SBC heads, what's interchangeable?

hey guys, so I have a 350 engine for my build, I pull the heads for piece of mind and find both heads have small hairline cracks
So, the engine is a '68- '79 block, I'm going for a simple stock motor, nothin fancy. when looking for a set of rebuilt or working heads, how will I know what's compatible with my motor if the seller does not know the year of the heads? what can or can't I run on this block?
I'm not too familiar with machining numbers and whatnot so bear with me.... any suggestions or advise?
thank you!!

 

Pretty much anything will work on that motor. Google open chamber vs. Closed chamber. Don't go from one extreme to the other.

 

any small block chivy head from 55-late 80's tuned port heads will work

 

All SBC gen I and Gen II heads will bolt onto the block.

The LT1 and 4 heads are set up for reverse coolant flow(i.e. the water goes from the heads then through the block) so those aren't what you want to use.

The center bolt non-vortec heads(87-96) use a slightly different intake manifold. The center bolts on either side of the carb are at a different angle. People have run them with out modification just using the outside bolts or one can hog out the center holes and use all the bolts. There is also a bushing available for this{ http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PFS-52110/ }.

The 96 and up Vortec heads(identified with a 3 triangle or sawtooth casting mark [not to be confused with the LS series Vortecs which are a completely different engine]) will also bolt on and are some of the best iron heads available. But they use yet another intake manifold with 8 intake bolts going into the head at 72 degrees instead of 90. But carb intakes are readily available from pretty much anyone that sells intakes,
{ http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-226018/ }.
These heads are what I would recommend. Approx. 64cc quench style chambers and one of the best flowing SBC castings. But, they are somewhat limited in the amount of cam lift they can handle. Most agree that it is in the .460 range. The limited lift is more than made up for with the flow they are capable of assuming you are -not- trying to build an 8000rpm track engine.

Exhaust manifolds are the same for all.

Valve cover adapters are available to run the older perimeter style covers on the center bolt heads.

 

Combustion chamber sizes vary greatly, so your compression ratio could end up being very different, depending on which heads you put on it.

Do you know what the numbers were/are on the cracked heads? Pistons flat on the tops, dished? Got a picture?

 

you want 69' and up for mounting all of the accesories as earlier heads don't have the needed provisions.

 

And dont forget steam holes in 400 heads

 

You might get a copy of "how to hotrod your smallblock chevy" .There is a lot of info on recognizing castings, compression ratios, performance potential of factory castings.

 

For just a simple stock engine like you stated, you might try calling a few good machine shops in your area. They might have a set that someone did'nt pick-up rebuilt and reasonable.

 

wow, thank you for all the great pointers guys.
and the numbers on the heads are 14014416 E075
here is the head

pistons look like this
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...u2_Bw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0

 

Still easy to find those heads. There the better of the 305 family. Good head for those dish pistons to bring compression up for any basic performance.

 

I guess this block is running 305 heads then. I did take em to a local and reputable machine shop and he didn't mention anything about it. but I never asked cause I was inquiring about rebuilt ones. seems cheaper to buy someone's rebuilt heads or find a decent running pair.
anyone got any for sale

 

Look these guys up. www.cylinderheadexchange.com

 

i talked to them, great company but I couldnt get 350 heads for a good deal cause my 305 cores are for shit. plus they come bare bone. but thank you johnny Gee

 

Did you ask how much for 416s straight out the door ?

 

Get the small block chevy interchange manual also,you won't regret it.

 

Those heads have a chamber that is about 58cc. I think that these were the smallest, or close to the smallest combustion chambers found in a SBC head (there may have been some 53-55cc ones). If you have dished pistons, a small chamber is a must.

There are other common chamber sizes, like 64cc and 76cc. In both cases, with the same pistons, you'd be lowering your compression ratio by quite a bit. Put a 76cc heads over the same pistons, and nothing short of a high boost blower or turbo would make the thing get out its own way.

The 416 heads should be just fine for a decent street engine, and should not be too hard to find.

How about a picture of the piston tops?

 

He posted a link on reply #10, dished 4 valve releif.

 

Damn, I am going blind.

 

johnny gee, the heads out the door would run about 250 each, with no hardware on them, its only so much cause my cores are no good to them. I would prefer to run 350 heads, but is that a problem with the style of pistons I have? what 350 heads would be work for this?

 

Without having the compression ratio taking a big hit, here are some candidates (not a complete list):

Last three digits of casting number, combustion chamber in cc's, intake valve in inches, exhaust valve in inches.

049 55cc 2.02 1.60
056 56cc 1.72 1.50
113 58cc 1.94 1.50
306 56cc 1.72 1.50
539 60cc 1.72 1.50
550 60cc 1.72 1.50
692 60cc 1.72 1.50
754 60cc 1.72 1.50
762 56cc 1.72 1.50
770 60cc 1.72 1.50
896 60cc 1.72 1.50

Note, the ones under 58cc would raise the compression ratio a bit.

 

hey gimpys, are the first 3 numbers part of the casting digits?

 

Oh, yeah, sorry. I swear, everything makes sense inside my head.

They are the last three digits of the casting number. It is the customary shorthand for the head casting. Your original heads, 14014416, would be known as four-sixteen casting heads.

 

That a good ? None of us or I should say you never said anything about the engine. Does it have a performance cam, whats its specs ? type of intake ect ect. As stated before there a ton of heads that can be used. But I feel those 416's are there for the compression so you may need to find a head with a 58 to 64 cc camber.

 

sportsman II heads. cheap, performance, bang for the buck.
http://www.jegs.com/i/World+Products/955/011250-1/10002/-1

you'll never worry if your heads are holding you back, and they can take a big cam in the future when you are ready to rebuild it with flat tops, big cam, or go stroker. good investment.

 

thank you gimpys
as far as I know the engine is stock. no performance cam, it had a edelbrock 4bbl intake on it with a burnt out HEI, I plan on switching the intake to a front oil fill tube to run smooth valve covers with no breathers. plan on running a simple 4bbl with either points or pertronix in the dizzy. I didnt want to get too heavy into performance because I want a simple runner. I probably should cut the loses and go crate engine but I like vintage resurrection
a friend of mine has a set of generation1 heads he wants to sell me, I guess it ran on a 355 motor, would that work?

 

Since it's stock run what comes by at a deal. It'll be fine.

 

If the engine is a 305 than you should use most anything with the heads drilled for your accesories. If its not a 305 an
and someone has already mentioned this, you will end up with too
much compression. If it it a 305 and you use 64 or bigger combustion chambers, it will not get out of it own way.

john

 

https://store.gmperformanceparts.co...Cylinder Head Assembly &model=<!--12558060-->

 

Well I bought engine being told it was a 350, I even ran the block cast numbers to make sure. But the heads turned out to be 305s. I'm not sure about the cam or if it's a 2/4 bolts main, haven't flipped the motor and gotten that far yet. But from the great info I have recieved so far I think these heads my friend has should be the ones to work.
And I think he said they are the 202/160...they matched the top one on the list that gimpys posted. Any objections to these?