Your opinion on a 502 build please. Which heads?

Old 04-09-2011, 12:26 PM
  #1  
visualsmoke
Junior Member
APPRENTICE
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 23
Default Your opinion on a 502 build please. Which heads?

I am upgrading the tried and true 427 big block in my ’72 Nova. Just picked up a zz502 short block. I wish to retain the short block as-is with the exception of the cam, and want to go with a larger roller. A cam that I’m considering is an Edelbrock is as follows:
#2264

ENGINE: 500+ (1991 & Later Gen V & Gen VI)
RPM RANGE: 1500-6500

Duration at 0.006" Lift: Intake: 308° Exhaust: 315°
Duration at 0.050" Lift: Intake: 248° Exhaust: 256°
Lift at Cam: Intake: .371" Exhaust: .381"
Lift at Valve: Intake: .632" Exhaust: .648"

I have a 1050 Dominator I’ll be using with an Edelbrock Victor manifold.

What I’m hoping to get is advise on is the heads for this engine. I’ll need a small-ish combustion chamber to get the desired 9.5/1 to 10/1 ratio I desire. Approximately 110cc chambers I’m thinking. The ZZ502 head gasket is .040. Is there a thinner one available? My big question concerning the heads is intake runner volume. Some heads I’d looked at were Edelbrock’s Victor Jr. 24° Rectangle Port or the E-CNC 355 - Rectangular Port. The Victor Jr. comes in at 300cc intake runners where the CNC 355’s are bigger at 340-ish.

I’ve listed Edelbrock stuff but this is just where I’ve started looking so would consider other manufacturers as well.

The car will weigh approximately 3400lbs. It’s got a turbo 400, 3500-stall converter. Rear end is a 4:11 geared 12 bolt with 28” tall tires. The car will see very short trips on the street very occasionally, and may make a pass every now and then at Pacific Raceways as well. I want these street trips to be an exercise in throttle control, with more HP than the tires can handle just a blip of the throttle away!

Thanks!
visualsmoke is offline  
Old 04-11-2011, 03:54 AM
  #2  
contagious
Senior Member
MASTER BUILDER
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Mobile,Al.
Posts: 127
Default 502

Those heads will be way too big for that cam and comp.I would go with oval port heads in the 290 cc range if it were me.Big heads small cam,at 3400 lbs,it will be lazy.
contagious is offline  
Old 04-11-2011, 06:38 PM
  #3  
cncmotorsports
Senior Member
MASTER BUILDER
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Brookings South Dakota
Posts: 244
Default

Depending on what you want to spend. AFR 315 CNC ported would work great on this engine, You could go with the 325s if you add more camshaft.
I would also recommend the Dart intake or Edelbrock intake. Both will require porting to match up the cylinder heads properly.
cncmotorsports is offline  
Old 04-12-2011, 11:47 PM
  #4  
visualsmoke
Junior Member
APPRENTICE
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 23
Default Thanks

I had a talk with a great tech at Comp Cams, Justin. I described the project and he recommended going with large ovals such as the heads that came with a ZZ502. GM performance p/n 12363391,
valves 2.19/1.88, 110cc semi-open chambers with a intake such as a Victor 454-O/4500. The cam he suggested was a #01-424-8,
242/248 @50 Duration, 545/560 lift. What do you think?
visualsmoke is offline  
Old 04-13-2011, 04:51 AM
  #5  
contagious
Senior Member
MASTER BUILDER
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Mobile,Al.
Posts: 127
Default 502

I would say yes to all but the cam,i would go with a little more lift ,580 to 620,duration looks ok.
contagious is offline  
Old 04-13-2011, 02:40 PM
  #6  
visualsmoke
Junior Member
APPRENTICE
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 23
Default Thanks

Thanks for the reply. I'll look for the cam you suggested. If you might know of one, please let me know.
visualsmoke is offline  
Old 04-14-2011, 07:43 AM
  #7  
contagious
Senior Member
MASTER BUILDER
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Mobile,Al.
Posts: 127
Default 502

This Lunati cam is very close to the one you all ready had picked out,either cam would be fine,as would the comp unit.I tend to use a little bigger cam in my motors,pull hard all the way to 6500.Had to same motor in my car for several years,drag race only,and ran a hyd roller cam with edelbrock 290 cc heads and it pulled good to 6800 every weekend for four years.Its now a 540ci.If you run on the street more than the track you may want to go with the smaller cam,3400 lbs with a street tune smaller cam may have better manners.

Lunati part#P/N: 54872LUN

Good luck.!!
contagious is offline  
Old 04-14-2011, 07:59 AM
  #8  
Notalent
Member
MASTER JOURNEYMAN
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Grand Prairie, Texas
Posts: 36
Default

I will throw in my info....

I have a 10.3:1 496ci with that camshaft actually #2263 and AFR305cc CNC heads milled to 118cc and custom Pro Systems 950 carb with dominator metering flowing a true 953cfm. I am making 675HP/637TQ....You dont want anything over a 305cc head...stick with a Air Gap intake to make that low end torque. Many have swapped to a single plane to pickup more HP, but at the track have showed the airgap had better times.

Go with that cam, AFR305CNC and your gonna be a kid in a candy shop.
Notalent is offline  
Old 04-15-2011, 11:41 PM
  #9  
visualsmoke
Junior Member
APPRENTICE
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 23
Default Great replies. Thanks!

My local speed shop guru is in agreement with you all. He happens to have a used Edelbrock C454 oval port intake with Dominator flange that I can probably swap my Victor rectangular port for. I wish I could spring for the AFR's but, frankly, this whole project started as an oil pan swap on a perfectly good running BBC 427 and budget is limited. What about a set of GM performance p/n 12363391's? The C454 may limit RPM power production to about 6k according to my speed shop guy. Your thoughts on the manifold? My other idea there was an Edelbrock Victor 454-O. Thanks again for all your great input!
visualsmoke is offline  
Old 04-24-2022, 04:38 AM
  #10  
murrayjest
Member
MASTER JOURNEYMAN
 
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 37
Default

I would go with oval port heads in the 290 cc range if it were me.Big heads small cam,at 3400 lbs,it will be lazy.
__________________





Speed Test

Last edited by murrayjest; 04-24-2022 at 05:42 AM.
murrayjest is offline  
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell My Personal Information -