BBC heads??

[txaggie]

Howdy all!

After my latest valve seal debacle, I want to put some aluminum heads on my suburban. Which will be best for towing and low to mid range torque (plus street fun)? I’m punched out to 461ci with an rpm air gap and sniper II.

Here is my cam

Howards Cams CL120235-12 Howards Cams Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Camshaft and Lifter Kits | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Howards Cams Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Camshaft and Lifter Kits with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Camshaft Kits at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

Small dome pistons

Sealed Power H426CP30 Speed-Pro Hypereutectic Pistons | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Speed-Pro Hypereutectic Pistons with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Pistons at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

And the heads I’m considering:

Trick Flow® PowerOval® 280 Cylinder Heads for Big Block Chevrolet - Trick Flow Makes Serious Horsepower

Find Trick Flow® PowerOval® 280 Cylinder Heads for Big Block Chevrolet and get Trick Flow Makes Serious Horsepower! Trick Flow PowerOval® 280 cylinder heads for big block Chevy are an ideal upgrade from factory cast iron heads for street/strip and marine applications. They feature an oval intake...

www.trickflow.com

Brodix Cylinder Heads 2061000 Brodix Cylinder Heads Race-Rite Oval Port Cylinder Heads for Big Block Chevy | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Brodix Cylinder Heads Race-Rite Oval Port Cylinder Heads for Big Block Chevy with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Cylinder Heads at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

 

[bucket]

If I can ever swing a set of big block aluminum heads to try out on one of my trucks, the Trick Flow power oval 280's are at the top of my list.

 

[Z28 Guy]

Hard choice on heads. I do know Brodix have great customer service and i never seen a cracked Brodix head.

I have seen a cracked LS TFS head but not for a big block. Good thread here

 

[Confused]

Hard to go wrong with either one. For your setup I like the smaller intake runner of the Brodix but for compression I like the 113cc of the Trick Flow head. I would be looking for at least 9.0-1 and 9.5-1 would be better.

It will run fine with either head. Go with the most affordable of the two(my wallet talking).

 

[txaggie]

Hard to go wrong with either one. For your setup I like the smaller intake runner of the Brodix but for compression I like the 113cc of the Trick Flow head. I would be looking for at least 9.0-1 and 9.5-1 would be better.

It will run fine with either head. Go with the most affordable of the two(my wallet talking).

I ended up going with the afr 265cc 109cc chamber. Should get my compression to 9.5:1

265cc BBC Oval Port Cylinder Head

Cylinder Head Specialists

www.airflowresearch.com

 

[nvrenuf]

Unpopular opinion….

I absolutely would NOT go to the expense of putting aluminum heads on a sub 5k rpm motor, what’s the point? I would put that $3k elsewhere.

Since you’re obviously not going to spin it any real amount (1400-4600rpm cam) I’d put $1k or so into so OE iron heads. I’d get some early oval port heads, leave the small valves in them and roll with it. The $2k saved could pay for an intake, headers and exhaust.

 

[txaggie]

Unpopular opinion….

I absolutely would NOT go to the expense of putting aluminum heads on a sub 5k rpm motor, what’s the point? I would put that $3k elsewhere.

Since you’re obviously not going to spin it any real amount (1400-4600rpm cam) I’d put $1k or so into so OE iron heads. I’d get some early oval port heads, leave the small valves in them and roll with it. The $2k saved could pay for an intake, headers and exhaust.

Thanks! The rpm intake that we have on the engine (and fuel injection) will merry up much better than these small peanut ports. How much, we will see this week. We also are running long tubes and 2.5” stainless x piped exhaust all the way back.

 

[nvrenuf]

Sorry, I misread the post where you said you had bought the AFR’s. I thought you were still shopping otherwise I’d have kept my mouth shut.

 

[txaggie]

Sorry, I misread the post where you said you had bought the AFR’s. I thought you were still shopping otherwise I’d have kept my mouth shut.

You might be right on the gains with the small Howard’s roller I have. We will see!

 

[bucket]

Unpopular opinion….

I absolutely would NOT go to the expense of putting aluminum heads on a sub 5k rpm motor, what’s the point? I would put that $3k elsewhere.

Since you’re obviously not going to spin it any real amount (1400-4600rpm cam) I’d put $1k or so into so OE iron heads. I’d get some early oval port heads, leave the small valves in them and roll with it. The $2k saved could pay for an intake, headers and exhaust.

Better heat dissipation (allowing higher compression) and lighter weight (less weight: more acceleration) both come to mind.

Besides that, many of these aluminum heads have great flow at low lift levels which equates to more power at normal RPMs, compared to a decent stock head.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

I am building a 489 right now, here is a link: https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/bbc-489-build.45389/. Depends what you want, top end HP or tons of torque and good power. Trick flow280's, Brodix 290, AFR 265 are all excellent. The smaller the CI, the smaller the head to get good velocity in the ports. 10 cc pistons with a -.015 in the hole piston will probably be around 9.5:1, so ok. If you need roller rockers, I would use at least a 1.8, as the engine would like the lift, valves will clear easily, helps with off the seat flow. Maybe think about advancing a few degrees with an adj timing chain set. Buy some cheap tires, your gonna need them.

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454 small rv cam, E-Brock RPM air gap, 1 7/8 headers, 34 deg advance timing, MSD ignition. Your compression ratio would stomp that motor.