Rebuilding a 67 383 motor to put in front of 4-speed trans

[Sly]

Hello guys, I need feedback here : a friend of me is selling a pair of redone big block 452 heads including big Manley inox valves for a good price. The valve seats are all redone and the heads are straight.

Do you think it may match my setup ? I know there are late style heads but from what I heard they are pretty good and appreciated.
Can I reach 10.5:1 CR with the correct pistons ?

I don't know what are the actual heads on my 67 motor (906 ?) but I think they will need to be redone, so I plan to buy the 452 heads and the valves to put on top instead of the "old" heads.

What do you think of the 452 heads ? They come from a built 400 motor.

[Cuda Cody]

Have you purchased pistons yet?

[Sly]

Not yet Cody. I will purchase them later.
Those heads are open chambers/low compression, aren't they ?

[Chryco Psycho]

452 were the last casting used on big blocks, thy do have induction hardened seats But you will cut through the hardening doing a valve job unless it is just a touch up
Second the 67 heads are closed chamber which is fr better for compression & quench , you may need to install larger valves as the exhaust is often the smaller 1.60 not the 1.72 But you can go up to 1.84 which I would do anyway ,install hard seats ,& yu have a better head .
So bottom line $$ spent on  your 67 heads is a better investment

[1 Wild R/T]

452 were the last casting used on big blocks, thy do have induction hardened seats But you will cut through the hardening doing a valve job unless it is just a touch up
Second the 67 heads are closed chamber which is fr better for compression & quench , you may need to install larger valves as the exhaust is often the smaller 1.60 not the 1.72 But you can go up to 1.84 which I would do anyway ,install hard seats ,& yu have a better head .
So bottom line $$ spent on  your 67 heads is a better investment

[Sly]

Thank you guys ! I will keep my heads 

[Shane Kelley]

Everybody has a personal preference on various intakes and combinations. For what your wanting I think you would be better suited with a dual plane intake. Like Performer RPM. Some of those open plane intakes really hurt low end torque. You don't want a pig at lower speeds. Some of the open plane intakes work great for drag racing when your launching at 3500 rpm. But on the street your taking off at 1000-1500 rpm. You need some low end torque also. Cams will also play a big role in whatever combination you decide to run. Here's a Edlebrock RPM in a 69 Bcuda with factory air cleaner. No clearance issues. The other motor on the stand is a 383 with a 496 stroker kit. Running RPM heads and intake.

[Sly]

Thanks Shane for your nice input. I actually didn't know the Edelbrock RPM could fit under a rallye hood with dual snorkel air cleaner box without any clearance problem.
I think I will keep my heads, and check what needs to be changed. Right now I have the Offenhauser Dual Port on top of my 383, what do they worth ? Will it make a difference going from this one to an Edel RPM intake ? You'll answer me : depends on the cam. I'd like to put a mild cam in there but I want to keep braking assistance at the same time and not too shaky idling (I have to watch the cam duration).
On the exhaust side I have two seperate 2.5 inch tubes and high perf big block iron manifolds.
I will also get a 650 cfm QuickFuel mechanical sec. carb to put on top.

[Chryco Psycho]

The Offy dual port was an interesting intake but not one of the better performers , my top choice if you can find one is the Holley street dominator best of both worlds , you can still get them new for the RB but not the B engines .

[Shane Kelley]

Thanks Shane for your nice input. I actually didn't know the Edelbrock RPM could fit under a rallye hood with dual snorkel air cleaner box without any clearance problem.
I think I will keep my heads, and check what needs to be changed. Right now I have the Offenhauser Dual Port on top of my 383, what do they worth ? Will it make a difference going from this one to an Edel RPM intake ? You'll answer me : depends on the cam. I'd like to put a mild cam in there but I want to keep braking assistance at the same time and not too shaky idling (I have to watch the cam duration).
On the exhaust side I have two seperate 2.5 inch tubes and high perf big block iron manifolds.
I will also get a 650 cfm QuickFuel mechanical sec. carb to put on top.

I have never messed with the Offy so I can't tell you much about it. The Rally hood has a big raised center section so I think it will clear everything. Maybe somebody will jump in that has run the RPM with rally hood. A body is a tight fit with no raised hood area and it clears just fine. On the cam you might be best to call Comp Cams and get their recommendation. If not I would recommend this cam. Just a nice all around cam. Nice mild lope at idle and good power from bottom to top. 

[1 Wild R/T]

Thanks Shane for your nice input. I actually didn't know the Edelbrock RPM could fit under a rallye hood with dual snorkel air cleaner box without any clearance problem.
I think I will keep my heads, and check what needs to be changed. Right now I have the Offenhauser Dual Port on top of my 383, what do they worth ? Will it make a difference going from this one to an Edel RPM intake ? You'll answer me : depends on the cam. I'd like to put a mild cam in there but I want to keep braking assistance at the same time and not too shaky idling (I have to watch the cam duration).
On the exhaust side I have two seperate 2.5 inch tubes and high perf big block iron manifolds.
I will also get a 650 cfm QuickFuel mechanical sec. carb to put on top.

I have never messed with the Offy so I can't tell you much about it. The Rally hood has a big raised center section so I think it will clear everything. Maybe somebody will jump in that has run the RPM with rally hood. A body is a tight fit with no raised hood area and it clears just fine. On the cam you might be best to call Comp Cams and get their recommendation. If not I would recommend this cam. Just a nice all around cam. Nice mild lope at idle and good power from bottom to top. 

First on the Performer RPM, with a 383 it will fit but it's close, if you don't set the snorkels right it will rub paint off the bottom of the hood.....
Second that cam in a 383 is gonna be a pig....  With the short stroke 383's don't like allot of duration... If you want a motor that doesn't do much till 3500 rpm's use it, otherwise  keep the @.050 number down in the 218-224 range..

[Chryco Psycho]

 
There are far better cam choices now than the MP Or Comp
A Lunati Voodoo or Crower will be a better choice