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  1. #1
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    pewter
    99 Trans Am

    Question Need good 350 heads to go with 290 comp cam.

    I have a 290 comp cam that have a 501/501 lift in my 350 engine that is bored 30 0ver with 10 to 1 flat top pistons, rpm intake 750 holley carb, hooker headers 2.5 inch exhaust with hooker mufflers. the engine have vortec heads with a 525 max lift with 190/150 valves,The truck runs good but I feel that a lot my be left on the table by me not having bigger valves to make the engine show it's full performance. I don't all out race the truck but just want the go power when I want to at times. I have a set in mind that have 202/160 valves 575 max lift that are alum. made by blueprint which is also on a engine I purchased from them some years ago.what should I be looking for to make sure I get the best head for the least amount of money.Dont want to go over board on the price. any ideals?

  2. #2
    Veteran pajeff02's Avatar
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    '02 WS.6 / '07 Suburban

    You can't beat the iron Vortec heads for the money. We run those on our '74 Corvette 350 engine and it is a torque monster. An aftermarket set of heads will up the ante a bit -- just not sure if it is going to be worth the extra $$ in the long run. Has the current combo ever been tuned -- distributor curve, air/fuel, etc...?

  3. #3
    Veteran Firebirdjones's Avatar
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    Jeff is on the money.

    You say truck and I think big heavy vehicle shaped like a brick used to tow and haul stuff. So I'd be more concerned with a nice flat torque curve and not so much HP.

    The Vortec heads are a good piece out of the box. They are exactly what GM used to create the LT1 heads in later years (with reverse flow cooling) Same intake/exhaust port design.

    If it hasn't been already, I'd get it on a chassis dyno and fine tune it, there may be enough power there to be found to satisfy. If you're really ambitious the vortec heads wake up with a simple bowl blend and clean up to help mid lift flow numbers. Would cost you nothing but gaskets and a couple days time.

  4. #4
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    pewter
    99 Trans Am

    Quote Originally Posted by Firebirdjones View Post
    Jeff is on the money.

    You say truck and I think big heavy vehicle shaped like a brick used to tow and haul stuff. So I'd be more concerned with a nice flat torque curve and not so much HP.

    The Vortec heads are a good piece out of the box. They are exactly what GM used to create the LT1 heads in later years (with reverse flow cooling) Same intake/exhaust port design.

    If it hasn't been already, I'd get it on a chassis dyno and fine tune it, there may be enough power there to be found to satisfy. If you're really ambitious the vortec heads wake up with a simple bowl blend and clean up to help mid lift flow numbers. Would cost you nothing but gaskets and a couple days time.
    There is no dyno turners in my area, the nearest one is about 600 miles away. I have changed springs in the dist, played with the timing,changed the jets in the carb,installed 2.5 exhaust and hooker headers and mufflers, other than that I am lost.Like I said the truck runs good and may be I look for it to perform like my camero which weights a lot less.yet like all of us the truck is not what I feel it should be.

  5. #5
    Veteran pajeff02's Avatar
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    The extra thousand pounds or so of the truck does make a huge difference. Rear gears are the easiest upgrade for a "snappier" feel, and so long as you do not tow with it, a bit looser converter if it is an auto. Both will compromise your fuel mileage but will improve the feel of your truck.

  6. #6
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    pewter
    99 Trans Am

    Quote Originally Posted by pajeff02 View Post
    The extra thousand pounds or so of the truck does make a huge difference. Rear gears are the easiest upgrade for a "snappier" feel, and so long as you do not tow with it, a bit looser converter if it is an auto. Both will compromise your fuel mileage but will improve the feel of your truck.
    Running 373 gears and a 2200 stall,rpm intake and a 750 holley.also have a light shift kit installed in trans. with the 290 comp cam that has the 501 lift.

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