Maximum suckage @ machine shop...
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Race Director
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From: Smalltownville Michigan
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St. Jude Donor '09
Maximum suckage @ machine shop...
I stopped by the machine shop today to check on my heads. As soon as I walked in the Owner/machinst says "Your heads are junk!" One of the heads had an intake seat so far gone that the replacement seat would fit in without haveing the old one removed. The other head had a crack between the valves. 
So my 487X's are DOA...What I am gonna do now is pullmy existings and have them gone through...my land lord really doesnt want me to do major work where my car sits, so I am gonna do as much as I can quietly during the week and then do all the major work on the weekend 
So my 487X's are DOA...What I am gonna do now is pullmy existings and have them gone through...my land lord really doesnt want me to do major work where my car sits, so I am gonna do as much as I can quietly during the week and then do all the major work on the weekend
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From: Smalltownville Michigan
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St. Jude Donor '09
I wanted to have it just be a take off and bolt on in the same day operation, but alas, that isnt the case...nothing is ever easy in my world...
Race Director
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Hey Aflac, you can bring your car up to my house and do the work in my garage. If you need to leave the car just make sure it runs and the keys stay with me.....
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Ontario
Are your exisiting heads 882's? This site has some good info about chevy head casting numbers. They say the 882's are prone to cracking. If you are going to spend time and money on heads maybe spend a bit more on some better ones.
SBC Head Comparison
SBC Head Comparison
Thread Starter
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From: Smalltownville Michigan
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St. Jude Donor '09
it's a 77... not sure what the casting #'s are to be honest with ya.. I will look when I pull the valve cover off... On the bright side..Who knew that UPS was working today? my alum. Q-Jet intake came in today!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Chattanooga TN
Late 70s/early 80s heads are all prone to cracking. Get some new Vortecs or aftermarket-you will be miles ahead. Stock Vortecs flow better than mildly ported 882s. If you don't need a big honkin' cam the Vortecs will be a great choice.
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Race Director
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Vortec heads are the best buy on the market. You can get a fully assembled pair for around $600. Although, you would have to send that new intake back and get one that fits Vortec heads.
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From: Smalltownville Michigan
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St. Jude Donor '09
Exactly.. I do want to keep some sort of stock appearance under the hood as well. I do appreciate the offer to use your garage too, Mal... you gonna go to the superior show on the 1st of May?
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From: Living in the Hartland
Check around at some speed shops, machine shops or eng builders, they might have some cheap heads laying around that will work until you get enough $ for some good replacements. If you where close I would give a set of heads I have off a GM crate engine I have, basically L48 heads.
Le Mans Master
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From: Chattanooga TN
Originally Posted by Aflac
aftermarket heads are agreat idea and all but i am on a budget...
Melting Slicks
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From: St. Charles Mo
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Originally Posted by Aflac
aftermarket heads are agreat idea and all but i am on a budget...
Bullshark
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Originally Posted by Aflac
Exactly.. I do want to keep some sort of stock appearance under the hood as well. I do appreciate the offer to use your garage too, Mal... you gonna go to the superior show on the 1st of May?
Thread Starter
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From: Smalltownville Michigan
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St. Jude Donor '09
Tempting but I think I am gonna stick with my stock heads. When I go bigger i will prolly upgrade to different heads...
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From: Smalltownville Michigan
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St. Jude Donor '09
Well today I started pulling stuff apart. Got the exhaust manifolds separated from the pipes, radiator drained, all the intake bolts out but 1, and all the cooling hoses disconnected. The bolt that it stuck is the one on the right side that the AC strut mounts to. Before I started to lose my patience, i decide to soak it in PB blaster and I will mess with it tomorrow. And yes, my heads are 882's. I talked to the guy at the machineshop and he said if they have cracks he will trade me even up..i think secretly he wants to see me do all the work myself. One thing I did notice is that there seems to be some arcing on the center button of the rotor. I didnt think to check vertical end play in the dist., but there was no lateral play in it to speak of. I also discovered a possible reason why my headlights always sucked at going up. The vacuum tree that is at the back of the intake that also has the modulator line for the trans hooked into it was pretty much flopping in the breeze. My guess is that would cause some of it. While I have it down this far, you can bet that I will be changing every possible hose on it that I touch. Breaking hoses along side the road causing stupid things is teh suck!
Le Mans Master
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From: Brazos TX
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Hey Aflac! That a bummer on your other cylinder heads but it looks like you are using plan B. Good luck with our 882 castings. I had one crack on me but others on different engines have run without any problems so there is no telling. Finding all those cracked fittings and old hoses is a great reinforcement for doing a once over on those systems every once in a while.