I haven't done extensive searching yet but are there after market aluminum heads, that won't destroy the wallet, for a Olds 5.7L 350 from, say, 1972?

I'm building an engine for a customer. Built lots of engines, just never an Olds. He wants a 350, and I think I have decided on a '72 used engine as a building point.

I want to look into both working the stock heads and replacing them with lighter and better flowing aluminum heads.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

The issue is no aluminum ones are made specifically for the SBO. BBO heads will bolt on but require either a performer RPM or a Victor Jr. intake to work due to the taller intake runners on BBO engines.
I think you would be better served just getting a good set of early SBO iron heads (#5, 6,7 or 7A) and porting them how you want.
Use of aluminum heads on the 350 would also force the use of an electric fuel pump due to interference with the head.

 

The customer is still interested in aluminum...can someone link me to the best set of aluminum heads that will fit, keeping in mind that price is a factor?

Oh, the used engine to buy changed and is now a 1977 350, so from what I understand the block is different and now I need to consider different head choices.

 

In 1977 they changed to a windowed main block. If he is wanting a good performance build I wold suggest getting an early (68-76) block as they are of the solid variety.
Again If he want aluminum heads the mechanical fuel pump has to go as it will not bolt on with them on.
I'd say go with Edelbrock heads for the price. He's going to need a good flat top piston to bring the compression back up due to the 78cc combustion chambers in the Ede heads.

 

Yeah I was planning flat top pistons and was actually finding out if I would need to have valve reliefs in the flat tops.

I'll find out if the extra cash, $1,700 for the set of Edelbrock aluminum heads, is worth it to him or if he wants me to drop $900+ into doing some early heads right.

 

If you go with early heads on the late block they will need the head bolt hole opened up to ½" from 7/16" due to the change in size in 77. Also if you go with flat tops and the early heads the compression might be a bit too high for pump gas (around 10.5:1).

 

Well the customer has indicated he's interested in the aluminum heads from Edelbrock. I'll make sure the correct intake is used, and I don't think the electric fuel pump is going to be an issue. I perform that mod to almost all of my own project cars and I recommend it to most that I work on.

Thanks for all the help on this head issue. I'm sure I'll have more questions in the future.