That's an almost impossible question to answer without some additional info...like the present combination...heads, cam, etc...compared to what you want to do/change. In general, the old "camel hump" heads had (I think) 64cc chambers (closed style) and around a 165cc intake port. They were good heads in their day, but any aftermarket head these days will have superior port and chamber designs since the technology has advanced from the 60's. Depending on what you have on there now you could pick up a little more compression and they might flow more...but you need to compare the new heads to your present ones-and you didn't say what was on there. -Scott
What heads do you have now? I just switched from 186 heads with 2.02/1.60 valves and a decent amount of port work to Dart Iron Eagles with zero port work. Dropped my time from a best of 13.69 before to 12.85 the first day out. I loved the hump heads and will use them on another 327, but the numbers speak for themselves on the Darts.
Exactly. Unless you need to be period correct, the double hump heads don't make as much power new aftermarket heads. You talking about 40 year old factory technology.
i have 1.72 stock heads im thinking about buying a set of dh with 1.94 1.60 with new springs and adding a cam, not sure what size. im not racing this only street, what could i expect as far as diff?
One of the first steps I made with my 327 was a Comp Cams XE274 grind cam and the camel humps. I think they worked well together, even with my old 3x2 setup. With a decent single 4 barrell, they should work even better. My heads had some work done before I bolted them on, but I could definately feel the difference in the seat. And my times came down a good amount. I only bring the Dart heads up so that maybe you can save a step that I didn't. I figured the camel humps would be a big improvement, and they were. But I could have saved a little longer, went straight to the Darts, and had better performance earlier. What car is this motor in? Auto or manual? Gears? Carb?
I hate to say it but they are right in advising you to buy new heads. I have three sets of them double hump feulies on the shelf now. It costs more to have them reworked: guides, valves, hardened seats, springs, rotators, clips, shims, .... ported, CC chambers, decking,.... JUST BUY THE NEW STUFF. $600-800 will get you farther, if you buy new!!!!
its going in a 66 chevelle, edelbrock performer intake, street avenger holley, long tube headers and purple hornies, if i got a mild cam what hp do you think i would be around with that combo?
i understand that however i have seen some for sale that are rebuilt for under that cost, i realize that new ones are more superior, but if i found some for under 600 that are in good shape and rebuilt i think i would have the dh. not to mention im not looking to race and i am not looking to build as much hp as possible. i was just curious as to how much it would effect the performance compared to my 1.72 stock ones
32.7 hp. I really have no idea what the number would be. You'll be able to feel a difference. But the HP:$$$ ratio is not equal to, or greater than the HP:$$$ ratio on aftermarket heads. Especially in a closed hood car, where you can't even see the camel hump marks. If you're not worried about the most performance for the dollar, then keep the heads you have. If you are worried about the "cool" factor, get a different car. I'm kidding! I dig muscle type cars.
Dart heads will make you a beleiver in modern port shaping for sure- it was worth almost a full second at the track...not to mention screw in studs, guide plates, p.c. seals, and if you cut them for hardened valve seats, they might crack there. not that you won't need someone to clean up the Darts out of the box...but you are talking about a little money on cylinder head work versus a bunch of money for cylinder head work along with not having much head to begin with. really... by the time you spend the cash to "get all you can" out of a set of good double hump heads...you are within less than 100 bucks of Darts...and with the darts, you can do SO much more...especially if you want to port them, perhaps change the valve size, or run a bigger valve spring for a giant cam (darts are already pocket cut for giant springs) you just get an all around better cylinder head. oh yeah... Buzzard! Nice signature!
If I had a closed hood car, I'd sure look into these VortecHeads . They're probably cheaper than worked on camel humps at only $500. Sell your intake and get one that'll bolt to the Vortecs and you're pretty close to the same $$$ and way ahead in technology. P.S. I figgered you'd like that Lux. Can't wait for Mercury Charlie to get fixed so I can try to defend my new ***le (that I made up). He's made some changes as well.
I agree with the Vortecs. If your on a budget or want/need to use a factory head, the vortecs are top notch, and the will outperform the double humps. Not as good as Darts, but not as spendy either.
Absolutly Vortec heads are a great improvement over even the double hump heads will make enough more hp that you can feel (cool factor maybe) and some cost savings over Dart heads.
as an example, in 1968 the 327 could be had in several versions ranging from 250 to 350 hp. Heads are only part of the equation, you also have to consider compression, cam, intake, carb, etc.