lets talk about heads

[dinnut]

so im looking into getting some rebuilt heads for my truck
and i was wondering.... which of these is better for my mostly stock 350 that im gonna stick a performer rpm itnake and holley 600cfm carb on. im probalby gonna put a xe268 (comp cams) cam in it too. but any which is better?
ATK Remanufactured Cylinder Head
1 per car. 3C08 $156.77 $35.00
6 BOLT EXHAUST MANIFOLD 1.7" INTAKE VALVE w/TAPERED SPARK PLUGS 90 DAY WARRANTY - NO LABOR ALLOWANCE
ATK Remanufactured Cylinder Head
1 per car. 3C13 $140.93 $35.00
6 BOLT EXHAUST MANIFOLD 1.9" INTAKE VALVE CASTING #882 90 DAY WARRANTY - NO LABOR ALLOWANCE
ATK Remanufactured Cylinder Head
1 per car. 3C17 $140.93 $35.00
6 BOLT EXHAUST MANIFOLD 1.9" INTAKE VALVE CASTING #411,126,991,487 90 DAY WARRANTY - NO LABOR ALLOWANCE
ATK Remanufactured Cylinder Head
1 per car. 3C19 $147.27 $35.00
6 BOLT EXHAUST MANIFOLD 1.7" INTAKE VALVE CASTING #882 90 DAY WARRANTY - NO LABOR ALLOWANCE

the bigger valve? the smaller valve and is #882 good?

[stllookn]

Go to the Mortec site and prestage.com site and read up on all the head castings. The prestage site will list the engine horsepower options with each casting number. The 882's were prone to cracking and were not only used on 150-180 hp engines. You want 1.94/1.5's or larger castings 14096217, 340292, 3782461, 3890462...too many to list...LOL! THe 487's might be better but they were also offered in 2.02/1.6 (3973487X) on the 350 hp option. I am sure the ones for $146 are the 1.94/1.5 with 76 CC chambers that were used on 165 hp engines (these had 10 cc less intake runner volume).

[1972C10]

Whats atk? Alot of cheap rebuilders use heli coils to repair worn valve guides make sure their reputable .

[dinnut]

i dont know... those 3 or 4 shown were the ones oreilly shows on their website for rebuilt heads for 350 small block chevys. no matter what u look under (corvette camaro truck) it shows those same heads. im assuming their for low horsepower engines from what stllookn said?

[1972C10]

Also if you have a dish piston motor 882s arent going to give you that much compression Or any 76cc head for that matter.

Whats the history of your motor?

[1972C10]

I would be leary of the oriellys autozone reman engines and engine componets so far anyone i know or have met that bought one of them engines has been pure junk. Are those prices per pair or per head?

[dinnut]

the history of the motor? supposedly rebuilt by a school years ago... no dates given... dont know much about it. i know it smokes and leaks! one day ill have the money to go thru it. i just need some decent heads for it right now....

a boardmember has some 194's that were recently redone im looking at.... ill try and get the casting #'s

[1972C10]

Im kinda a beliver against hot rodding old engines Anytime i ever tryed to Patch one up or cam one out and put some better heads on it it ended up chunking a rod. One even ruint the heads i just put on.

I can get a good longblock with a mild cam built for 775.

[dinnut]

yeah im seriously thinking about just getting a longblock like the one your talking abou tfor 775..... can you talk to your builder for me and see what some of the specs ofthis motor would have? ill pm you....

[dinnut]

the heads im looking at are 172's the casting number reads 3998991....72-73...307/350......75cc chambers

are these a decent head or should i keep looking. i really dont know what to do
i can pick these up for 175+50 shipping
ive been thinking about get a rebuilt engine from 1972c10's engine builder... around 750 for a decent small block with a mild cam....

[neonlarry]

Unless you are going to leave it completly stock, I wouldnt buy any of those heads. Other than the 487 heads, none of those are really even that good at all. 487, 487x, and tpi 350 heads are all ok, but really, buying a new set of aftermarket heads is a far better idea. Most machine shops that I know of charge $250 to $500 to rebuild heads that you supply them with, so I have to wonder what you get for $150. lol I would also agree with what the other people said, and dont spend a bunch of money on a engine that needs to be rebuilt anyway. Its way better to take the time to do it right the first time.

[slam33]

Are you going to buy a manifold, if so then I would go with the vortec heads, You'll pick up so compression, get the 1.94 and some HP. You can get new one's for $260 ea. at Jegs.

[Bowtie67]

You get what you pay for, if you want low buck I would think you would be better off going to the local junkyard and picking up a set of used vortecs. if you using the xe268 cam you may also want to think about valve springs as well. 172 heads were considered smogger heads and even used on the 400sbc. I wouldnt buy any of those heads personally.