which stock heads.......

[Longhorn Man]

Onless you are compairing to Vortecs, which are better than anything old.
Neon, if you can bolt them on and go, then $150 is a good price. BUT, if you plan on building them up...then you'll end up spending a butt load...like mentioned.

[neonlarry]

Ok, that's kind of what I figured, I just thought I would ask though. I am going to get a free 350 block, and the guy said he had the 186s for sale. I guess a set of world products sportsman IIs would be a better idea, right?

[ChopTop]

Ok, so why not rebuild your own set of heads? I mean if you don't have over a grand sitting there to invest in heads anyway. You could probably pick up a set of 882's or even better set of heads for less than 100 easily. Ebay sells kits that include SS valves either 1.94 or 2.02 plus springs locks and guides for 150 bucks or so. Then you will only require squaring the gasket surface. That only leaves a 3 angle valve job. So what would it take to incorporate using your own kit and the 3 angle valve job?
Next thing you could think about is your own pocket porting. This method can't be that far out of reach, really. Sounds like around 300 bucks total. Maybe even less.

[robby]

IF you htink about it the 186 castings came in 300 HP 350s. THat motor had lots of power for the average Joe. That is with restrictive exhaust, limited intake, timing, cam. etc. so I say clean them up, valve job and go. Not every one can have the fancy stuff. Not me anyway.

[bigjimzlll]

Robby and Choptop have a good point..if you can get the parts to build them cheap enuff, and your power requirements do not exceed 350HP, the fuellies might be the way to go...Wait..there I go again..Thats exactly what I did...lol..I do have to say that the 186s are usually the hot ticket for resale though.
Jim

[crazy longhorn]

Those old fuelies were a good head in their day, & back when they could be picked up for $50 a set, & a $150 valve job could be done......they were a hell of a deal! To pick the castings up bare for $150, add $150 for valves & springs, $75 to cut the decks,$100 for bronze liners, & another $125 for a 3 angle valve job......that looks like about 600 clams to me. Any bowl/port work goes $50-60 per hr After you figure it all up, the price of "fancy" isnt too bad! I cant afford to have the old castings built, when the new stuff is as cheap, or cheaper.....CrazyL

[RACING29]

don't buy world products or sportsman II's!!!they suck stock heads with 2.02 vavles flow better! If you are going to spend that much money on a set of heads buy a set of aluminum CANFIELDs in my opinion they are the best !

[ChopTop]

Now don't miss my point here. You don't have to use fuelies. If your like me, and I know and probably am thankfull most aren't, you might have a couple of sets just sitting around already. Buy yourself a kit and do the job yourself. You could easily do it on the cheap cheap. Not everyone needs 200cc's of flow, or even 180 for that matter. The 882's flow what, over 150, do a little work on the excaust ports and Viola! You can make 350 horses with these heads on a typical street motor. Why limit yourself to only performing engine assembly or suspension work. If you just send everything out, your not saving money. Our trucks are all about working on them ourselves. I bet in one simple search anyone can find a site that explains how to pocket port a set of heads.

[neonlarry]

Exactly why do world heads suck? I have seen a number of dyno tests using them, and I was pretty impressed. I don't have $1500 to spend on a set of AFR heads or something, and anyway, while I have nothing agsinst them, I don't really want aluminum heads. I called a machine shop to ask about rebuilding the 186s, and they said about 100-150 to put new valve guides, new valves with a 3 angle valve job, and screw in studs if I supplied all of the parts. I just don't know if they would be as good as aftermarket heads I could get for about $200 more.

[crazy longhorn]

I hear you chop top! I have had a die grinder in more sets of heads than I care to remember. When I was running olds motors, edelbrock hadnt thought of the heads yet! the last set I had done were opened up on a serdi for 2.072/1.71 valves,surfaced,bronze liners,milled rocker stands,& drilled & tapped for screw in studs & guide plates. They were then handed back to me , so i could do the bowl blend,port match,remove the EGr bumps& raise the ex port roof. I dont have the equipment to do the machine work, so I have to rely on the shop for that......all said & done, with oversized stainless valves.....those heads ripped up a $1000 bill(ouch).......but man did that 461 olds "boogie"! I went through the same thing on an old set of Fuelies(back before all the aftermarket stuff), & had 700-750 in them. This last time, i got a little older,or lazyier & payed for the edelbrocks, tore em down for a lite lap(just to check the seats) & clean up & bolted them on! It really wasnt much more money.....a lot less work, & a better flowing head(better "bang for the buck")IMHO anyway. If a guy has the equipment to do ALL of the work, he will be way ahead of the game.......CrazyL

[Hooter]

Huh, I have two LS9 three-fiftees, good strong motors, good to know that they are good for something

[ChopTop]

Hey Neon, if your set on a set of Aftermarket heads, I have a brand new set of Sportsman II's on hand in the boxes and ready for up to 600 lift or solid lifters. These are 200cc runners with all the goodies like Stainless 2.02 valves and 64cc chambers - bronze guides. I don't know why anyone would dog on them, the ports are huge and would provide great flow as is. Only problem with heads like these is you don't see a noticable difference in performance untill you get into the upper rpm ranges like 4000 to 7500 rpms. (Depending on engine size) Capable of over 600 horses ya-know.

[neonlarry]

I have a brand new set of Sportsman II's on hand in the boxes and ready for up to 600 lift or solid lifters.

Hmm.... How much do you want for them? I really wanted the 72cc(I think) ones, but I would think about the others too. Would going from 75cc to 72cc on a stock c/r 350 still allow it to run on 91 octane pump gas?

[bigjimzlll]

it depends alot on the cam and quench, but you will only increase the c/r by 3/10s of a percent..that would make your C/R around 8.7-1...easily 91 octain friendly

[ChopTop]

Neon, I just caught your price on that older reply. You said your machine shop quoted you $150 plus parts? ($150 for the kit) So for $300 you can have all new valves, screw in studs and new springs etc etc.? $300 for a fresh set of 186's, that's a deal friend. Add 450 more to that and you can have a set of II's. What pistons do you have again, flats or dished?

[robby]

any guy that can get a decent set of Chevy heads (above mentioned castings) and does the basic valve job and does a little bit of cam, intake, dual exhaust and timing with the right gears and torque converter can have an awful lot of fun in our trucks for pretty cheap. That is how I started (and still do) when I was 16. Being thrifty and inventive is half the fun. THe dirtier your hands are the more fun it is. Old stuff made better is neat. Great comments.

[Tuffold72]

I am not trying to advertise or anything, but I sell complete fuely heads like the 461 castings with new hardened intake and exhaust seats, your choice of sizes in stainless valves, 3 angle cut, 530 lift springs and heavy duty retainers, bowl ported,surfaced and magged and cc'ed for 575.00$ Deals are out there, just depends on how good at shopping you are. Here is a pair I am working on now.
http://community.webshots.com/script...ecurity=QJyolV