Edelbrock 440 RPMs

I've run Edelbrock heads right out of the box before without any problems but it is usually a good idea to take them apart and double check the guide clearance and then put them back together. If you have the correct tools it doesn't take too long to do that but the average guy in his garage will not have the tools to do the job. In that case you need to decide to put them on OOTB or take them to a shop.

Now something like Indy heads should never be run OOTB. Indy heads absolutely need to be taken apart by a good cylinder head guy and gone thru before running them. Edelbrock heads are usually pretty good, AFR heads are often better than Edelbrock and can be run OOTB, Trick Flow heads are usually ready to go OOTB, etc. If you are building engines on a daily basis you can tell which heads can be run and which ones can't be. But the engine builders I work with tend to pull everything apart before they go on the engine. Better safe than sorry and all of that. Engine builders hate to spend time on warranty work since it costs them double.

As for porting I don't think I'd bother. Especially if you don't really know what you are doing. You'll most likely cause more problems than you'll fix. The RPM heads will make good power OOTB. If you want more power then send the heads to someone like Porter Racing Heads. Or better yet, buy the heads from someone like Porter Racing Heads and have him do a stage I porting before the heads get sent to you. That way the heads are checked over, guide clearance is all double checked, valves are lapped in, the lip beneath the seat is smoothed out, etc.