1960 283 corvette head search
05-31-2017, 06:37 PM
#1
1960 283 corvette head search
Frustrated trying to find like new heads to fit 283 chevy engine in my 60 Vette.
It's rebuilt with the Elgin E-900-P Duntov spec, solid lifter cam. Bored .030 over and decked. New stock push rods and rockers. I want to run the two WCFB four barrels that I ran on a 400 small block that was previously in the car. The heads have to be mint. Anybody have them or know where I can get them? (Jegs and Summit were no help at all)
It's rebuilt with the Elgin E-900-P Duntov spec, solid lifter cam. Bored .030 over and decked. New stock push rods and rockers. I want to run the two WCFB four barrels that I ran on a 400 small block that was previously in the car. The heads have to be mint. Anybody have them or know where I can get them? (Jegs and Summit were no help at all)
05-31-2017, 07:20 PM
#2
Team Owner
Member Since: Apr 2008
Location: Coloring within the lines
Posts: 27,343
Received 1,920 Likes
on
1,333 Posts
I assume you mean OEM heads that would have come on that 283 originally, like 692 or 461X heads?
Do you also mean correctly date-coded heads for your car and engine build dates?
If so, you're not looking in the right places. Jets and Summit only sell new heads, as you undoubtedly found out.
Do you also mean correctly date-coded heads for your car and engine build dates?
If so, you're not looking in the right places. Jets and Summit only sell new heads, as you undoubtedly found out.
05-31-2017, 07:42 PM
#4
Team Owner
Member Since: Apr 2008
Location: Coloring within the lines
Posts: 27,343
Received 1,920 Likes
on
1,333 Posts
Thanks for prompting me to take another look at the Colvin book.
Upon further reading, for 1960 it says that only about 15 pairs of 461X heads were installed due to aluminum porosity problems. For 1961 and on it was cast in iron.
I guess that leaves the 692s?
Upon further reading, for 1960 it says that only about 15 pairs of 461X heads were installed due to aluminum porosity problems. For 1961 and on it was cast in iron.
I guess that leaves the 692s?
05-31-2017, 11:11 PM
#5
283 heads
I assume you mean OEM heads that would have come on that 283 originally, like 692 or 461X heads?
Do you also mean correctly date-coded heads for your car and engine build dates?
If so, you're not looking in the right places. Jets and Summit only sell new heads, as you undoubtedly found out.
Do you also mean correctly date-coded heads for your car and engine build dates?
If so, you're not looking in the right places. Jets and Summit only sell new heads, as you undoubtedly found out.
06-01-2017, 09:18 AM
#6
Team Owner
Member Since: Apr 2008
Location: Coloring within the lines
Posts: 27,343
Received 1,920 Likes
on
1,333 Posts
After buying two original 1960 Corvette heads on line and finding out they had leaky hardened valve seats I thought I could buy new heads that would be comparable to the original heads. I'm at the point now where I'd like to get like new rebuilt heads that will work with the set up I have. I don't care about the numbers, only that they will work with the solid lifter cam and the dual WCFB's. Thanks
You're correct that a lot of the old heads out there are clapped out, which means fewer and fewer are any good for rebuilding. However, no one of which I aware is making new heads to the original casting configurations today.
That leaves a few replacement choices:
1 - Go with modern heads. Many will say that these are cheaper in the long run, and good ones will almost certainly perform better than OEM heads.
2 - Buying refurbished complete heads from a shop that does them right and stands behind their work.
3 - Continue working on the used heads "lottery." You might get lucky and you might not.
Good luck!
How hard over are you on correctly dated and casting numbers?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/61-62-63-64-...-/322416748456
This guy will refurb this pair for an additional $500, and has a return policy:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-SBC-1960-...-/222515124156
Last edited by Easy Rhino; 06-01-2017 at 09:30 AM.
06-01-2017, 10:04 AM
#7
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2003
Location: Greenville, Indiana
Posts: 26,118
Received 1,843 Likes
on
1,398 Posts
These heads are laying around everywhere. Take yer pick!
https://boise.craigslist.org/pts/6154398689.html
https://boise.craigslist.org/pts/6154398689.html
06-01-2017, 10:12 AM
#8
283 head search
Totally makes sense. I have been searching for correct heads for my '65 L76 for three years with no luck to date.
You're correct that a lot of the old heads out there are clapped out, which means fewer and fewer are any good for rebuilding. However, no one of which I aware is making new heads to the original casting configurations today.
That leaves a few replacement choices:
1 - Go with modern heads. Many will say that these are cheaper in the long run, and good ones will almost certainly perform better than OEM heads.
2 - Buying refurbished complete heads from a shop that does them right and stands behind their work.
3 - Continue working on the used heads "lottery." You might get lucky and you might not.
Good luck!
How hard over are you on correctly dated and casting numbers?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/61-62-63-64-...-/322416748456
This guy will refurb this pair for an additional $500, and has a return policy:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-SBC-1960-...-/222515124156
You're correct that a lot of the old heads out there are clapped out, which means fewer and fewer are any good for rebuilding. However, no one of which I aware is making new heads to the original casting configurations today.
That leaves a few replacement choices:
1 - Go with modern heads. Many will say that these are cheaper in the long run, and good ones will almost certainly perform better than OEM heads.
2 - Buying refurbished complete heads from a shop that does them right and stands behind their work.
3 - Continue working on the used heads "lottery." You might get lucky and you might not.
Good luck!
How hard over are you on correctly dated and casting numbers?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/61-62-63-64-...-/322416748456
This guy will refurb this pair for an additional $500, and has a return policy:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-SBC-1960-...-/222515124156