What heads do I need?

I have a 69 camaro with a 383 ci engine. I have Probe SRS forged pistons. I'm not sure on the compression but I do know they are flattop not domed. H-beam rods but can't remember who they are made by. The cam has about a 535 lobe. Vic Jr. intake and a 750 Holley carb. I am running a fluid damper. 3500 stall on a 350 turbo tranny. Right now I only have stock heads on it and its just not enough. Can anyone help with the info that I have given? I would like to produce between 400-500 hp but would like to keep the heads under $1000.00 What are my odds of achieving this?  

The cheapest heads that I know of to get close to thoes # would be a set of iron vortec heads, summit has them for around $850.  

Could you give me more details on those heads? I'm still fairly new to this. Are you talking about the GM vortecs? And what size would I need? 64cc? And would getting new heads change my compression ratio or does that sorely rely on the pistons? Also I was told that a set of aluminum edelbrock performers would be a good addition to my set up rather than going with something like brodix, dart, or afr. Can anyone give me more feedback on that? What are better the iron vortec heads you mentioned or the edelbrocks? Any help is very much appreciated! Thanks again!  

The GMPP Iron Vortec heads will give you some killer torque with that 383 block. The GM vortecs dont require a lot of head porting to improve flow either, they flow great right out of the box. These are about the best low cost cast iron heads in my opinion. I installed these on my ride a while back. You will need a vortec style intake manifold for these. The Weiand Stealth flows best in my opinion. You will gain about 40Hp over a stock head & manifold with this combination. The castings on these heads are 12558062. You can purchase these bare and build them yourself like I did ( if you have the patience, skill, and tools ), or buy them assembled from either Summit Racing or GMPP directly. Mine ran about $270.00 per head.
Aluminum heads are light but expensive and have a series of problems that go along with mating different kinds of metals together. Great for professionals or drag racing but not so good if you don't have a lot 'o bucks to spend like me.
Shipping was free for my Vortecs from Summit Racing. They weigh about 60 lbs each. These heads will handle about .430 max lift in stock configuration but you can have them machined for up to .550+ lift or buy a drop in vortec spring kit from Comp Cams or Crane Cams to avoid machining. They can also be milled up to .040" for incresed compression ratio. I would recommend you speak with Scott at Gilbert Chevy Performance 800-545-0048 or someone at Summit tech 330-630-0240 before you decide.
They can also make recommendations on final compression ratio with the piston's you've got and if this will work well with the cam you have. I went with Comp's XE268 cam myself. Performance flat tappet cams are not very expensive.
The heads are 64 cc fast burn chambers. You can make 486 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm and 450 hp at 5,500 rpm with that 383 block.

Also check out this web site: http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/howto/97458/index.html

Hope this helps you some. Good luck with that build!  

scoggin dickey has all the vortec heads including the newest version the bowtie vortecs. and they also sell the older ones like the l31's ready for highlift cams for around 370 ea. moddified for highlift. next would be a set of dart, world , pro1's etc. I would definately try to get a ported head if possible.  

with box stock vortecs you should be at 450hp and ftlbs of tq. that's the average numbers for 383's with vortecs  

CNC Porting is an expensive proposition from my experience. If money was not an issue I would recommend the ported aluminum AFR's. But if the plan is for a mild build, as I'm assuming is the case here then that would be overkill in my opinion. Better to spend the money on long tube headers, high flowing intake manifold, moderate compression, and a torquie cam. Performance 383's built for low end torque can snap your neck and scare the crap out of your passengers! - Like the man said: High RPM is a great thing but most strip cars don't reach peak rpm until way past the checkered sticks at the end of the track, and that's after the "torque monsters" have left them in their rear view mirrors before reaching said sticks.  

Thanks for the feedback!  

My engine is in the car and running already. And like I said I have stock heads but basically everything else is not. So the less I absolutely HAVE to chave out the better. I am wanting more power and I know I  need new heads. Any other suggestions that I could do? I know next I want to "beef up" the suspension so those questions will be coming soon.    But as far as the motor goes what else can I do to somewhat moderate spending. I forgot to mention that I do have an MSD dist and coil set up too.  

Just dismanteled my 383 had edelbrock e-200cc alum heads they are in getting refreshed right now with 6 month old Comp steel rollers intrested very reasonable.
These will require a vortec intake i'd go with an Edel RPM Air Gap if intrested give me a call 716 378 3741.  

Yes heshtesh I am interested. Can you tell me what your setup was and what kind of numbers you were putting out? And if you or anyone else would possibly know a good guess on what numbers those heads could me? So my vic jr. intake would not work?  

Sorry you won't be able to use your Vic jr. if it's for standard 23 degree heads as these heads require a Vortec intake.
My 383 was set up as follows;3.75 stroke 4340 Scat crank for 6" rods,Weisco flat top forged 10.7 to 1 comp with 64cc chambers,Read hyd.roller 234@50 int 242@50 exh 510/510 lift on a 110 centerline,Lunati hyd. rollers,Edelbrock Pro Flow fuel injection i figure it was good for around 475 HP.Almost forgot the heads are Edelbrock E Tec 200cc in absolutly perfect condition.The roller rockers were on the engine Nov to Apr when my 4 wheel drive comes off the road and my 2 wheel drive comes out.  

Ok I am still interested but can anyone give me feedback on what would be the best set up for me since I already have the victor jr. intake? Would I be able to find heads that could be equivalent to the e-tec 200 or something similar that would fit my vic jr? Or Is my absolute best bet going to be the e-tec's with a edelbrock rpm air gap intake? Because from what I have heard and been taught is that the vic jr. is the better of the intakes? Please feel free to correct if I'm wrong because like I said I'm still a newbie.  

For every day driving you can't beat a rpm air gap, as for heads the sky is the limit all you can do is play price vs performance enjoy.  

hesh, the edelbrock e-tec 200's are basicly vortec heads. Edelbrocks design$$$$. you have to watch what vortec heads you get the older ones like the l31's are only good for about 420"s of lift unless the heads are moddified, which scoggindickey sells them moddified for highlifty at about 370each. you won't be able to use your vic. jr. intake. The Vortec style heads take a different bolt pattern and valve covers. I would find a set of standard heads that are ported like dart's,worlds etc. should be able to find a set used for 250-800? or just get a the newest vortec head the "bowties" the are 1100 I believe and they have a sweet chevy bowtie logo's on them you could use either runner sizes, I would go for the smaller runner for bottom to mid power and the larger runner for mid to topend. I would not get a runner size larger than about 215cc with 190-195 lowest, And you probably want a 64cc chamber, 58cc would raise compression and a 76cc chamber would drop compression.
If you used a runner say 170cc, It would make bottom end power and start choking the topend power depending on the rotating assembly etc. It may never see above 5500