What heads are you using? I have a 78 351w and am considering keeping the heads and having them reconditioned. I have been looking at alum heads as well, and wanted to know what the disadvantages to having the heads reconditioned, versus buy new alum ones. I'm on a budget right now, and I'm looking to spend around $600 for heads. The total cost of the engine that I am looking at building is going to be around $3000. Thanks.

 

it mostly depends on what your looking for in the engine. 3000 is a fair budget to spend. if hp is what you want edelbrock aluminum heads are the best bet. but your gonna be spending around 1200. I had my heads ported and polished in my 351w but looking back i wish i would have got the aluminums.

 

Mostly I am looking for a nice street car. I'm not sure what the stock hp output of the original 78 351w was, but I imagine its around the 275 mark. I am looking to add approximately 100hp to 150hp. Again those are only approximate numbers, more or less wouldn't really matter to me.

 

I have ported steel heads on my 408w, but am planning on going to some victor jr. heads soon

 

How much did you have your heads ported? While looking at heads I've been seeing an avg of 60cc. While the stock heads I have are 69cc is the older rating wrong?

 

The HP is in the heads, make sure you spend your money on the right stuff. Pistons, cams, all that stuff is important but remember, if you can not get the air/fuel to the cylinders it is all wasted.

 

stock hp of a 78 351w is about 175hp, you want about a 60 cc head which will put the compression around 9.1. If you want some good punch out of you 351w find some used twisted wedge heads or even gt-40x or peformer/perf rpm heads, even cast iron gt-40 or gt-40ps. The stock heads are not up to the task I would not waste any money on them, you will spend more porting them than buying new ones.

I had some 69 castings that I had 194 160 valves installed, guide plates, porting and I was up to 1200.00

If you want total budget alum heads, pro comp makes victor jr clone alum heads you can buy for around 700-800 bucks they have 60 cc chambers and 190 cc int ports, some people hate them some love them , If you have 600 for heads spend a bit extra and get those, theres probably a good 100 hp to be had over the stockers with a decent cam.

For 3000.00-3500.00 you should be able to build a nice budget 351w that will make at least 375hp.

Be sure to spend the 150.00 or so to have your assy balanced.

I have a few 351w parts I'm dumping like rpm intake, 625 demon carb etc......
PM me I can give you a list of what worked for me in my last 351w and the best prices, I have a 408 now.

 

I am proud of my AFR heads' performance, but beware of valve quality on what ever you buy. You might consider getting a bare set of heads and building them out with quality parts so you do not run the risk of going through what I did with cheap soft valves. As for performance in a 351, AFR and Edelbrock RPM XT heads are pretty nice. They both flow very nicely but will not sacrifice velocity on the intake side because they are sized in the 180cc runner range.

 

if your on a budget i'd suggest the GT-40P's from tristatecylinderhead. they are like 700 bucks or so and come with with bigger valves and stiffer springs.

 

mine are stock heads.... and my motor is pretty stock