[g-bar99]

I'm looking to invest in a set of Edelbrock aluminum heads and match them with a cam upgrade on a Chevy L-65 350 in a '73 camaro. I'm just wondering what some thoughts are as to the size of combustion chamber i should/ can go with. I was thinking of edelbrock E-street heads with 64cc combustion chamber. The engine is original with 65000 miles - the bottom end has never been apart. Will the smaller chamber give me too much compression for the bottom end to handle? I'm sure the L-65 is a two bolt main engine. The car's been in my family since new- so I know it's been taken care of. She runs strong and doesn't burn any oil.
I've got edelbrock 600 cfm carb, performer EPS intake, headers and HEI ignition already installed. This is a budget minded project and I'm not quite prepared to do a rebuild or throw in a crate engine at this point in time. I'm not looking for incredible hp numbers here either- I just want more power!
Your thoughts are appreciated.

[my87Z]

i couldn't find heads actually come on the L-65 but will guess beacuase of the year and compression ration that they are large CB poor flow heads, with a GM 12cc O dished piston, these pistons make for a poor quench area and not a very good burn chamber. one thing i would wold recomend is buying a set of iron heads instead of aluminum heads, this is just my opinion but if i were going to drive something on the street more i would want to stick with iron heads, aluminum heats and cools at different rates than the iron block does therefor aluminum heads tend to blow head gaskets more often. going to a 64cc head will give you about a 9.5:1 compression ratio, this alone will improve power. but i would personaly look into a couple of iron heads like these:
with these you would have to get a vortec compatable intake, but they are well worth it.

http://www.competitionproducts.com/R...fo/RHS12407K1/

http://www.competitionproducts.com/R...fo/RHS12410K1/

im not a big fan of world heads but here's a set that you wouldn't have to change your intake for

http://www.competitionproducts.com/W...ctinfo/4266KA/

you will gain some decent power out of any one of these and spend half as much as you would on a set of aluminum heads and also save some headache from changing head gaskets. with the saveings you could buy that edelbrock vortec intake, a cam kit and even a set of rear gears, then you would really like what you have

[g-bar99]

Those heads do look interesting. Very thorough reply, thanks.
I am however not too concerned about blowing head gaskets due to the fact I maybe put 700 miles on the car a year. It doesn't get much road time. The E-street aluminum heads are Edelbrock's 'entry level' heads and go for just under $900 a pair fully assembled. So for the extra couple hundered $ i feel it's worth it in the weight saving department. My biggest concern is the raised compression ratio on the stock internals. Also what cam/ cam spec do you like or have heard good things about? BTW... The max lift on the E-street heads are .550

[ericnova72]

The heads you are looking at, with a 64 cc chamber, would be a very nice upgrade to the engine you have. The 64cc chamber will raise the compression ratio to somewhere near 9.5 to 1 which will really complement the cam that you have. The heat rejection characteristics of the aluminum head will allow you to run the engine on pump gas without any worry of detonation. Not a bad choice at all in the budget minded aluminum head category.

With todays modern gaskets, I wouldn't waste a second of my time worrying about blowing the head gaskets. Modern aluminum headed engines today that have their cooling systems serviced at the proper intervals(coolent wears out you know, just like oil does, it has a service life limit) will run 200-300,000 miles without a gasket problem.

[malc]

Those heads at Competition Products work out pricey, prices are per head not per pair.
For my motor I settled on a set of Brodix IK200 and Fel Pro, FPP-1010, .039 in. compressed thickness head gasket.

[ap72]

Originally Posted by malc

Those heads at Competition Products work out pricey, prices are per head not per pair.
For my motor I settled on a set of Brodix IK200 and Fel Pro, FPP-1010, .039 in. compressed thickness head gasket.

The price is per pair, not each.

IK200's are nice too though.

[malc]

"RHS, Cast Iron Chev SB Vortec Head, 170cc/64cc, Assembled
Item Number: RHS12407K1
Unit Price: $679.98
In Stock"

"RHS, ProTorker Vortec Cast Iron Head, 170cc/64cc, Assembled
Item Number: RHS12410K1
Unit Price: $739.98
In Stock"

"World, S/R Torquer Cast Iron Chev SB Head, 170cc/67cc, Assm.
Item Number: 4266KA
Unit Price: $819.98
In Stock"

It does´nt say "pair" anywhere.
I had S/R Torquers on my motor and bought them singly.
According to Summit cast irons are sold singly as racers might ruin one and need a replacement.
On the other hand I´ve not seen aluminum heads sold singly.........so far.
I´m sure someone will find me wrong.

[cobalt327]

Those prices are for pairs of heads. Different vendor linked.

[malc]

Originally Posted by cobalt327

Those prices are for pairs of heads. Different vendor linked.

I stand corrected.

[trees]

I have had a "pair" of Edelbrock E-Tech 200 heads on my 383 for about 9 years and 50,000 + miles with no gasket problems and I am running flat tops for 10.3 to 1 compression. (These are the first ones Edelbrock made) If you go E-Street, which I think will be a great choice for your stated use, follow Edelbrock suggestions on gaskets. There may be better, but they are not going to steer you wrong!!

Trees

[my87Z]

the prices are per pair, and i have never been a fan of edelbrock heads, they make great intakes but that is just my opinion. i have always looked for the most performance for my money, those 185cc E-street heads have these advertised numbers:

.300"-182cfm, .400"-225cfm, .500"-248, .600"-249
and since most know that all head companies do their sbc head flow tests on 4.125-4.200 bores to inflate the numbers, if you are using a 350, as a general rule of thumb you need to take about 5% off each of those flow numbers to get what it will flow with a 4.000-4.060 bore. so here are the corrected numbers:

.300"-172cfm, .400"-213cfm, .500"-235cfm, .600"-236cfm

these flow numbers are not impressive at all considering this is about what a set of stock 906,062 vortec heads flow. to show you a set that i recomended i chose the RHS pro-torkers:

.300"-195cfm, .400"-245cfm, .500"-254cfm, .600"-258cfm (this is with the 5% already deducted)
these heads will clearly make more power than the e-street 185cc heads all day long on the same motor, like i said i prefer to get the most performance for my money, and the weight savings wont even show up at the track and you will never be able to tell the difference as you're driving. and RHS makes these pro toker style heads tht are 23 degree and fit the gen I gm blocks without having to use the vortec style manifold, you just have to look for them.

[g-bar99]

Thanks for your help guys. I will let you know what I end up choosing in a month or so. I'm hoping to get the job done before summer hits to see how she runs!

[malc]

TrickFlows are reckoned to be pretty hot.
ChevyHiPerformance head comparo.

[mattrunner]

i had to change the heads of my car and instead of going with the iron heads went with sbc aluminum heads and they have been really helpful in increasing the performance to a point.

[cool rockin daddy]

Boy, if I was going to buy Edelbrock heads I would stay with the Performer RPM or E-tec heads. These budget heads from Edelbrock don't seem to flow anywhere as good as the ones mentioned. Your money, your choice. Just look carefully.