1985 454 best heads to use?
 

hello, I'm rebuilding my 454's for my 34ft 1987 scarab. it had rectangle port heads which were corroded in the centre exhaust ports. shall i find another pair of the same heads or use oval port heads and port match the intakes to suite my manifolds. Id really like to increase the power for this rebuild and would like to know the best combo. I'll keep my rochester carbs, intake manifolds but i will get some new camshafts for them as the old ones are pitted.

rectangular

Haha!

I doubt that any change to the intake or carb only will add much to the HP and likely only 0-1 MPH on the top end.

why were they corroded in the center exhaust ports?

I think that's where the heat exchanger is so water seeps in there over time??

Yes I'll keep the carby and intake manifold same. Just like to know if I can gain more power from using the oval port heads and a particular proven camshaft ?

budget wise, something like a set of EQ's will flow better than stock and probably be a wash over finding a set of stock heads and having them redone. THe main thing it what are your plans? Is it just going to run like this or are you eventually going to want more out of it?

I don't expect too much from old technology and I want to keep it as original as possible but since I'm rebuilding the engines and have a choice of heads and cams I would like to ask opinions for best combo to increase power even if it's only small increase

profiler cnc'd,,800 lift cam,12-1 compression,,stelling long tubes 110% dry,,tunnel rams w/ efi,,lets turn those puppies up big time.:D