I'm going to build 496 stoker motors this fall. What would be the best set of heads to go with, rectangular or oval port aluminum heads??

Well here is the thing, I think large ovals are better up to a 502. However when you outgrow your 496 and start thinking about a 540 they will be too small. I rebuilt ported/polished a set of 820's with larger valves. The recangular ports would also work, just don't go to big. You could get aftermarket or find some GM heads to rebuild. I am assuming you are building a standard 454 stroker engine.
The most important thing is the cam, make sure you spend the money for a roller setup. More money but definatlly worth it.

I will have roller cams in them.

Hey Craney, I know some one who stroked a 454 to I think a 489. He used Edlebrock aluminum marine heads. Oval port and made 620hp on the dyno. Here is the thread.


http://forums.boatfreaks.org/showthr...hlight=jetmech

Dart Pro 1(310) and a Marine Kninetics cam.

I'm rebuilding my 524 and I looked at everything. Nothing beats the AFR's. I went with the 305's with CNC chambers and cleaned up the runners and gasket matched them myself. Check the tests, there are plenty of articles, nothing makes more average hp, torque and peak hp, torque per cc of runner. They aren't cheap, but they are good.