I have an 83 El Camino that I just put a new 350 long block it is a .040 over block with 4 valve relief pistons and I believe the block has been decked .010. Its got an RPM Air Gap intake and a Q-Jet(1 inch adapter for the carb) a Melling hi volume oil pump and a Melling Cam- adv 277-288 dur 442-445 lift  @.50 - 204-214 dur w/ same lift
The car has a turbo 350 now but a 700 r4 is in the works... also has a stock rear end with 3.08 gears
I have 295/50/15 on the back and some 225/60/15 on front... you prob dont need all this info but just in case
It had "882" heads on it(blew head gasket first time i drove it)...I have some "487" heads that need rebuilding, would these be worth the investment? I want a pair of heads that will run good with what I have. My good friend has some old style double hump 64cc fulie heads would this bump my compression up to much for the street? What is a good head for what I have that will run on the good pump gas. (91 octane)
This car is just gonna be driven on the weekends and at the 1/8 mi strip here in Abilene TX
Any sugestions would be helpful in which way I go from here
P.S. sorry for the extremely long letter
Thanks
 

I have worked on Chevy small blocks alot, and the double hump heads (back in the good old days) were regarded as the "high performance" standard without going to custom aluminum heads or something like that.  Our old stock car was basically a 350 with 4 bolt main block.  We ran flat top forged pistons with a short track cam (don't ask me the specs I couldn't tell you) and pretty standard carburetion with a Holly 750.  The cam was a solid tappet type cam with a fully adjustable valve train - that was different from standard for sure.  We used a high pressure oil pump and sump pan.  It was a consistent performing engine, but we did run high test gas in it with a hefty octane boost.  Part of the reason for that was because we had the timing advanced as much as we could get by with, and keep the engine from burning up from heat.  But the other part was the compression ratio.  We ran steel shims on the heads on purpose to give us a higher compression ratio.  You may not want to do that since compression ratio might be an issue for you especially if your block was decked .010 already.

Anyway - I hope this helps in your decision a little.  Some of the other guys can probably give you more specifics.

Bowser 

Alrighty.

The older iron double humps are pretty decent if you can get a set that are in good shape....but the majority of them are not in good shape. Theyve been abuse/cracked/ported/milled...etc.

Plus...the leaded gas that was used on the them way back when was killer in the soft parts of the heads...like the seats and seals...so just plan on replacing those.

Dont get me wrong...i have a set of the double humps...BUT.

For the price of a $350-400 head rebuild...you could have a set of vortec heads...then all ya gotta do is get the intake.

Plus...some guys are just crazy about the double humpies and will fork out the loot..perhaps in the sum of a set of vortec heads in exchange for the humpers.
....................

As pertaining to the streetable issue...
If the pistons are stock style cast pistons ...than theyve got a hefty valve relief and a hefty dish...so the stock smog 8:1 compression will be bumped to 9:1...so thats nothing to worry about...but if you got a set of aftermarket pistons with a FLAT top w/valve relief...you might be looking at 10:1...and those humpers are not exactley detonation resistant...so if you use em youre looking at 92 octane+ permenantly...and that high of octane for such a mild engine kinda defeats the streetable thing....why not just use the factory heads than...cause the only gains youll see from the double humps will be in the top end primarily.

Youre cam is mild and so are the rear gears...and with all the torque that will be needed to get the car moving a big load will be placed on the engine in the low RPM and with the cam like that (rv-style) youll build a lot of cylinder pressure anyway so detonation will be a mainstay...

My opinion would be
A: Vortec heads...$450-500
B: S/R Torquers...$500-600
c: Mill and rebuild the 882's...but theyre soft...so dont mill too far.

Good luck and God bless
-Shred

If you're on a serious budget the 487's were used on the old 71-72 LT1's. They ran pretty good, and they have a larger chamber so you won't have to worry about high dollar gas. Decking your block .010 isn't that much, it's just a little more than a good clean up. If you combine the .010 shave with the steel shim gaskets mentioned before,( part #1094 from fel pro ) which have a .015 thickness you should end up around 9.25:1 with the 487's, just right for your cam and intake combo. That should run fine on 91 oct.    This is taking into account what I'm presuming to be FLAT TOP 4 valve relief pistons. If they're dished the compression will be a little less.  Many of the old "humper heads" ran great but some lacked accessory holes and using these heads will put you in the marginal range with flat tops regardless of what head gaskets are used.   Vortec heads are great on the street but again you're looking at a smaller chamber With also the cost of replacing the intake.  

thanks for all the help guys...

my friend put some vortec heads on his car and they made a world of difference...  but i just bought that brand new intake for like $220 so i kinda wanna use it..... i think i will look into the 487 heads and see what it will take to get them goin...

i also bought a nitrous plate and bottle and was wonderin about that- no more that 100  shot with cast pistons right? 

i have the carb spray plate w/ selonoids and the bottle what else will i need to rig er up

Thanks

Leroy

If you go with a 100 shot, and no more, it'll live. Just don't hit the button all the time, ok?

The 487 is an ok head, and with some porting, could be useful. The Vortec's would be a better choice, but ok.

487S ARE BETTER THAN 882S BUT THEY ARE NOTHING CLOSE TO VORTEC HEADS. YOU CAN BUY A PROFESSTIONAL PRODUCTS CROSSWIND INTAKE FOR 149.00. A BUDDY OF MINE JUST BUILT A 327 WITH FLAT TOPS, 268 COMP CAM , AND 487S THAT WAS SICK. 

i pulled the motor out of the elco and took the pistons out and i guess i did over head it perty good... the pistons were scuffed above the top ring and the #4 piston left some aluminum on the cylinder wall... so now i am going to repalce the pistons prob go with a dished forged of some type so i can use the 64 or 62cc heads

found some dart heads i like..... 180cc runners 2.02 valves for $700 brand new     

what is a good piston any sugestions?

JE  sealed power or what?

Keith blacks are just about the best value on the market.
Id stay away from sealed power just because I dont like their cheap parts...Ive never used any of their higher end stuff but Im skeptical.

Also JE makes a great product..very good quality but the price is higher than the Keith blacks.

My preferance is the KB's...thats what Id use, but its up to you....If cost wasnt an option than Id get a det of custom made arias.

-Shred

I've been running KB's hard for five years with no problems, but , this motor has never been juiced. If your looking at pushing the button I'd go forged. Not a must , but good insurance.    Agreeing with Shred, KB's are a great value. JE's are fairly stout and light and will handle the bottle well if you don't get crazy with it.