l98tpi

Researching which AFR Heads to purchase. Here is what I have:

L98 Stock from heads down
Tpis BigMouth Intake Manifold with Large tube runners
LT Headers with open exhaust
No smog equipment
May go to 383 in the future, but for now staying with 350.

Thanks

weaselbeak

if you have plans on a 383 then i would go with 195 elims. staying 350 then the 180's would get you there. i got the 195's and had them flat milled to drop my combustion chamber size down. but i'm giving up some intake velocity in going larger. either way jim barth will hook you up on this forum

GREGGPENN

Really depends on the cam/intake IMO. Even with a 383, the 180's will support your goals well. OTOH, if you're entertaining any thought of creating a spinner (and opting for HP over TQ), the 195's are the clear choice.

I picked the 195's (even) for a TPI build because I was shooting halfway in between. With a custom SR-like intake, I was landing in that gray area.

Best advice I got with the purchase was AFR 195's are unique. They flow with the port speed of prior (tech) 180 heads. But, they breath as well as 200cc ported heads of the past. IOW, you can have your cake and eat it too.

If you're like me, once the 383 is planted, you'll more serious entertain thoughts of a higher tuned intake (SR, HSR, or MR). To be honest, I really wish I had my HSR back to see how it would run. Not saying that would be my final choice, but everyone doing this building thing likes to consider/know their options.

195's are the best head for providing that.

cv67

Youll have to mill them down to get your compression back up with the 350. Make sure you can get a piston fo rthe 383 with that head to get you the compression you want that way you arent buying heads twice or paying afr or someone else to make the CC bigger which Im not sure they would recommend.
Plan 3 times, buy once.

l98tpi

195's have been my gut choice, but I figured there would be some experience here with the AFR's. As far as intake, I will stick with my current upgraded TPI intake, even if I go to a 383. This car is a dedicated autox car. No plans for tracking, except for some High Speed AutoX, unless I win the Lottery. I'm not going to mortgage my house for peanuts. Thanks for the replies so far.

vader86

If youre set on sticking with the TPI, I'd just go 180cc. Keep the CR in mind.

l98tpi

Can't the AFR's be ordered with the chamber size you want? If you were ordering with thought of possibly doing a 383, would you do 64cc or 58cc heads?

vader86

To my knowledge only 2 chamber sizes on the regular SBC, 65 or 75 cc. You can order off the shelf bare castings at 63 and 70.

If you want something else, you'll have to have it milled to a spec + cost of the head w/parts.

mistaben

180's... how many times you really wanna rebuild this motor?

cv67

Have to look at piston selection first.
Then take into account how far down in the bore its going to be (or guess) head gasket thickness you may want etc. Thats the problem. You may have it decked how much??If you stroke it.

A 350 may be Ok with a flattop where a stroker may want a dish piston to have the same CR. Or not. It will take some research on your end.

It can be done but honestly Id buy the head for the motor you have RIGHT now rather than something to grow into. That rarely works out.
With the 180 crowd on what youre doing right now.

l98tpi

Living up north here, you need winter projects.

John A. Marker

Just a couple of things to keep in mind. How many miles on the current block? IF you have low miles then you could go with a higher compression head (small chamber). If you have higher miles...then increasing the compression will then put more pressure on the "stock" bottom end....Within 20-30,000 miles or less, I would expect the rings to go. Now you are looking at a set of good heads on a bottom end that is not going to keep up with the new found power.

With that in mind either keep the compression close to what you have now or expect to rebuild soon. Or just save up and stock pile parts and build the whole motor to what you want.

USAsOnlyWay

Is money enough of an issue to buy only one set?
At 2k a pop, I'd try to avoid going for multiple heads.

I'm also of a mind set that a good head, can help out a crappy intake... a good intake on a crappy head, not so much.

That said, no smog, LT's and TPI. You could go 180s but I'd go 195s (elims or not) for sure.
For the same build on a 383 I'd go 195s/elims are even better.
If you go 383 and swap the intake I think you could go up to their 210s or whatever the next step is.

Moral: 195s, and if you can swing it, get the eliminators

weaselbeak

afr milled about .03 off the 195's to take me down to a 60cc chamber. Even with the cost of that and shipping tpi421vette got me well under 2k.

l98tpi

I do need to keep in mind the bottom end. I plan on keeping CR the same as it is now which should be 10:1. I do have 106K miles on this bottom end, but so far it has done the job.

That is why I was thinking 195's and I would pay the extra for the eliminators. I don't want to purchase multiple heads. Please keep in mind I haven't won the lottery yet

Pete K

195's with the 65cc chamber.
Use on .026 gasket on the 350.
You are always better off with the largest chamber possible, typically, even at the cost of some compression.

cumbercr

I'm running 195s on my 396 Super Ram. With flat top pistons and 65cc chambers, the compression is a little over 11:1. The 195s have more than enough flow for a 383 with the intake you plan on using.

I ran 195s on my 350 before the 396 build. With 9:1 CR, a mild flat tappet cam and Super Ram it had nice performance.

l98tpi

Okay, looks like the concensus is 195's. With the 195's will I have any problem using my stock valve covers?

Calderone

Hi L98 TPI last year i was in your same spot , not sure if i did 100% right but my car runs damn well , i have a 355 with a 219LPE Cam, Flat top Hypereutectics and a Super Ram.
Backstage on my mind there is always the possibility of doing a 383 out of my 355
but not for now, i finally chose the AFR195 eliminators from Jim, he helped me a lot
in getting them (you'll want to PM him) , the 195's will give you room to grow in the future.
(think in that because with the bug we always wants more and more) 65CC chambers.
Yes maybe i lost some compression,but i used the Victor Reinz 5746 head gasket.
now "Clevite" http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CLE-5746/ they go for $ 26.99 each
0.026 in. i made a mistake and paid $ 120 for them from TPIS, and they ended up being
the same gaskets so double check and don't trust 100% what they sell.
In the end , i'm very happy with the results ...maybe im a bit low on compression
but i have no idea how to check that yet , car runs strong and i feel good.

l98tpi

Thanks Calderone. Were you able to use your stock valve covers? Also, how about exhaust manifold gasket? Did you use stock size on those?