I am thinking about doing some more mods to my Cutlass in the future, and have wanted Aluminum Heads for some time now. It runs a Comp XE262, cast flat tops, a Quadrajet, small tube headers and an HEI. All of this is on a 1977 355 with a cast crank, stock rods and a Z-28 oil pump. I currently have stock World S/R Torquers with 2.02/1.60 valves, but would like to both make more power and reduce the weight over the front end for better handling. So, that being said, what heads would work best with this combo? I was thinking of using something with around a 180cc intake port and a modern high swirl combustion chamber. It's not a race engine and I am not changing the cam. I am just looking to optimize what is there for both more power and low end torque (if possible) with better fuel economy being considered a plus. I would not mind increasing the compression to no more than 10.5:1 to take advantage of the increased detonation resistance that some newer chamber designs seem to offer.
Another question: How much weight reduction will I get with the heads? What is an aluminum water pump worth? High torque starter? Aluminum hood? Aluminum bumper support? Aluminum core support? Shorty headers VS Cast Iron manifolds?
BTW, the car is fully optioned, has a large stereo, and currently has a smooth, stock-like idle quality, 3.23 gears and a TH200 4R trans. All of which I like and want to keep.
Another question: How much weight reduction will I get with the heads? What is an aluminum water pump worth? High torque starter? Aluminum hood? Aluminum bumper support? Aluminum core support? Shorty headers VS Cast Iron manifolds?
BTW, the car is fully optioned, has a large stereo, and currently has a smooth, stock-like idle quality, 3.23 gears and a TH200 4R trans. All of which I like and want to keep.