There's a chance I have my 408 sold so I am thinking into the future about what to use for heads.
Shortblock will be loosely based on a 4.155 bore and either a 3.875 or 4.0 stroke. (Motown block) Roller cam, 14:1 minimum compression.

Options are:
Edelbrock Vic Jr's
AFR 227's, comp ported
Brodix
????

I would love to look at 18 degree stuff but the shaft rockers and new $$$ headers are totally unrealistic for my budget. The 23 degree stuff from Edelbrock Chapman is nice but dropping a grand or so on a shaft rocker system on top of a set of heads the same price as the complete comp package AFR 227's BARE (Chapman's would need $$$ to complete IE valves, springs, rets, etc.) seems unrealistic at this time. I can always convert to an 18 or 15 degree top end down the road if I really want to spend the $$$.

The bottom line is what will give me 600+ HP at a reasonable RPM say 6500 to 7200 peak? I'm fine with having to do a final prep/port job but a full on "starting from scratch" port job is out of the question, done that a few times, just not interested in doing that for myself any more.

I have heard some bad feedback on quality control for AFR, and the 4 month wait for product kind of turns me off, but they are a nice product.

Should I just (once my engine is sold) go ahead and order up the AFR's and hope for the best or are there other choices out there for similar $$$ that will work with standard valvetrain and standard headers that will give the power I'm looking for?

Rust wants 10.50s on the engine, approximately 8/10's ET reduction over my current package.

------------------
Custom Auto, your source for quality machine work, cores and new parts at competetive pricing right here in British Columbia 1-888-563-4050
A Canadian, EH? (with a 10 second street car)

[This message has been edited by rustbucket79 (edited December 18, 2004).]

the Brodix 18 SP X is an 18 degree head with 245cc runners that uses 23 degree valve train and does not require offset lifters. You can get them either standard or spread exhaust. They flow 325 on the intake and 232 on the exhaust as cast. Ported you'd get these heads into the 340 range intake and 250 range exhaust.

------------------
70 SS 454 CI Dynoed 684 HP, 702 TQ All Aluminium Fuel Injected Small Block , plus 200 - 500 HP NX nitrous system.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by rustbucket79:
I can always convert to an 18 or 15 degree top end down the road if I really want

</font>

Not exactly. Not unless you start with a piston for the 18° and 'if' it will stuff into a 23° chamber. I have no idea if the 14 and 15° stuff will be working with the 18° pistons,, was too far out of my budget to even look in to. I too have heard of a few problems from AFR, but all I can say is I have two pairs of 210's and one set of 220's. Have had no issues or problems with any of them as delivered. Hopefully in just a few weeks I can let you know how well my 'too small of runner' 220's work on 436 &lt;grin&gt; Hey what can I say,,, it's what I got to work with. I can put you in touch with a friend that is running the Brodix 18° stuff and in right now in the process of accumilating the pieces for a 434, also Manny (PC3) built a Brodix 18° 434 last year. He's on the road right now but should be able to offer some insight when he get's back on-line. Last weekend he went 10.20 on a 10.5" tire in a 3000 pound chassis that he had to fight through the launch. I don't see any reason you couldn't take a 3500 pound to mid 10's, but she will have to have the rest of the combination to make it so.

Nice looking heads Rick. I assume though that they require an 18 degree header, is that correct?

Thanks for the reply Marv. What I meant about upgrading is that I could reuse the block/crank/rods/cam in the next engine. About the only pistons that change over easily between 18 and 23 degree stuff is the 18 degree flat tops. I agree the 18 degree stuff gets spendy once you have to buy the supporting stuff to go around them.
I am anxious to hear about your success with the 436 and may very much model my engine around it.

What I'd really like to hear is that those Vic Jr's would get me running mid 10's, but that ain't gonna happen. At least with those heads I could run them for a couple of years then have an easy sale for $$$ to continue down the ET scale. http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/wink.gif

------------------
Custom Auto, your source for quality machine work, cores and new parts at competetive pricing right here in British Columbia 1-888-563-4050
A Canadian, EH? (with a 10 second street car)

I believe that a standard header will work, but I am not sure. Usually we will have headers made for these types of applications.

------------------
70 SS 454 CI Dynoed 684 HP, 702 TQ All Aluminium Fuel Injected Small Block , plus 200 - 500 HP NX nitrous system.

Rustbucket, you know you want the Little Chiefs! Go for it....

http://www.dartheads.com/csbhlittle.htm

I'm not too sure the Vic Jrs would be out of the ballpark for your goals Rust. I know their is claim 530-580 hp potential out of the box. Their 530hp number came from a little 360 with a 250/260 dur. cam.
I'm sure you've probably done your homework, but just in case, here's the flow #s out of the box.

.100" - 67/64
.200" - 119/112
.300" - 177/153
.400" - 226/188
.500" - 265/207
.600" - 281/217
.700" - 285/220

As I've said before, the only reason I have them on my present setup is I only wanted to spend money once. My intent is to build up a 406 when fianances allow.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by camdoc:
Rustbucket, you know you want the Little Chiefs! Go for it....

http://www.dartheads.com/csbhlittle.htm</font>


TEASE!!!
Hmmm, those will work with standard parts, like a direct swap for a stock 350, right? http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/wink.gif

------------------
Custom Auto, your source for quality machine work, cores and new parts at competetive pricing right here in British Columbia 1-888-563-4050
A Canadian, EH? (with a 10 second street car)

I'm going to have to shoot a fax off to Brodix to see about those heads working with standard headers, they don't have a website email address.

------------------
Custom Auto, your source for quality machine work, cores and new parts at competetive pricing right here in British Columbia 1-888-563-4050
A Canadian, EH? (with a 10 second street car)