Need head suggestion

[70stroker]

I have a 454 bbc with a 177 cid wieand blower on it. pretty much stock bottom end, .550 565 cam. headers thru 3 inch dual exshaust. right now i have a set of stock heads. motor runs great so i dont want to go diggin in the bottom end. My question to you is what heads would get me more power. Like i said the motor runs awesome. But as most of you a great running motor is never enough. we always want more power. Is there a decent iron head or must i go aluminum. Im thinkin about 2k for a set, give or take a few hundred. suggestions are appreciated and what im looking for.

[Outlaw72]

First what stock heads do you have now? Not all stock heads are bad. In fact, I personally think a set of stock 781 or 049 ovals would be great for you. Even with the blower. Your cam is not that large so a large aftermarket head will only benefit a little IMO. Brodix makes an aluminum head that would be nice also. The race rite oval.

[djracer]

I also love brodix heads. I would call them to see exactly which head to use but the race rite oval maybe what they suggest also. I would definitely go aluminum to help weight transfer.

[70stroker]

781s are what i have now. Would i benefit more from gettin a port polish and bigger valves. or get some aluminum

[Outlaw72]

If you can afford it and it is within budget you can never go wrong with an aluminum head. If I were in your shoes, I would seriously look at the brodix race rite ovals. The runners are a bit larger so out of the box you will pick up a little for sure. Not to mention, you are saving a ton of weight by swapping to aluminum. Otherwise, if your budget is a little pinched, see if you can find a good used set of iron ovals like yours that have already been worked a little. They are out there. There was a guy here in texas not too long ago selling a set of 781 ovals with big valves and new springs...ported.....ready to go for $500. You will spend more than $500 taking yours off and having them ported with larger valves. Definitely buy a new set of aluminum if you can afford it.

[70stroker]

anyone done this swap on a bbc and didnt mess with anything else? How much weight did it save

[Outlaw72]

I don't know the exact number in weight savings but it's quite a bit.

And that's also why I suggested race rites. The race rite head is a direct stock bolt on. no BS install

[djracer]

A buddie of mine just had a set of 781's done by another buddy of mine and spent about 800.00



If you want to get an idea of weight savings is about the difference picking up a toddler versus picking up your wife.

[Marv D]

Originally Posted by djracer

If you want to get an idea of weight savings is about the difference picking up a toddler versus picking up your wife.

Man,, that opens the door to a WHOLE BUNCH of sleeping on the couch now doesn't it!!!!

[Outlaw72]

Lol ^^^

[Rodms]

normally I'd say a set of aluminum weighs about what one cast head weighs,just to give you an idea.

[Swiftshifter68]

Average weight savings from going aluminum BBC over iron BBC is right at 100lbs. A single iron head weighs appx. 76lbs, shipping two of those sum*****es to Niagara Falls, NY costs $82 via Fed Ex Ground. Ask my dumb ass how I know! Ha!


---==Temio Williams
Yuba City, CA

[Alex1]

Originally Posted by djracer

I also love brodix heads. I would call them to see exactly which head to use but the race rite oval maybe what they suggest also. I would definitely go aluminum to help weight transfer.

X2 those are nice heads! That's what I would do!

[ripdog28]

I do not know how much alum will help with a 177 over iron. It is forced in and not sucking so power diffrence will not be noticable. Aftermarket iron vs alum. I agree that you will save about 80-100 lbs. I have Dart Iron 308 and they are 70 lbs each.