Best heads for the dollar IMO are the Edelbrock Vic. Jr.'s. Same price as the Performers (~$1000) and they'll take you easily into the 8's in the 1/4. They don't have the smog provisions but you can work around that if your willing. Definitely too much head for a stock block unless your willing to spin it to 7k or more
but if your planning on building a screamer (high rev 302 or 306, 331 or 347, or even going to a 351) they're the only head you'll need from the 11's to the 8's. Just my .02
If your gonna stay mostly stock, just about any aftermarket head, Edelbrock, TFS, AFR, FRPP etc. is going to do good things for you. I just prefer the aluminum over the iron heads.