Here are the cam specs

Lift .525
Duration @ .050 In=222 Ex=226
Lobe Separation 110

The high compression is the real issue. Better off to spend the money on new pistons than exhaust to try and make something work.
The quench with using a thicker head gasket is an issue. It prob could be managed, but is still just a band aid. Cometic makes thicker head gaskets.

It sounds like Budman has been through the exact same thing. I think you are better off to do the build right the first time than to try and put some mismatched parts together.

instead of bying aftermarket exhaust think about bying a set of aluminum heads.afr makes some pretty affordable heads that would cost about the same as a good aftermarket set of manifolds.

Not sure where you are at but a friend has a running take out BBC complete with bravo bell housing and exhaust on powerboat swap shop for $1200... if your buddy is trying to salvage the rest of the summer that might be your best bet.

I am in New Jersey- any more information would be great. I looked on swap shop and didn't see anything

Already sold, I'm sure you could find similar more local to you. Good luck.

110 degree LS is what we run in our drag engines.

I have run those pistons 212135's and 37's for about 8yrs. 4 of those years with steel Merlin heads. I have used 17042 and 17048 gaskets 91-93 octane. Don't forget to bore notch the cylinders while you're in there.

I've had nothing but good luck with these piston with iron heads(many motors later). My concern wasn’t so much the Iron Heads vs. Compression ratio. It was more so the higher compression matched with the Comp cam.(I've always ran a larger cam)

But thanks everyone for the help, as I will defiantly be using aluminum heads on a future build, since I heard nothing but good results!