Check with Summit, sometimes you can get Trick Flow twisted Wedge heads completely assembled for a little over $900. That sale doesn't happen to often, but you might get lucky.
I got some Y303 aluminum heads for $699. They aren't the best aluminum heads but far better than the E7TEs'. Just do a search for "y303" on that website. They also might have X303/305 heads on there for cheap.
I am waiting to put them on till I can afford a cam and intake next spring sometime.
Check with Summit, sometimes you can get Trick Flow twisted Wedge heads completely assembled for a little over $900. That sale doesn't happen to often, but you might get lucky.
I paid $935 for mine 3 years ago. I bought all my motor mods and shipping was $4.95 from jd's
As for a true budget head, I dont think you can beat a $250 (used) gt40P head. Out of the 3 main aluminum heads edelbrock, afr and tfs, tfs is the cheapest but you'll need rockers and hardened pushrods. Not that you should be putting junk stock rockers on your $1000 heads anyway.