Best big block heads for a 500 cid

Needs recommendations for a 500 cid street motor. I’m building a 440 stock stroke with 440 stealth heads right now. I think they will be fine for that customer. A stoker 500 may need a better flowing head. What’s out there that is reasonably priced with better flow numbers than stock 440 source? Where is the best place to get them?

I will get this started and suggest using the Moparts.com search feature and look at Trick Flow heads, TF240, TF270,
The customers desired results are important, torque converter stall speed, gears, car weight, etc.

I am going to start a new thread on low rpm stroker torque to help answer this question.

My fav for this is the Indy CNC 325's with 2.20" valves....$3100

What do you mean by best? Is this going to be a race engine or a street engine? You said street engine but you posted the thread in the race section so you're going to get answers that are all over the place.

Seems like the no brainer slam dunk hot “street” head....... for a car that’s more street than race would be the TF240.

If the emphasis is more on “making power”, then it’s time to start thinking MW sized ports....... understanding that using parts to exploit the MW sized ports are going to somewhat compromise the street manners.

A lot of it just comes down to what you’re trying to build.
A street friendly pump gas stroker making 640tq/550hp can easily be done with some cleaned up E Streets and a nice cam.

If you’re trying to make solidly over 600hp, then it’s just easier with better heads.

Thanks, Dwayne. This whole aluminum head motor building for my customers started from your recommendation on the stealth heads. The cost of reconditioned iron heads vs alum head and compression ratios advantages all works in the same direction for the good. The clone A12 I’m building now is better off with the stealth heads. This new build is not restricted to looks or cubic inch. The cost of a used crank and rods and reconditioning gets right up their to a new rotating assembly from 440 source and a stoker kit is the same money. So I looked at the 240 trick flows but have not looked at the Edelbrock yet. Would the trick flows in stock form be ok for a mild street car with a power brake sized cam? Would the benefit of a mild port job on the trick flows be needed for a 4.15 stroke motor.

The TF’s are cnc ported....... and IMO are going to be fine as is for 95% of the people looking to build motors where the bulk of use will be driving down the road.

Being used with pump gas CR’s, and a power brake friendly cam...... the heads aren’t likely going to be the main limiting factor for how much power is being made.

my .
Source CNC or TF240 . If it is A12 clone inc 6 pack . If more power required Tf270 .
Then choice is stock look head or not . Don't forget not all rockers seem to be happy with the TF heads , they recommend a specific brand /model .
My Source heads ran fine on my first 505

Tex

For my own car I'd use TF 240 heads. For a customer car I might go with Edelbrock heads.

Can you explain why?

You asked for recommendations for a reasonable priced head that flows better than stock.

I don’t see any reason where a Edelbrock is a better idea unless you score a used decent set.
An Edelbrock is not ready out of the box. By the time it is ready, you may as well have gotten the CNC
ported head that already likely has the springs, locks, and retainers that are needed.
Not to mention the casting quality and quality control of Edelbrock has gone to s*^#.

My Mega 496 has 12.5 compression, I know a little steep. But w/Bullet custom hydraulic cam & Performer RPM heads, dual plane Performer RPM intake & only a 750dbl pumper made 581hp @ 5400 624tq @ 4300