Cascade Crew

[Xophertony]

so... i have decided against vortec heads... i would like to do heads now and keep my TPI for a while. and put off intake manifold/cam until later on when i have more cash flow. vortec heads require new intake and such, so they are out. chris and i were talking about AFR heads and he mentioned that they will bolt up to a stock TPI but have room to grow if i decide to change that later on. i am re-searching on TGO but i would also like input from the crew. does/has anyone run AFR heads with a stock TPI? or any other manifold?

thanks guys. this oil leak is realy emberassing for me, i feel like i am letting my car down, i promissed her when i got her home that i would take care of her. i think she is starting to resent me for not fixing the oil leak.

[Twilightoptics]

You'll spend considerably more on AFR heads than you would Vortec with the new manifold.

The Vortecs would benefit the stock TPI MUCH more than AFR heads would.

AFRs flow REALLY well, and to get that air flow moving on a 350, you need to be able to rev it. The TPI has that "wall" at around 4800 rpm. With a small cam, and tpi, utilizing those AFR heads wont be possible. The stock cam is designed to work with the stock tpi only and stop making power at 4800rpm.

If you go AFR head I suggest a stealth ram or similar, and new cam.
Cheesx has a 400SBC Canfield heads (comperable to afrs) a big cam, and all the TPI parts upgraded larger (Base, runners, plenum). He doesn't have to spin the motor as high to get the air flow, because of the larger displacement. His pooped out around 4800 right where that TPI wall is.

If you look at Mike and my dyno graph....we don't make much power until 3000rpm, and make power clear till 6grand. That's with AFR heads for me and no tpi. But if you want to make the best of your AFR heads, you'll need to yank the engine and do a few things (Re Ring while there, ARP Rod Bolts, Polish Rods, line bore would be nice, balance, etc) Do that and you'll be good to 7000rpm.


This is my take. Someone else might chime in and agree or disagree. But those are my experiances with some examples.

[Quasi-Traction]

I can sell you the 882 heads I have tony!


Based on the conversation we just had yesterday Tony... if I buy this guys 84Z (which after talking to him today, I found out is actually a 1985, it was just manufactured in late 1984) with the T-tops, I'll probably save both cars, drive the 85 and save my 84's body, less the motor and trans, pull all the wiring stuff. Drive the 85 until I feel ready to do the swap of the 85's 305/5speed into the 84's chassis.

I'm gonna offer him $800 and see if he goes for it. If he does, I'll buck up and spend my "school" money for it (I"m sure my dad will be pissed...) drive it and the fairlane, and save the V6 chassis. I may need a place to store the V6 car until September. I'll talk to the family though and see if I can work out a deal....

[Xophertony]

hmm... perhaps i will just have mine "done". and build myself a 383 later