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SBC heads

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:48 am
by SquirrelCrusher
I want to redo my camaro engine this winter. Not sure if it will be a full rebuild or just heads and intake. Depends on how much money I can set aside for it. One way or the other I'm ditching the carb for efi. I already have a complete TPI intake with computer and harness.

I'm looking for some heads that will work good with the tpi. I was going to go with vortec until I learned that meant buying a $500 vortec to tpi adapter intake.

Anyone have some good heads for sale that my current intake will bolt to?

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 7:59 am
by Wrench
If you want "good", as in close to performance of the Vortecs, you will have to go aftermarket. No stock Chevy heads share the Vortec port design with the older style intake pattern. Anything made prior to the Vortecs is old-school design and doesnt hold a candle to the Vortec design, even if they are modified.

If I were you I would find some good used aluminum performance heads, or even save my pennies and buy a new set. AFR seems to know what they are doing with port design. Whatever you do, the port DESIGN is way more critical to overall power than the VOLUME or PORT CROSS SECTION.

Do you have your cam and gearing picked yet? Those are driven by the intended use of the engine, and everything else should fall in line with those.

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:57 am
by SquirrelCrusher
I don't want to spend a fortune on heads is the problem. I've looked the the prices of AFRs and they are way outside my budget.

As far as cams go it looks like there are only a couple that work well with the TPI setup.

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 10:11 am
by Toolegit86
ive done some work to tpi heads and have got pretty good numbers.. the most restritive parts are the intake runners and intake.

cant go wrong with vortec heads there by far the best bang for the buck. and can flow good amounts with just little work. ive had a few customers buy the procomp heads and jegs head and also a good deal for the price. afr's are the best but the most money

i say just clean up your heads and mild port job. and throw a turbo at it..