[69velle]

Looks like I will need a valve job and new guides on my 20 year old edelbrock rpm heads. Trying to decide if it’s worth it or if new heads are the way to go. My current setup is
-100% street

• forged 383 short block
• edel rpm 64cc heads with about 9.5:1 compression, I don’t know port size as they were worked over by the builder in 2007. I think they started life at 170cc iirc.
• udharold custom grind hyd roller 274 adv, [email protected], .525 lift and 1.6 rockers
• pro-flo 4 EFI
• 700r4, 2200 stall
• 3.73 12 bolt rear going in this week
• 1 5/8th headers into 2.5 magnaflows

Current wheel hp is 340 and tq is 360 on dynojet, so about 425hp and 450tq on motor at 20% parasitic loss.

I have clay smith pretty close to me to do the machine work on the heads should I choose to go that route and they want $500/head to refurbish.

Or should I go with a newer set of high quality heads like AFR/profiler/brodix/…? Has the head design changed to the point where a worked over edelbrock rpm is still outdated? It looks like the new heads all have raised exhaust ports, what will that do to my header fitment? Should I go with a 180cc or 195cc port? My cam isn’t very big and I want to keep the power in the street rpm range.

 

[Aaron]

Just freshen them up. Your just riding around, so don't worry about anything new there.

 

[Geo71]

I had a 388 with the RPM heads on it. About 12:1 and 252/258 solid roller. It made 335rwhp. IME they were too small for what I wanted, but I mostly drag race. With you making about the same hp with smaller cam and compression, that seems to reinforce my thinking.
At $1000 to redo your heads, that would be tough for me. Those new AFR enforcer import head seems good, you would have some $$$ going thru them first. I like the Profiler stuff, not sure how much they go for now, used to be around $1800. My Profilers fit fine, but 1-5/8 headers are physically too small.
The RPM’s are ok heads, but more suited to 327/350 sized engines. For just cruising they would be fine, but sticking $1000 into them, I don’t know….

 

[Aaron]

George makes a good point about sinking in those heads. I didn't see the price as for one head. I was think 500 was a set.


Look at prices from Eric Weingartner and Chad Spier for deals.

Getting heads already set up from mail order are not always the best. Perhaps a local speed shop has a offering that they could get you a good deal on for better heads.

If you could get better heads for 1000 dollars, just get a set already set up.

If you have to spend 1500 to 2000 to get better heads and don't want to spend that extra 500 or 1000. Just keep what you got.

Nobody knows your wallet. Just weight out your cost. You have already said your not racing just wanting to have some fun with your car.

 

[69velle]

Thanks guys, you’re confirming my suspicions that new heads probably make more sense than paying 1/2-3/4th cost for old tech.

do raised exhaust ports on small blocks pose the same fit challenges as they do on big blocks?

 

[Aaron]

Thanks guys, you’re confirming my suspicions that new heads probably make more sense than paying 1/2-3/4th cost for old tech.

do raised exhaust ports on small blocks pose the same fit challenges as they do on big blocks?

Has nothing to do with old technology. Your deal is about money and spending it as you see fit. You aren't really gaining anything in your application whether you use yours, some second ones that are better than yours or totally new. Its about money and what best suits you. Everyone is trying to help you save your money. At least I am.

You will need to find out about headers. There are fitment issues with various ones. You will have to sort all that out.

 

[wes migletz]

Send your heads to Mike Stark at CFM performane. $1000 would cover his competition porting and your heads would be on par with AFR 195 eliminators in terms of flow

 

[Geo71]

Send your heads to Mike Stark at CFM performane. $1000 would cover his competition porting and your heads would be on par with AFR 195 eliminators in terms of flow

I asked Eric W about porting my RPMs. He said they could be ported, but still not be as good as a afr/profiler.

I wouldn’t put $1000 worth of porting on a set of them.