Originally Posted by rrrdad
We are in the process of putting together a parts list for a 496 that will be in our dragster. I will have to use stock heads for the first couple years. I need advice on pistons, cams, lift and expected HP of this engine. Thx M
They key to me is that you said stock heads for a couple of years. That means you plan to rebuild and next time build a bigger / more hp motor. If I were on a budget I would go with a set of aluminum heads and intake out of the box for now. They will flow better than the iron heads already, but you have lots of room for improvement later. If you spent money on iron heads now it's just gonna be a waste. Save yourself a bunch of money in the long run and go with a good set of heads now.