Go aluminum for weight saving alone, it is worth it
let alone better heat dissipation, runs cooler & less chances of detonation
as long as it's not some weird duck off the wall combo
Edelbrock E-street or the RPMs with slightly better parts
springs specific for your style of camshaft,
you need to specify
than the E-streets albeit E-streets are cheaper
& have the exact same port design as the RPMs
both of which will accept 0.375" - 3/8" pushrod
(actually, they recommend a 0.375" - 3/8")
you can get either with 75cc, 84cc or 88cc combustion chambers
(
I have RPMs slightly ported & cleaned up
a lil' pocket porting under the valves & refined some
on my current street beast build, appr. 310+cfm intake
(Out of the box rated at 291 @ 0.600" lift, pretty damn close too)
I run 3/8 pushrods with 1.6:1 Crane Supe Gold roller rockers
& I have no push rod rubbing issues at all, didn't have to modify anything
it's not a real big Hyd. roller cam, custom grind Crane stuff with
590-ish lift, it performs very well on the street, it's more of a drag car
in search for a corner now, I live in the mountains lots of windy roads)
IMHO nothing wrong with the newer versions of the Stealths
if you want
a stockish look & straight plugs, cheaper heads
or most of 440souces stuff...
I'm not going to bash them...
I had a couple sets, of the early set of Stealths std ports
(
before any porting, out of the box they flowed in the int. 247-250cfm range
at best at 0.600" lift after machining the guides down to accept that lift,
by my buddy/professional porter Mark Rowe, may he rest in peace)
the combustion chamber was odd-shaped & had gasket sealing issues
(
I wasn't the only one either, it's been corrected I think)
it burned/torched the edge of the chamber,
but I'll give 440source, credit he made it good, stood by his stuff
(
I like many of his "other" products)
I went 10.00s @ mid-hi 120s all day long in a 3250 68 RR + my 250 with them
before I stepped up to the Edelbrock RPMs when they 1st came out,
(
after an as supplied Intake valve broke, on a fresh build with the Stealths)
they are/were mildly ported/w-closed Combustion chambers 84cc,
mild porting/cleaning up pocket under the valves, better performance valve job
it went 9.80's 1st time out, in like conditions,
with no other changes other than the better flowing RPM heads
later went 'a best N/A' at 9.77 @ 135, Sacramento mid-summer test & tune
(it went the best of 8.58 @ 156 w/300 shot N2O, on drag radial in 100*+ heat)
this isn't my 1st rodeo
I've raced since 1977 (some before bracket stuff) in some form
Comp Eliminator, S/E 7.90, S/C 8.90, S/G 9.90 A/Gas, Pro-Gas,
Top-Sportsman 6.69 @ 217 best in doored cars
& 6.90s @ 190+ altered match racing or a 5.97 @ 227 RE dragster,
but mostly heads up 'doored cars'
I've tapered off some since 2007, still keep my comp licence current
still like 'being in the know' & keeping up with changes
But;
as far as heads "
bang for the buck", for a few hundred $$ more
at the level we are all talking about here
IMO the Edelbrock RPM or E-Street
are better quality than the Stealths (
Chinese cast) Assembled here
I'm not saying the Stealth are junk at all
But;
RPM even
out of the box as cast, cfm flows are like a min. 30+cfm better,
than the Stealths
In my experience, it was like 43-45cfm better (intake alone)
(
how much would that cost ?, just to have done/improved)
Edelbrocks are 100% made & USA sourced parts
(
that matters to me)
(
no matter whose heads you buy, you should have them looked at
by a professional or take them apart & check them out yourself)
The better RPMs combustion chamber design for more complete burn
the angle plugs aren't really an issue either
other than not looking stock
I've had/used them on with stock cast iron 68-70 HP manifolds & headers,
Heddman Elites & TTIs, with 1-7/8" or 2" tubes respectively
I didn't really have any clearance issues on either,
I still ran DEI heat shield 'socks' for protection just in case
The RPMs better USA sourced parts, good stainless 11/32" valves
good quality Chromoly retainers & hardened locks, good seals, are a plus
parts you don't have to pay extra/upgrade for on the RPMs too
there's better heads out there, than the RPMs or the E-Streets
but;
for the budget-minded, they should
be looked at, not ignored
just because of a coupled hundred $$'s more, money well spent
the AFR 240 & 270 Heads are freaken' phenomenal
but at twice or more the price too
If you have the budget IMO its money well spent
Others from INDY or Brodix/B1's,
MP Victors or others are great too, after $$$ spent
again like twice the money
to start
& many need special expensive parts/valvetrain or machine work to run
when all is said & done...
good luck whatever you decide
