Hemi Heads

I got a Hemi off of evil-bay(mistake). The pictures looked great, all the tech specs where great and the guy was always quick to answer questions and seamed knowledgeable. Well when I got the engine, which was shipped to the wrong address, I took it apart to just check. the thing was full of a coffee cream colored sludge. The block is okay and the parts are okay but the heads have rust on them. I'm going to have to have some machining do on them. They are 57-392 heads. I was wondering if I need to have work done anyways should I step up to 55-331 heads or 56-354 heads. Which are better heads and are they worth the change.

 

Garlits swears by 392 heads, other people swear by 354's, really on a street rig it doesnt matter, especially considering the gain of up to a couple HP for the $500 difference in price

 

The cream colored sludge is oil with water in it. Not necessarily a real bad thing. Id pull the pan and heads and take a look.Any heavy sludge is not good.

 

Well, yeah, it really does matter. There is a difference in block deck heights to remember...
If you want to use 392 heads on a 331-354 then you can only use a log type intake. 331-354 heads work on a 392 block only with intake spacers or log intake.
I do agree however, that on a non-race application there is little to be gained by swapping heads other than making someone else a bit richer.

You will be better served by using whatever head is appropriate for the block sitting in front of you. No worries about swapping dowel pins, or wondering which gasket to use or getting pissed because you have to buy extra gaskets...

As for the 'mocha', you are planning a disassembly and cleaning aren't you??

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Didn't say what engine he has...

 

The mocha in the pan most likely water, I'm might be concerned about a cracked block or it could have been just a blown head gasket..Find out why..
Use the extra money in rebuilding the 392. I will go fast enough..
Have fun...
Duane