Hello,

I've been agonizing over what to do for heads on my 454...I've got a set of bone stock 781's. All the machine shops in my area are quoting me at least $800 to freshen them up, install bigger valves etc...more than I want to spend on 35 year old heads.

I see that Summit has their own brand heads on sale for $581.88 a piece. This seems like a good price...the specs look identical to the 308cc Dart Iron Eagle, so I'm guessing they're made by Dart.

Or do I just rebuild the stockers without bigger valves? Would I give up a lot of power doing this?

This will be a street only car (67 camaro, six speed manual). I'm hoping for around 500 horse...thinking about 9.75 to 10.0 compression, not sure of cam, Perfomer rpm, Patriot clipster headers.

Thanks for your help,
Jason

Please consider the CHEAP aluminum heads that Powerhouse is selling!!

AND I know that they probably AREN'T full boggy race heads, but they should still do nicely if you don't go stupid on spring pressures!!

Something like $1200 complete!!

They have been cussed and discussed here a lot too if you want to do a search....

Cheap is the WORD here AND I still feel that they are good value for a strong street motor!!

pdq67

Jason,have no fear spending money on your heads.
781's are some of the best flowing factory BBC oval port heads available.
Adding the 2.19/1.88 valves certainly wakes them up,especially the bigger exhaust valve.
One thing you can save money is NOT having hardened seats installed.
They are not neccesary.
$800 to freshen them up and add the bigger valves isn't a bad price btw

where are you from? I had mine done for $160. they were cut for larger valves and 3 angle. I supplied the valves ($90 stainless swirl polished undercut from ebay, and lunati springs $95 from summit). grand total of 300 bucks with seals. there is a shop localy that sells 781 and 049 for mild performance street motor for $500. I'd shop around a bit before you give up. the shop that did mine is owned by a freind so I got a price break of about $60 from what he normally charges, and he had the heads for 2 months so I guess it was a trade off.

The 781's are not 35 years old. They are later heads than that. $800 to add bigger valves, valve job, install 11/32 stem valves and guides(which is what you want to do if you are replacing the valves), and do a bowl job, and assemble with correct springs sounds about right to me.

If your valves and guides are good, you can save quite a bit by not having the larger valves installed. May not make a big difference on a street engine anyway. If you can afford a bowl job, I would still have that done even with the stock size valves. JMHO.

Thanks guys.

I just had my 454 stroker done with the Dart Iron Eagle 308 heads. They seem to work very well, it made 624hp with a solid cam. Oh yeah they had a little pocket work done to them also. Let me know if you want me to post the flow numbers. But if your going for 500hp the 781 will work great, they can make 500hp with out much work at all.

i hate to invade this thread, but im curious, does anyone know who DOES make the heads that are summit and jegs brand? ive been very curious about that

i hate to invade this thread, but im curious, does anyone know who DOES make the heads that are summit and jegs brand? ive been very curious about that
I think i heard that the Jeg's are Canfields but i don't know who supplies the Summit brand.

Thants what I heard also Jegs=Canfield, Summit=Dart

My iron sbc summit heads are darts.

With tit retainers my 990s went $900 at the shop. Ouch, but, they're mint. You buy cheap heads and you WILL have to have someone go through them anyhow.

BTW, my shop knows I spin this bad boy to the moon, adn they wouldnt let me use the cheap $100 SS valves I bought. Refused to install them, junk, " made for a wood truck motor". So they went with Manley Street-Flos, good Isky springs and retainers. Good stuff isnt cheap.

The 781s will kick arse. Do a simple bowl blend while you're at it.

He, He!!

"Wood truck motor"!! He, He!!

I thought they were made outta scrap rebar!!

pdq67

wow summits are made by dart? u guys had me excited for a second, i thought maybe i could find a cheap aluminum heads for my big block that were made by dart, but summit doesnt offer aluminum big block heads :-(

I have a set of freshened up Merlin 310cc heads that we ran for a few runs at the end of last season on our 555CI motor. Heads have upgraded springs, new valves, new valve job and car ran 9.90 at 138MPH.

The heads flow some pretty good numbers, father has the actual flow numbers, and all information that was done to the heads. I know just the work he had done to them was around 700 dollars. The heads originally came from Hardcore racing on thier 509CI motor.

I know he will give you a super deal on them to just recoupe some of his money. I can get you the flow number and stuff if your interested.

He has the matching merlin II intake for these also - both of which made great power on our motor, but for the 555 they were a little too muc torque with them, so we got the dart 335cc heads.

Shoot me an IM or something if your interested.

Summitt private brand alum heads(sbc) are brodix IK200"s

I have a set of freshened up Merlin 310cc heads that we ran for a few runs at the end of last season on our 555CI motor. Heads have upgraded springs, new valves, new valve job and car ran 9.90 at 138MPH.

The heads flow some pretty good numbers, father has the actual flow numbers, and all information that was done to the heads. I know just the work he had done to them was around 700 dollars. The heads originally came from Hardcore racing on thier 509CI motor.

I know he will give you a super deal on them to just recoupe some of his money. I can get you the flow number and stuff if your interested.

He has the matching merlin II intake for these also - both of which made great power on our motor, but for the 555 they were a little too muc torque with them, so we got the dart 335cc heads.

Shoot me an IM or something if your interested.


PM sent

hello, why do you want to go to 11-32 vavle stems? thanks

hello, why do you want to go to 11-32 vavle stems? thanks

If the heads need guides and new valves why not go with 11/32. It saves some wieght in the valve train and pickup a tad more flow.