Opinions what is the best Stock Chevy Head

[SREperformance2.3]

I know this will start a fight but here we Go!!If Rules State you must run a Stock Cast Iron Head no porting or polishing. Surfacing only to true up surface.You may do a 3 angle valve job but nothing more also no Vortex heads So what do people like 487x, 041, 461, 291 or something else.Go!!!

[dereksehi]

492s seems to be a good flowing head not as good as vortec but probly the best of the rest.

[RTK Motorsports]

Top Ten Production CSB Cylinder HeadsAlso Borrowed from CAR CRAFT MagazineNo’s 1-6 are small-chamber, hi-comp and must have dished pistons to get comp below 10.5:1. No’s 1-7 have nonhardened exhaust valve seats which must be replaced for use with unleaded fuel.Rank Cast # Good Points Bad Points1 3782461X Hi comp (57.5cc), best ports of any OEM production cast-iron head, intake runner vol 170-180cc No accessory bolt holes, rare, likely to be cracked, 2.02/1.60 versions very rare2 3991492 ‘70 hi-comp (61.2cc), good ports, acc bolt holes, 2.02/1.60 valve versions have screw-in studs & gplates Close proximity of water jacket to spring pocket on 492s cast prior to 1972 req special seat cutter if using larger springs3 3890462 Ports similar to 461, but better comb chamber shape More common than 461-461X, but still rare; no acc bolt holes4 3782461 Similar to 461X but with smaller intake ports Rare, probably cracked, no acc bolt holes5 3927186 ‘64-’70, av chamb vol 64cc, ‘69-’70 have acc bolt holes Rare, valvespring seats close to water jackets6 3947041 ‘69 350/300 HP, good chamb (similar to 462), acc bolt holes Very rare, valvespring seats close to water jacket7 3932441 ‘69-’70, large chambers (73cc), some have steam holes for 400 blocks, ports decent, accessory bolt holes No 2.02/1.60 valve versions from factory8 3973487 ‘71, 76cc, like 441 but better chamb, hard seats, acc bolt holes Big chamb needs domed pistons to get hi-comp9 3998993 ‘71-’76 US/ ‘85-’88 Mexico, similar to 487, widely available Big chamb needs domed pistons to get hi-comp10 332882 ‘71-’76, 350/400, big chamb, acc bolt holes, hard seats Changed intake ports, become worse, BEST of the worst11 462624 ‘76-’78, 305, 58cc chamb, 1.84/1.50 valves, hardened seats, accessory bolt holes, best of the 305 heads 1.84/1.50 valves and ports too small for large cid; accepts 1.94/1.60 valves & seatsCasting no’s. & Date codes are cast on top of head (under valve cover) between second & third rocker arms from left.First letter (A through M) is month (Jan through Dec)(I not used), one or two digits for day of month, one digit for last digit of year cast.Lightweight castings (not for hi-perf use) have “scalloped” edge below exhaust ports; regular have straight edge Read more: http://forums.superchevy.com/chevy-high-performance/70/8662353/chevy-high-performance-magazine/top-10-sbc-cast-iron-cylinder-heads/#ixzz3ZvsoyW7F

[RTK Motorsports]

I have a set of 041 heads, they did well, but where I run they allow vortecs, the 041's are just sitting, won't get rid of em just in case I run some place they do not allow vortecs. I have only seen a couple sets of the 461x and they were fairly spendy, but I would spend the cash if I couldn't run vortecs, the runners are much larger than the rest of the group.

[stock car driver]

461x Ive seen did not have any measurable difference to 461 just because its printed in some article doesn't make it fact.

same with 487x total myth

[RTK Motorsports]

You actually saw flow numbers in a direct comparison, please do share, I would like to hear the numbers.

[stock car driver]

Not a measurable difference would mean the number are the same. Google and youll find numbers that show exactly that. If that's not good enough for you because you want to argue some super chevy article is the bomb because you posted it then call a few cylinder head specialist type shops and they can confirm for you also. If all of that is too much work and you just wanted to read some numbers.

x = same as non x

[hughesracing9]

the "X" just means hardened exhaust seats

[RTK Motorsports]

Well I did as you suggested stock car driver, I googled! And I would disagree with you, the 461x heads flow more in the tests recorded. At .400 lift the 461x beats the 461 by 13.8 cfm (189.0 vs 175.2 a 7.5% flow difference) on the intake and 12.9 cfm (141.9 vs 129.0 a 9.5% flow difference) on the exhaust, at .500 lift, the 461x outflowed the 461 by 3.5 cfm (190.6 vs 187.1 a 1.9 % flow difference) on the intake and 9.6 cfm ( 142.2 vs 132.6 a 6.9% flow difference) on the exhaust. So according to some they do flow more and there will be a difference. It looks like it is a measurable difference after all, however small it may be at certain points of the test and your specific application.

[stock car driver]

Well I did as you suggested stock car driver, I googled! And I would disagree with you, the 461x heads flow more in the tests recorded. At .400 lift the 461x beats the 461 by 13.8 cfm (189.0 vs 175.2 a 7.5% flow difference) on the intake and 12.9 cfm (141.9 vs 129.0 a 9.5% flow difference) on the exhaust, at .500 lift, the 461x outflowed the 461 by 3.5 cfm (190.6 vs 187.1 a 1.9 % flow difference) on the intake and 9.6 cfm ( 142.2 vs 132.6 a 6.9% flow difference) on the exhaust. So according to some they do flow more and there will be a difference. It looks like it is a measurable difference after all, however small it may be at certain points of the test and your specific application.

haha you already posted a quote that was wrong, you really want to continue to beat on a dead horse?

Why? have you found a reward your going to get if you can find enough quotes that back up your first incorrect one?

[RTK Motorsports]

I am not the one claiming to be an expert here, I simply posted some information that I ran across at one time, this list is on multiple forums, you are the one that seems to be hell bent in proving me wrong, then after you claim that there is no difference between certain heads, I go looking for information as YOU suggested and somehow I am beating a dead horse? Why? Because there is information that provides question to your claim of no difference between heads? Let it go. Regardless, this is my last post in this thread.

[stock car driver]

bahaha, last word!

castings vary don't be stupid

[let-r-eat]

hughes answered the question.

[KippSchaefer]

Since we're on the topic, has anyone every ran the EQ ch350i heads? They're stock replacement heads, how do they compare to the standard production heads?