Been contemplating heads for a future 327 build for my ‘57 210 post and today some reconditioned 896 heads with less than 10k materialized for $200 for the set. Hardened seats, very clean, pulled from a’63 Corvette resto because the date codes were wrong. Date codes don’t matter to me, my aim was to build a somewhat traditional hot rod/street 327 out of the HCH stamped 8180 block sitting in my garage - and even though I wasn’t planning to start until the spring (May-ish); these are available now, performance based, and seem like a good deal. Looking for some opinions from the many 327 fans here please. Thanks!
I think the valve size on those was a little small when they were new. After the new seats were put in what size are they now?
What does the casting on the front of the heads look like? FYI, the last pair of "rebuilt" heads I bought for $200, weren't.
3795896....63-65...283......60cc chamber 3795896....62-64...327......60cc chamber From here Chevy Small Block V8 Casting Numbers (mortec.com) 1963-67 3795896 283,327 1.72 1.5 - . 1963-67 3798996 327 1.72 1.5 - From Small Block Chevrolet Cylinder Head casting numbers (minuit10.net) I put the same heads on a 307 with a mid 80's Z28 cam in it in a 70 Chev pickup that my son won a lot of stoplight to stop light street races with. I think that engine thought it was a stroked 283 though as it did run better than expectations. They aren't world beater heads by any means but It all depends on how quick you feel you need to go.
‘896 heads would have come on the 250 horse 327, as well as on some 283’s. The 250 horse engine used the Rochester 4GC, rams horn manifolds with 2” outlets, as compared to the 300 horse 327 with ‘461 heads, AFB carb and 2 1/2” rams horns. If they are rebuilt and have the hard seats as the seller says I’d buy them.
They are the rectangle with the peaked point in the middle casting. I realize they aren’t the absolute best performance wise, but I figured they’d be a “bolt and go” solution for cheap-ish. Been reading all the 327 build threads here and it seems heads are a typical decision point. Up to these showing up, I was leaning toward the Dart cast iron with some orange paint... Just saw a pair of 292s local for $400, but they are cores. All this after months of nothing in the local classifieds. That’s part of the frustration as well; you never know how long you have to wait for the next opportunity. I guess this is how/why we develop parts piles in our garages and basements, huh?
They were called power-pack heads. If they are as clean as you suggest I would go with them. $200 for usable 896 heads is fine. Useable being the key word. Have fun.
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