Aluminum Heads for 383

[Stew]

I've decided to look into aluminum heads for the 383 in my RR.

After reading a number of the posts on this topic, I still have some questions and am looking for suggestions.

I would like heads that have stock intake/exhaust locations and utilize stock valve-train components.

Suggested mfg's from previous posts:
Edelbrock Performer RPM (Angled Sparkplug)
Indy 440 EZ (Angled Sparkplug)
440 Source Stealth (Stock Sparkplug)

I currently have "346" heads and all I know about my cam is that it is 300 advertised duration and actual is 245 @ .050 with .510 lift.


Questions:
What kind of increases in performace can I expect without changing anything else?
What do I need to verify before ordering new heads?

I normally drive the car on the street with a few trips to the dragstrip.

Thank you for any help.

[dodgeboy8]

Edelbrocks are hard to beat!! Big power increase OOTB a little hand blending gives more.

EZ with max wedge port allows for much better intakes but hood clearance is your enemy???

440 source?? I have a set to take apart in the garage and hand blend I'll let you know! Better get at it have had them 6 weeks? Rome thing! LOL!!

My suggestion would be rpms with an RPM performer intake (you have now??) hand blend or better get a set of CNC ported.
Wee Haa
Mancini / Edelbrock Ported 440 RPM Cylinder Heads

stock
Edelbrock Cylinder Heads

really decide where you are going

[GTSDave]

I am 99% sure I will be running the 440 source heads on my 383. I won't be going with the CNC ones because I dont need that much flow for a 383, well at least not for a street engine. Bigger is not always better.

My main reason for the Source heads is that once painted the look like stock heads. They have basically the same ports as the Eddies, closed chambers, and the outside of them look great.

For my 383 street engine they will be perfect. I e-mailed them with questions about head gaskets. I am concerned about the bore on a 383 and the bore on the gaskets. Once I hear back from them, I will pull the trigger on at least one set.

-Dave

[dodgeboy8]

Just buy looking at the source heads in my garage I can tell you they aint eddies. I've worked a few sets of eddies and the American made quality really stands out!
Eddies will flow 280 to 290 as shipped the source heads 245 to 255
so that said yeas 383's need less flow but the flow works at all RPM rages giving a boost through the whole rpm range
Stock eddies are capable of 550 to 600 HP were a stock source is 450 to 500 so thats my 2 cents worth.
The eddies will get you there with much less overall work!! if HP is the there your after!! LOL!!

[GTSDave]

I heard rumors that they were using the same CNC program on the Source heads that they use on Eddies. That is why I assumed the ports were the same. Thanks for pointing that out for us. There is no question that the Eddies are going to be better quality. I would have already bought a set if the were cast to look like stockers.

Right now I have a set of 516's on it that look like they were home ported with a chisel and hammer. Even the source heads are gonna be better than these! I do have a set of 906's that I ported back in high school. They were fantastic heads on a 383 back then, but we also were running better gas, and much higher compression, so they are out too.

Either way for a 383 running 6500 or below, they should be fine. That being said, the springs and retainers are probably junk, but for me it is the castings I am after. I need heads that look stock for my car and will update springs and retainers to match the cam I use.

Keep us posted on what you find when you start diggin into them. It would be interesting to have first hand testimony.

-Dave

[Stew]

I already have the Performer RPM intake which is a perfect match for the RPM heads.
Since I have headers (not sure which brand), do I need to be concerned with the angled sparkplugs?
Is there anything else I need to double-check or should the Eddys bolt right on?
Also, what kind of performance gains should I expect? (I realize it's a loaded question, but powers the name of the game)
Thanks again for all the feedback.

[DennisJokela]

I used Eddy's on my small block Scamp.ootb the car ran 11.46 as opposed to 11.90 with stock big valve iron heads.

The only change I made was the head swap.

Dennis Jokela

[Cranky]

I bought a stud kit for my Eddys. Whatever bolt system you use, make sure and use hardened washers on any alloy head.

As for stock heads, they can sever very well if you already have them. I ran 10.60's with a set of ported 906's in a 3200 lb car with around 11-1 compression. Main thing is to have good quench and with an open chamber head, you'll have to use reverse dome pistons to do that. If you have to start from scratch, buying a set of alloy heads makes better monetary sense but if you already have a set of stockers and can do your own work, you will come out ok using them but if you have to have someone do all of the work, forget it.