sbc cylinder head info

[philB]

Have a 383 with a set of heads #14102193, was in the truck when we got it, not sure if these heads are good or where the horsepower spec is. Is there a better head to use for mild performance? The engine was a GM creat at 325 hp. Not sure is better heads will help or not. would like to stay with the cast iron head type, have a set of 327 double humps already built and wonder if they would be good to use. Lot of info on this forum for just about everything.
Using a 400 trans w/373 gear, short step 1969 c10.

[Warrens69GMC]

193 heads are swirl ports, not a performance head. The double humps are good, I went with Summitt racing Vortec heads on my 383.

[RustyPile]

Originally Posted by philB

Have a 383 with a set of heads #14102193, was in the truck when we got it, not sure if these heads are good or where the horsepower spec is. Is there a better head to use for mild performance? The engine was a GM creat at 325 hp. Not sure is better heads will help or not. would like to stay with the cast iron head type, have a set of 327 double humps already built and wonder if they would be good to use. Lot of info on this forum for just about everything.
Using a 400 trans w/373 gear, short step 1969 c10.

The double hump heads are past their prime.. They are old technology, and several features make them obsolete for today's engines.. First, the valve seats are not hardened, which is a requirement for today's unleaded fuel. The 64 CC chambers make for some high compression on a 383 unless dish pistons are used. All of these "negatives" can be worked around given proper modifications to the heads, but one feature might be a deal breaker for you.. The ends of the heads have no holes for mounting accessories.

Something to consider when selecting head alloy. Aluminum heads handle high compression better than cast iron. Detonation is less an issue with aluminum.

[Tom]

Most heads are better then the swirl ports, and yes better heads will always help. Double humps can be better, but they can also be ho-hum small valve versions that don't do anything better then other stock heads.

[cadillac_al]

It's nice to have good modern heads for that nice performance boost. I think some nice orange double humps might look nice in a 69 though.

[Rick Bollinger]

Even the E Street heads from Edelbrock are decent. Just have to find out your compression ratio to get the right cc heads. About 1K for a pair. Good to at least 400 hp. This was my 383 with the edelbrock 338 hp top end kit.

[THI]

The 193 head is a small chamber swirl-port head used on TBI engines, and is one of the worst flowing small block heads out there. Unless you are using the 906/062 vortec head, just about any aftermarket head will out perform the stock Chevy heads, even the old "double hump" heads. The Summit cast iron SBC heads with a 165cc intake runner flow about the same as the old double hump heads and have a modern combustion chamber, they are 72cc chamber vs the 64cc chamber of the 193's.

[Warrens69GMC]

The Summit Vortec heads have a 175cc intake runner and 67cc combustion chamber, setup for roller cam. Made by Dart.

[philB]

Thanks to all, now to figure out what to do, any suggestions on alum heads, lot of aftermarked one but also lot of yeas and nos on some of the mfgrs. Thanks for the responses and info, if you need info - this forum is place to go to.

[Tom]

If money isn't a question, Air flow research for heads. If money is, some edelbrocks as the quality control is excellent.