I'm looking for a low buck steel head for my application. I'm looking to spend about $500 to replace my present heads. The heads on the car are 1.94 double humps that have been pocket ported, but during my younger years I had a problem with them pulling studs and putting pushrods through the rocker arms. Due to lack of money at the time, I pinned the studs and now believe itd be impossible to machine them for screw in studs. My set up is:

355 ci
Weiand Team G intake
500/520 lift 288/298 duration solid Crane cam
approx 10.5:1 compression
Turbo 350 w 3500 stall TCI
4.11 posi

I'd like to get the car in the low-mid 12 on the motor eventually. Car ran 13.50 with this set-up and several issues that I'm fixing now (stock 283 fuel line and trimming quite a bit of weight). Car is going to be running a 750 vacuum secondary initially but intend to go to a double pumper later, and do play on rarely giving it a shot of nitrous. Bottom end is steel crank, pink rods, forged pistons, 4 bolt block.

for 500 your only option is going to be Vortecs, and i think with that lift you need them worked on. SDPC sells them machined for that lift but your talking out of your budget. Your best bet is save up a few more 100 if you want a true bolt on performing head.

I can go higher, but prefer not to spend 1k on aluminum heads going in initially if i can go 500-700 on steel and get as good or better performance. My main problem with the vortechs are the cost of changing intake and rockers.

Time to look for someone's used Darts their selling for $700

You can get good deals on ebay on new heads in your price range.