but all I did was get them refinished, throw a fresh gasket on there and bolt it back on. I have never upgraded heads before so this is all new to me.

 

It is only another SBC ; any reg perimeter bolt SBC heads are going to fit fine.
Unless you are planning other big mods you are prob looking at a 160 -180 cc intake port head.

The detail is in whether you want to keep or raise the CR while doing a heads swap , a smaller cc chamber head will give you more
CR without diving further into the engine.

 

I would prefer to raise it just a tad to squeeze out more power from the mod.

I was thinking these would work- http://www.summitracing.com/parts/na...make/chevrolet

 

Fine except you need this special Vortec only TPI intake base

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-3817/

 

I've also been reading that the Sportsman II heads are decent. What's the performance difference of the intake runner volume?

 

Cheap and good don't go together as a rule. So how much you have to spend on heads? Maybe an old set of AFRs, dump all the hardware and port them?

 

Budget isn't really an issue but it would be nice to not have to spend more than I have to.

 

If the intake port requires a gasket bigger than a Felpro 1204 you'll need a new intake base. New heads mean a new cam, so make sure it's compatible with the long runner TPI intake design, or you'll need a new manifold with a shorter runner for higher rpm operation. Lot's to think about to maximize your build for desired purpose.

 

one that would work...

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/wr...make/chevrolet

I wouldn't go to small on the chambers. the 86 iron head motor has flat top pistons in it.


or this one if you want aluminum...

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dr...make/chevrolet