My 80' coupe has recently undergone a 6-speed conversion.
Next comes the engine rebuild. The plan is to build a 377/383. The car will be street only.
From all I have read, AFR heads seem to be the best (or at least one of the best) non-race heads out there. A few questions:
What size should I go with? I am leaning towards the 195ccs. I suppose a 383 could support bigger heads, but I'm willing to give up a little top end to keep the low end as crisp as possible.
What porting should I have done on the heads? I believe there are different levels of CNC porting available. Is there a general consensus which is worth and which is not worth the money?
Where is the place to get the best deal on AFRs? What will they run me? What does the different porting options cost?
If I get the AFRs CNC ported, should I not have them ported any further? In other words, do they come as good as they can get from the CNC machine, such that an individual doing additional porting will only harm the flow numbers?
I assume I should get angled plugs. Is there any other options I need to be aware of when making my decision?
I just received a set of AFR 210's for my old Nova.
I have posted the flow numbers, etc so you may try a search-tons of info on AFR as wells.
195's would be a great head...check out some of the magazine articles that have used it...520 HP and 540 HP from a 350 and 383 respectively with ok camshafts.
I ordered mine direct from AFS...took awhile, but it didn't seem like anyone else was cheaper and why mess with a middleman in that case.
I'm quite happy with them...they flow like a son of a gun with no portwork-nearly completely CNC already. I would be very skeptical of local folks porting my pro heads...easy to mess up and tough to improve on.
What size chamber CC do you need? What kind of cam? Then go to the AFR web site and add up all the options. You will see pretty fast that your going to be spending $2000 + or - a couple of hundred.
Then go to the flow charts the 190 & 195 with the expensive comp. porting only flow as much as the 210's with race porting and 2.08/1.6 valve combo.
Just price out every head with options for your compression and cam needs.
I am just looking for an aluminum head to go on a 383 stroker for street use---no track use.
My mechanic actually said something to the effect you are saying---the AFRs, while at the top flow-wise, cost a bundle. He suggested maybe I could get the power I wanted from a pair of Edlebrocks.
get the 195s comp ported because if you want them to port them latter thay will hit you over the head for $1150 so if you want the heads the comp jobs will make the most power i honestly think the 210s are too large for that kind of motor the times in my sig were with a 190 afr head on a larger motor :cheers:
You need to do your own research and come to your own conclusion.
Read up on every one you can and then make a decision. The more knowledge you have the better off your going to be. Everybody has an opinion. maybe somebody in your area has a motor like what your wanting. Get a ride in it. talk to them about what they would change if they had it to do over again.
An article in Chevy Hi Performance got me interested in the new E-tech heads for streeter type motors. or make the jump to their Victor Jr heads.
Just for the record, my AFR 210's cost $1683 delivered in 7 weeks.
This also included upgrades of Titanium retainers, 400 SBC steam holes, and two water temperature sensors drilled-added up to $181 in upgrades...could have gotten the heads for ~1500 delivered.
I don't think that is much money in the big scheme of things...again I posted the flow results and they will be perfect-very happy so far...although the engine hasn't fired yet...:)
The Victor Jrs are great, but be aware that they have raised exhause ports and angled plugs. You may not be able to use your existing exhaust manifold/header with them, and finding a set that will work could be harder. If you do go to the Victor Jr heads, make sure you have headers that will fit first!
Finding headers that will fit my C2 with the Victor Jr heads was difficult. Add in my Side exhaust and I found Sanderson or full custom to be my choice. I'm thinking of Sanderson for now, and the custom later on once I don't mind leaving the car with a shop for a while.
i am very happy with my AFR 210's. i know GKull got shafted hard with his dealings and that sucks, but they have been great to me. i got mine fron the factory, and flow tested from an independent shop. the numbers stood up to the advertised ones and even beat then in the cleaned up ported stage. every one i have recomended the heads to are very happy with the product. buy what you like, but i would recomend you stay in the 195cc range with the ci you are shooting for. Brian
Alaska Ray - I had a talk with the president of AFR. All of our problems are behind us. I was wrong to use the forum to share my thoughts.
GeoffSchultz - I was looking for where I have the article in my stacks of car mags. The online sites never have everything. The e-tech is more like an improved verion of the Vortech style of tall narrow intake ports. It's really made for medium hp street machines. It's was the E-200 cc that the article was about. Nothing but praise of course. http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/index.html
One of our forum members had his AFR 210 ccrace ready heads flow tested. I trust real world numbers over claims by manufacturers.
Corvette Store
Few questions about AFR heads
