[m_kulsziski]

I am looking to try and pick up a set of new heads for my 3970010 350. I am on a very tight budget but this needs to be done since the rocker studs are very poor in the existing heads. what casting number would be the best bang for the buck.

 

[Ben Lurkin]

Look for a set of vortec heads for your engine. These came on 96-99 GM/Chevy 5700 trucks and can generally be found at your local junk yard.

 

[BlueSS454]

I'm running 441's on the 350 in my Cutlass.

 

[grovey]

the casting numbers end in 062, and 906. you'll need a different intake, and you'll need the rockers that came with the vortecs. you have to stay under about 470 lift unless you get them worked.

 

[Highway Star]

How much do you have to spend on the swap? This will help determine the "best" factory heads.

 

[m_kulsziski]

Jake
I was hoping to keep this as little as possible. would love to say a 3-4 hundred. Not sure though
Will vortec heads work on a 71 block? are they better than getting something like the 3932441 that tim has or the 2.02's that are around.

Apprciate all the help

 

[Highway Star]

You can get the vortec heads for that much, but there are other parts you need that won't swap over from what you have. These 906 and 062 vortec castings have a different bolt pattern for the intake and valve covers, so you'll need to buy both of those. The intake is very expensive from GM, otherwise there is one edelbrock intake that works, but I don't know the part number. It is easy to find on the summit racing website. You might be able to find a used one.

I'd buy them already done, instead of from a junkyard. Heads with some miles on them may need parts/repair$. That is why I'd buy them from a reman house instead. You could still get valve covers from the junkyard and clean them up yourself, but you will definitely need self-aligning rockers arms. A set of stockers from the junkyard could work for this.

If you just want to buy heads and use all your other stuff...

L98 heads - maybe the best stock sbc heads before the vortec...iron and aluminum available 113, 183 may be hard to find. These are used on the zz4, and were in camaros in the mid/late 80s with TPI I think.

 

[Cameano]

The condition any heads are in weigh in here. I picked up a pair of angle plug 492 heads last year that ended up being so rough, by the time I stripped them down, I tossed everything but the castings. They needed new exhaust seats, guides, valves, springs, retainers, locks, etc... They were going to cost me about $750 to just get back to useable shape. :sad: I sold them for $80 on Craigslist, just so I wouldn't eventually waste the money on them only to be outperformed by a pair of junkyard Vortecs.

My point here is, if money IS a factor, go with the most complete, best condition head you can come up with now. Buy something that the seller took off for a set of aluminum heads, and has bagged and stored them properly. Proper storage indicates "ready to use at a moment's notice". Tossed in the corner by the workbench does not.

 

[m_kulsziski]

Ok to save money I would like to reuse as much as I have. That means L98?

These will filt on an older 350? castings 10088113 for alum. and 14102191 for cast are what we are talking about.

These wil work with the quadrajet manifold and Rochester. I know this is skimping but the cash is very tight and if I ned to buy something I will.

Thansk for all the advice.

 

[Highway Star]

The aluminum l98s have 58cc chambers, the iron l98s have 64cc chambers.

Here is a good read...

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/tbi/336750-tbi-tpi-heads-headflow.html

 

[70-SS454]

Stock heads... '186 DZ 302 or LT1 heads.... or later 350 vortec heads

 

[71 454]

Just get set of `ol GM 64cc heads 202/160. 186s,441,440. etc. Port and polish. Old school baby!!!