Best Heads For A 350

dreisenauer · May 18, 2008

I'm planning on turning a 350 into a 383. I want to make ~350HP with good torque but something I could drive daily if needed. A few people told me to put vortec heads on. I haven't built a motor in years so I'm out of the loop on any late developments. Anyone have suggestions on what heads to use? Vortec heads good or is there something better for the same $?

I'm restoring my first ride, a '79 2wd Chevrolet. After the paint gets finished up, I'm going to rebuild the motor.

OUMike · May 18, 2008

You should be able to get that kinda power from stock displacement. Find you some vortec heads and maybe a good intake manifold should do wonders. Edelbrock offers power packages for just about every GM engine.

98silvz71 · May 18, 2008

I'd go with the Vortec heads. You can get a rebuild set of heads for about $200 if you look around or if it was me I would rebuild them myself and roller them. All you would need is a new intake to match the Vortec heads intakes. Yea it would be easy to get that kind of hp on a 350 but I look to a 383 for the torque more than hp. I would still go with the 383 though and roller it unless you want to save the dough.

slimjim2525 · May 18, 2008

Find a set of 461x heads, that's what they use in race cars.

dreisenauer · May 21, 2008

Thanks for the replies.

I was planning on the 383 for torque with the tall gear ratio. I've got 3.08 gears and I like them down the highway. I'm planning on a roller cam, so the biggest problem should be traction:)

Genuinefine409 · May 21, 2008

I say vortec heads as well, just watch how big of a cam you get and what your going to need to do to the heads, you can buy them ready to go for up to .550" lift but they don't have roller springs on them. a lot of times you need to go with a longer valve to get the correct installed height with roller springs. you can also get vortec bowtie heads in a bare casting and get them done for your cam.

also, its going to be very hard to make 350hp out of a 383 roller motor(you'll be way over). you can save some money and go flat tappet and still be way over your 350hp mark. the gm crate 383 is 425hp with a very mild hyd roller cam.

98silvz71 · May 21, 2008

I say vortec heads as well, just watch how big of a cam you get and what your going to need to do to the heads, you can buy them ready to go for up to .550" lift but they don't have roller springs on them. a lot of times you need to go with a longer valve to get the correct installed height with roller springs. you can also get vortec bowtie heads in a bare casting and get them done for your cam.

also, its going to be very hard to make 350hp out of a 383 roller motor(you'll be way over). you can save some money and go flat tappet and still be way over your 350hp mark. the gm crate 383 is 425hp with a very mild hyd roller cam.

I've seen the difference in a flat tappet 383 and a rolled 327 and it made a believer out of me. I have wanted to try a rollered 383 but I sold my 350 and I was more worried about cost/reliability. Good luck on whatever you choose and let me know how it turns out.

mcreyaufmiller · May 22, 2008

If the vortec heads are worked correctly you will get nice power either way. I have a 383 with fully worked vortec heads (ported and flowed) in my computer controlled 1998 (with stock manifold) and I am getting 400hp at the rear tires with over 450ftlbs torque. I am currently working with Wilson intakes to make a new intake that will work with the factory computer (I have to have the factory computer connected and operational in my state). If I was running a set of RHS heads, and a different intake with a carb, my engine could produce close to 700hp at the rear tires.

To go further, my engine was built by a race guy, this is not the run of the mill unit. If the computer would let me I could turn this motor at 8,000 RPM all day long with no problems. The mistake I made was not going with the alumniulm RHS heads when the motor was built. If you are going to build a 383, get someone that knows motors to build it for you, it will be well worth the money in the end.

98silvz71 · May 22, 2008

If the vortec heads are worked correctly you will get nice power either way. I have a 383 with fully worked vortec heads (ported and flowed) in my computer controlled 1998 (with stock manifold) and I am getting 400hp at the rear tires with over 450ftlbs torque. I am currently working with Wilson intakes to make a new intake that will work with the factory computer (I have to have the factory computer connected and operational in my state). If I was running a set of RHS heads, and a different intake with a carb, my engine could produce close to 700hp at the rear tires.

To go further, my engine was built by a race guy, this is not the run of the mill unit. If the computer would let me I could turn this motor at 8,000 RPM all day long with no problems. The mistake I made was not going with the alumniulm RHS heads when the motor was built. If you are going to build a 383, get someone that knows motors to build it for you, it will be well worth the money in the end.

A perfect example of a Vorteced 383. I never did get mine turned into one Mike, just traded it and bought the Dmax. Sometimes I wish I had it back because I loved the body style, the solid panels, and the sound of my Flowmaster Super 40s. But nothing can replace the fact that I'm getting 20mpg with this thing and I just love the sound of that turbo and the smell of the exhaust.

thomasz · May 24, 2008

Hope your plan finish soon.

mcreyaufmiller · May 25, 2008

This is now mu hot rod truck. It's paid for so I figured I would build it. I had a cummins that I loved until I totaled it, but for me, this trucks sees maybe 5k miles a year.

And I almost forgot, I can pull my RV with it at 80moh and get 24mpg on the highway. City driving? well that is a whole 10mpg