Do I rebuild my SBC or swap for an LS3?

[OneShot]

Photo didn't attach because I'm on my mobile...

 

[OneShot]

But anyhow back to the truck, the shop quoted me $250 for a head job. So we're looking at over $500 to buy, rebuild, and install just the heads... not worth it.

I'll keep looking.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Keep in mind, new heads may cause oil to get sucked past the rings. Checking the lower end is advisable when adding new or refreshing old heads. The bores could be out of round, the rings could be worn, etc.

 

[Ricko1966]

That plum crazy link I put on post 70 has a bunch of interesting builds. Its good reading for everbody. He has a 4x4 burb getting 17.5 mpg and trucks getting 20 or better all on 5.7 sbc

 

[Ricko1966]

That plum crazy link I put on post 70 has a bunch of different 5.7 builds getting great mpg. A 4x4 burb getting 17.5. 5.7 trucks getting better than 20 mpg. You should check it out. 1st time I posted this it didn't show up,as soon as I rewrote it both posts showed up. WTH

 

[Ricko1966]

But anyhow back to the truck, the shop quoted me $250 for a head job. So we're looking at over $500 to buy, rebuild, and install just the heads... not worth it.

I'll keep looking.

Check @AyWoSch Motors he may have some heads

 

[Bextreme04]

But anyhow back to the truck, the shop quoted me $250 for a head job. So we're looking at over $500 to buy, rebuild, and install just the heads... not worth it.

I'll keep looking.

In my opinion there is just no reason to ever get stock style heads when you can get brand new heads with much better designed chambers and big valves for $700/pair for iron and ~$1000/pair for aluminum, fully assembled and delivered to your door. Those are heads that will outflow anything that came on a 350 stock and will support upwards of 500hp. That's why people have heads up for sale and can't even give them away at $50 sometimes. Its going to cost you the same amount or more to rebuild an old head and you'll still be stuck with the old smogger chamber design and small valves.

 

[OneShot]

Fair point. Do you have recommendations I can look into?

 

[Ricko1966]

Eight Budget Small Block Chevy Heads Tested

We compare and contrast eight budget small block Chevy heads.

www.hotrod.com

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Bextreme04]

Fair point. Do you have recommendations I can look into?

These are nice ones from summit. They also have a Vortec casting that is nice for around the same cost, but no heat crossover.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...H8BT16aLblkCCZElnulvvJR0UDxeYEpRoCFzkQAvD_BwE

Its going to give you a bit higher compression on a stock motor, but even more if you have flat top pistons in it or deck the block a bit.

For aluminum, I'd go with these.

AFR ENFORCER 200cc HEADS CHEVY 350 383 65cc STRAIGHT PLUG 272-AFR | Skip White Performance - We have the best prices you will ever find for aluminum heads, rotating assemblies and strokers

AFR Enforcer 200cc/65cc ULTRA HIGH FLOW CYLINDER HEADS STRAIGHT PLUG, FOR SBC CHEVY 327, 350 & 383 ENGINES. Setup for hydraulic flat tappet cams. Not for use with roller cams. 200cc, (Actual size) RUNNERS, 65cc COMBUSTION CHAMBERS. ARP studs, 3/8's or 7/16's, (your choice) and AFR 2pc...

www.skipwhiteperformance.com

No heat crossover on the AFR enforcers either... so cold weather manners might be iffy, but compression ratio would be MUCH better on a stock motor.

 

[Ricko1966]

That cylinder head shoot out I put the link to in post 84 shows vortec didn't beat anything except an old school head and only by like 20hp. Not enough bang for the bang in my opinion.The speedway heads didn't beat the summit heads but the price is right. Currently 439.00 each free shipping
I looked at those AFRs (SWEET)

 

[Bextreme04]

That cylinder head shoot out I put the link to in post 84 shows vortec didn't beat anything except an old school head and only by like 20hp. Not enough bang for the bang in my opinion.The speedway heads didn't beat the summit heads but the price is right. Currently 439.00 each free shipping
I looked at those AFRs (SWEET)

I think the summit ones I linked are a basic Dart street head that is rebranded for summit. Jegs has an almost identical one that I think is a World Products rebrand. For the price they are well worth buying over taking a chance on an old stock smogger head and having it rebuilt. They are all better options than "double hump" heads. The aluminum ones are the best option IMHO. When I pull my recently rebuilt 350 to swap for the 454/4L80e, I'll probably get a more aggressive cam for it and a set of those aluminum heads to use in my Riviera if I need a backup while building the 455.

 

[Rusty Nail]

can't find any better heads in my area.

Dude.
Ima Jegs guy , dont shop at Summit but both companies sell their own casting aluminum heads now for CHEAP. Assembled with springs n stuff for less than $400 each.
Heck you could get World Products SR heads and work em like I did of you want iron. Not much of a wash after the time/stress and additional expense of rebuilding your own unless you simply want to - and I get that - but its not like it used to be anymore. The good old boy cylinder head dudes are long gone in most cases ... Now your build hinges on some guy that DOESNT have 30 or 40 years experience with building SBC heads.
Sucks yeah but time marches on.
They closed the Politics thread here because of one new guy who isnt even a member anymore.

We fight the system now and all that greenpeace treehuggin hippy ship is over one mile per gallon.
Make it easy on yourself.
I speak of the military industrial complex for cars. It's only spending digital dollars that dont exist and youve got to see that. The money in your wallet represents no gold in the bank.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[DoubleDingo]

This head talk is making consider swapping out the vortecs for a set with the heat crossover so I can run it in the wintertime without fighting it. I've always ran old school stuff in the dead of bitter-a$$ cold winter and never had any issues. Now, without the crossover, it's a pain until the engine gets good and warm, which takes forever in the cold. I'm keeping an eye on the best heads mentioned.

 

[Ricko1966]

@Bextreme04 ,I like you man,you think like I do. Gotta a grand prix body and an sbc yep I can make that work. Gotta Cutlass and Big block pontiac yeah that's doable. Been doing stupid sh!t like that since I was 14,swear to God. Using a rope a tree limb and my uncles work van as a hoist. For those of you that dont know how that's done. You secure the rope to your engine throw it over the tree limb tie it to the van then pull the van forward.The chit teenagers will think of.