Best cylinder heads

For a “budget build”, the best heads would be whatever castings you find that would be suitable for the application(passenger car/light truck heads from 65-78), that require the least amount of work to make them usable.

I’m not sure what machine shop costs are like in your area, but where I am it’s pretty easy to spend close to Stealth Head money refurbishing old BBM factory heads.

Wow, I just looked the Stealth heads up, I didn't realize they were that reasonable. A pair of fully assembled aluminum heads for $1200, thanks!