Hi I am putting together a 383 stroker and I was wondering if You guys have opinions about trick flow heads 64cc heads and how they stack up to similarly priced heads? If you have a better suggestion for heads at that ball park price I am all ears. I am shooting for 450hp and 450 lbs of torque under 6000 rpm. comp ratio just under 10:1. Thanks. -Tom

The Edelbrocks "should" get you the CR you're looking for ... depending on your slugs, of course. I've been running their aluminum 64cc for about three years, and I'm happy with them. No experience with TrickFlow.

I have read a few articles where Chevy High Performance magazine has tested and used the Trick Flow heads. When they first came out they were $795.00/pair. They were rated as the best performance for the dollar value on the market. Their price has risen some, but I believe they are still less expensive than the Edelbrock. You can get the flow numbers at different valve lifts for each head and compare to the lift numbers of the cam you have chosen. Buy the head that gives you the best flow numbers for your cam shaft. Also keep in mind the rpm range of your combination. Both companies make great heads that offer better torque and ones for higher rpm horsepower. Which ever one you decide to buy, make sure the valve springs are rated for your cam shaft. I would consult each company and find out who has the best solution for my engine combination.
I bought a set of vortec heads for my engine. They are a great stock head. By the time I bought everything else to mount these heads (new intake, valve covers, bolts, special gaskets, etc.) for a little more, I could have bought a set of Trick Flows.

I had the same dilemma. Researched all the major manufacturers. After much debate, finally decided on Air Flow Research (AFR) 190cc. Check out the Chevy High Performance web site. They have great information on the flow numbers for all the well known brands. The shop that blueprinted my engine said they had a good deal of experience with Trick Flow, Edelbrock, Canfield and AFR. In their opinion, the AFR heads were a little pricey, but worth it from a quality standpoint and the fact that they would probably allow for further improvements down the road. When I contacted AFR (you have to buy direct as everything they make is custom to your application) there was a 10-15 minute question and answer session. What type of car, weight, rear end gear, transmission, trans modifications, cam type & duration, carb size, pistons, compression ratio, exhaust, what you plan on doing (street, street/strip, etc.). They suggested the 190 cc as providing superior flow with runners small enough to keep air velocity high (better torque). They put the package together with the springs, valves, etc. They also suggested starting with a 72 cc chamber and having them mill it to 64 cc to eliminate valve shrouding. Bottom line, cost was $1500 (including shipping). Worth it? In my opinion, without question. The AFR engineer was extremely helpful. (Other companies it was "well you can use this or maybe that, or come to think of it possibly something else). I put AFR somewhat on the spot and asked for a realistic estimate of output. Their calculation was 5 hp high and 10 ft-lbs low compared to the chassis dyno test. I've also got plently of "room to grow" with bigger cams. If it's within your budget, I would definitely suggest looking at AFR's.

Thank you for the help on the AFR's. I too thought they were pricy, but what you say makes alot of sense. Maybe I need to save up a little more for quality's sake.