Thanks to all members posting on OSO! It's been a wealth of information and has helped me avoid costly mistakes. I don't want to risk Chinese (procomp) castings and worn valve train parts but this damn economy won't let me buy new and I've gotta get back on the water. Anyone willing to part with some dust collecting (lightly used) Dart or AFR 310 to 325 heads and roller lifters/rockers? For a very resonable price of course.

Why not just put in new valves and springs?

308 dart iron eagles are straight from JEGS fo around $15-1600 a pair. Bolted on several sets on low dollar builds and no problems.

Yah, rebuilding the merc stockers is the least expensive, then I talked to rmbuilder (Thanks Bob!) for a cam and he recommended the Pro1 for a 540EFI. The IE would be better than stock but wouldn't really flow enough and I want to get the flow right the first time within my limited budget (around 1500). The procomp heads would allow me to get the flow for the price, just hoping to find a used set of the good stuff. Rizzo will of any member willing to help and pick up the beer for a day or two if you're in Havasu Anyone had a good or bad experience actually running (not what you heard) procomp ; or am I going to be the Guinna Pig?

i'm sure there has to be some people on the board who has. i have not run them personally however have talked to a few of the well known speed shops and got all the same anwers. i know what your up against and understand what your saying in regards to actually running and not just what they have heard. i am curious if anyone will come forward or not. aside from all the normal things you here about them i would be willing to bet also that they do not flow what they advertise. i would be truely amazed if they did. i was up against the same thing a month ago and ended up getting a heck of a deal at cobra marine on dart pro 1's. you have to keep us posted if you take the big step.
good luck.
i take it you have been doing a search on ebay under bbc heads???

I will not put that imported dog **** on my boat or car !!!!

All the American performance companies bust there ass to refine parts and unleash tons of power ,then some douche bags find a place in china to make it for $.50.....

Got some feedback from two actual procomp users on other boards who would not do it again. Not because of a failure or bad performance but because it took a lot of machining to get the pro comp heads setup right. I figure that $700 for the heads & $400 to correct the geometry isn't worth the risk to save $300. Having said that it seems to me that if pro comp can improve their product a bit then they are on the verge of giving some serious competition to the established performance manufactures. Competition is good and American manufactures must learn how to do it better or continue to loose market share. I took your advice and went to Cobra getrdone

by the way porcomp has stepped up their game!!! the c n c versions of their heads are great, and half the price of the competition... so common Dart this is ur cue to sharpen your pencils!!!

nothing wrong with procomp... just buy the empty c n c versions and complete the valve train in a shop u trust, more so for your own piece of mind, by the way, I only use Manley inconnel exhaust, and ss severe duty valves in any engine I build... $$ for $$ you can"t beet the procomp c n c castings
Alan