383 Engine Head Suggestions Wanted

[DixieWASP]

Both Summit (via Trick Flow) and Edelbrock made CARB-approved direct-replacement TBI heads. Far as I know, both are discontinued.
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Pretty much everything else will require either a different intake manifold, or reworking the center two bolt holes on each side of the manifold. Some folks have done this successfully. When I looked at it, it appeared to me to be impossible due to the thinness of the intake manifold casting; and the angle required. IF (big IF) you rework the bolt holes, be sure to use the angled washers so the bolt heads sit flat on the washer surface instead of being side-loaded.

If this were me--and it isn't--I'd rather plug the two center holes in the cylinder head intake manifold gasket surface, and re-drill the heads rather than playing with the manifold.

When I put aftermarket heads on my '88 K1500 engine, I used old-style aftermarket aluminum heads and the ZZ4-style intake manifold, but that requires substantial EGR and other rework, plus fabricating a new strut rod for the A/C compressor. The ZZ manifold is not for the faint-of-heart.

Thanks for the additional information. I am sorry to hear the Summit and Edelbrock TBI heads are discontinued.

 

[DixieWASP]

That's awesome. My dream car if I ever get a chance to own one is a 70/71 442 coupe

Thanks. If I ever win the lottery, I want another 442.

 

[DixieWASP]

AFR Enforcers are as-cast heads that get some work and good parts. They're about $1100 for a set, last I checked. They're what I was wanting until the budget fell out of my engine build project.

Thank you for telling me.

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

I am sorry to hear the Summit and Edelbrock TBI heads are discontinued.

Yeah, I was lucky enough to get the Trick Flow heads before they went extinct. I'm running a Blue Print "383" short block (with the XR282HR cam) with them on top. I had to go with bigger roller cam springs (Comp Cam 986-16).

You'll want a bigger Throttle Body (46mm min) and Fuel Pressure spring (around 18 - 20 PSI). I also bored my Edelbrock 3704 intake to 48 mm to accommodate the bigger TB.

Then it'll need a tune! Good luck!

 

[Jeff Alldredge]

I

AFR Enforcers are as-cast heads that get some work and good parts. They're about $1100 for a set, last I checked. They're what I was wanting until the budget fell out of my engine build project.

I put those heads on my 92 350 tbi. Build is not complete yet but I'm doing an EGR delete due to the fact that emissions tests are no longer required where I live.

 

[DixieWASP]

I

I put those heads on my 92 350 tbi. Build is not complete yet but I'm doing an EGR delete due to the fact that emissions tests are no longer required where I live.

Let us know how you like the heads once your engine is running.

 

[L31MaxExpress]

The stock TBI heads with a little bowl work and some exhaust porting have no problem making 350-380 hp. I have run them unported on a 10.2:1 355 and got 330 hp and 420 tq with a mild 218/218 @ 0.050 cam and GM TBI. Under 4,500-5,000 rpm not many heads will beat them for torque and efficiency. Most street engines seldom see the high side of 4,500 rpm much less 5,000 rpm anyway.

I love how many claim they are the first thing that needs to go, when in reality the cam, exhaust from the head ports out and the TBI are all bigger restrictions than the heads. I made 250 hp and 320 tq at the tires using a stock 8.75:1 TBI long block that had a 96 LT4 203/210 @ 0.050 cam and 1.6 rockers put into it. Tri-y headers, Edelbrock 3704 bored to 2", 1" open center TBI spacer and some tuning. The factory Vette roller cam using the existing 1.6 rockers added 40 hp to the thing. If the heads were as big of a choke point as people claim, going from a 194/203 @ 0.050 flat tappet cam to a 203/210 @ 0.050 roller cam would not gain 40 hp.

 

[Jeff Alldredge]

Let us know how you like the heads once your engine is running.

Will do

 

[Jeff Alldredge]

I will