• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Which Different heads?

67500383

67500383

Member
Local time
3:17 PM
Joined
Nov 10, 2010
Messages
19
Reaction score
6
Location
I.E. California
Hello everyone! And thank you for the Merry Christmas email from the administrator. I appreciate that and intend on using this site more in 2017 also. I'll start with a question now please...
I have a 67 Coronet 500 with a 383 that was rebuilt about 15 yrs ago (15k miles ago), stock bottom end (just .030 bored over) with a "comp cams" kit that had a .470 lift intake and exhaust with .224 duration and a 110 lope. I have a 4bdp intake manifold, full exhaust, better ignition and prob eventually have a different better 750 cfm carb then what's on it now.
My question is the original 516 heads I have on my car now, even with the bigger valves I had put on and different springs etc.. are not very good heads performance wise because they are closed chamber heads. I was wondering which heads I can buy to get the most power, yet dependable like the 516's that are on it now. Thank you everyone, and Happy Holidays!!
 
Without changing pistons,the only head that might do you any justice, might be the edelbrock E street heads, small 75cc chamber would keep the compression up and have all the benefits of an edelbrock head
 
67500383,
I realize there are better heads available than the 516's but what is it about the closed chamber that you don't like?
 
For what it sounds like you are going for, some pocket porting on the 516's if you have the bigger valves would be fine. The closed chamber is just fine. New aluminum heads with the modern chamber are better, but WTF. I ported a few sets of 516 heads with really good results. Pocket porting is the key. They aren't the best, but not bad.
 
Actually there sticking points with the 516 are primarily the exhaust valve, and secondarily the intake port. However, with some cleanup they will support almost any level power level 383. Intake valve size is ok, although I go 2.14 if the seats are beat. The exhaust size needs to go up to the 1.74. These heads suffer from core shift, and replacement of the exhaust seats that will allow the 1.81 valve may lead to hitting water doing the seats. You can make plenty of steam on that 1.74 anyway, so I use them. If the work is done on a modern seat cutter that has 5 angles, you will also get the side benefit of a mild pocket porting if you go with the bigger valves. Prepped like that you can make an easy 425hp with the right cam and without any other expensive porting. On a couple 440s I've made 525hp and 590tq with "those junk" 516s with some work and a cam with 250* at .050.
P.S. - closed chamber heads will make more power than open chamber heads when paired with the right pistons and machining. Also much better for pump fuel builds...
 
The 516 may not be the best, but with the pocket porting they will work darn well.
 
Talk to Bruce Toth ([email protected]), been porting original as well as AL (just recently) heads for 30 years. He can help with the limits on porting the old stuff, give you a great idea of what you can expect as well as the combinations to get you where you think you want to be. A real friendly guy with a wealth of knowledge about Mopar that he will share. Do your research as you are now and you can save a lot of time and unduplicated expense with a rock solid game plan moving forward.
 
Rick Carson said:
Without changing pistons,the only head that might do you any justice, might be the edelbrock E street heads, small 75cc chamber would keep the compression up and have all the benefits of an edelbrock head
Click to expand...
OK, that might just what I need. Thanks Rick!
 
Thanks for the replies friends.. I remember when my 383 was being rebuilt, the engine builder saying that the closed chamber heads I have which are the 516's can't produce as much power as the open chamber heads. I think he said the 915 heads were much better performance wise because they were open chamber. I was not sure if I should go with a aftermarket aluminum heads, or better performace Mopar heads for my specs. Thank you
 
67500383 said:
Thanks for the replies friends.. I remember when my 383 was being rebuilt, the engine builder saying that the closed chamber heads I have which are the 516's can't produce as much power as the open chamber heads. I think he said the 915 heads were much better performance wise because they were open chamber. I was not sure if I should go with a aftermarket aluminum heads, or better performace Mopar heads for my specs. Thank you
Click to expand...
Nope....915's are also closed chamber heads too. Is your engine builder a Chevy guy :D? I'll take the closed chamber heads over the big CC open chamber heads any day.....however you can use a reverse dome piston to help produce a better squish/quench with the OC heads...
 
I too prefer the closed chambered 915's over the open 906's. Here's a pair I did a few years ago.
015.JPG
 
with a 383 closed chambers are preferred. with a 440 open chambers can be used with quench dome pistons, but again a closed chamber with a good quench is always preferred no matter the engine.
 
Thunderlugs said:
Kid... You seem to have, like the Library of Congress, of very informative Mopar Resorces! Excellent!! Don't Go Changing!! Merry Christmas!
Click to expand...
Thanks Mr.T.

I've had to do a lot of research from doing my own rebuild. There are a lot of options and combinations that can make a good build, depending on what you want or how much you want to spend. It's not like when I was younger and you could throw a bunch of parts together and for some reason it all worked.

I recommend everyone to just read and research all you can before you start a build. Everyone has their own way of doing things but in the end, it's your final decision on how it's going to turn out. So like this OP, do your homework...
Merry Christmas!
t7715.gif
 
I have found building with purpose in mind more inportant in a street engine than all the dino hp, tourque pulls that can be made.
 
Ok, so the 915's are closed also but better then the 516's, I'm sure cheaper then aftermarket aluminum heads too. I'll compare the price differences or may just pull the original 383 back out and start from the Pistons up this time and make it much faster. It's a nice #s matching Cali car with a/c.. and I want to be able to run that too on a hot day out here in Cali. without the car overheating...
I actually had it rebuilt bone stock at first with the original 2bbl.. Then acouple years later I put the cam kit etc...on, after I did the front disk brake conversion.
 
67500383 said:
Thanks for the replies friends.. I remember when my 383 was being rebuilt, the engine builder saying that the closed chamber heads I have which are the 516's can't produce as much power as the open chamber heads. I think he said the 915 heads were much better performance wise because they were open chamber. I was not sure if I should go with a aftermarket aluminum heads, or better performace Mopar heads for my specs. Thank you
Click to expand...

your builder is giving you bad info. The 915's are closed chamber but have the raised floor intake like the 906 version. The 516 are closed chamber but have the flat floor intake port. I have ported 516's & made good power with them. But the 915 or 906 do seem better. New aluminum will surely give better power, just the cost.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
Dual Quad Intake question
Replies
13
Views
1K
PRHeads
PRHeads
P
  • Locked
FOUND 1967 2780915 Heads
Replies
2
Views
666
coyduster
coyduster
E
Aluminum water pump - bolt heads hit pulley
Replies
18
Views
2K
not so famous bob
not so famous bob
SixBarrelBill
Trick flow 240 Heads with Factory Six Barrel Intake
2 3
Replies
48
Views
5K
AA1ChargerRT
AA1ChargerRT
zyzzyx
Newer Indy Cast Aluminum Wedge Valve Cover Finish
Replies
9
Views
1K
zyzzyx
zyzzyx
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top