Can any one tell me the best flowing big block heads that a person might be able to find or buy locally. I have a set of 346238 but were told they had peanut ports, What should I do look for more heads or what.

I would go to a local machine shop or salvage yard and ask for some "781" or "049" large oval port heads (stock GM big block heads). These heads breathe and will allow you to produce good HP while getting both low end torque and top end performance. I also have a set of the "238" peanut ports (sitting on a shelf) and am simply passing on what I have learned here. I found my "781" heads at a small machine shop in central Texas while passing thru one weekend. I stopped and asked and he had several sets back in his shop which he magnafluxed for me there on the spot (bare heads were $200). These heads will also be very affordable to get "ready to run" compared to buying new "Merlins" or "Darts" out of a catalog. Of course it all depends on what your end use is for the car and how much money you want to spend.... graemlins/thumbsup.gif

You've been registered here for over 2 years and havent been thru any of the great head debates. Use the search function graemlins/thumbsup.gif

What pistons do you plan on using,or more importantly,what compression do you want to run?
Figure a flat top and a small dome(.100) and a pair of closed chambered heads (101CC) on a 454 will get you anywhere form 9 to 1 up to 10.2 or so,more depending on piston/deck height clearance,cc's of the chamber,etc.A large dome (.270) and an open chamber head (119CC) will get you in the 9.5 to 1 or so.Small domes/or flat tops with open chamber heads are typically about 8 maybe 8.5 to 1

The highest flowing head they actually put on a car was the 291 head used on the 70 LS-6. Whether you need that much intake flow may be debated.

Stock or aftermarket? as far as i know some of the best "oval ports stock heads are the; 781/049/063. Aftermarkets; AFR BBC heads are the best out of the box head for BB's, but they cost over $2000!

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