I guess my '72 isn't excempt from my tradition of general automotive bad luck. Seems like I can't keep an engine running right regardless of whether I'm the one who builds it or if I drop the money and someone else does it.

I picked up a set of 882 heads on ebay that were completely worked over...hot tanked, ported, bigger valves, screw in studs, etc. I bolted them on and all was well...for about 40 miles.

I'm pretty sure a valve guide busted. I've got an intermittent metallic "rattling" sort of noise I can hear clearly through the carb and to call my vacuum readings erratic would be an understatement. But at 1500 rpm and up, it's rock solid.

Guess I'll be puting the old 041 heads that were on that motor before back on. I love doing head swaps. I guess maybe the second time in a month will give me good practice. I should be able to shave a few hours off this time.

Chris

 

The 882 heads are smog heads, 76 CC. The 041 heads you took off are a 64 CC head and can be made to perform very well. Don't know why you would want to swap in the first place!!! The 041 heads usually came with 2.02 valves and screw in studs. They were the stock head on the 1970 LT1 engine, the most powerful factory small block ever installed in a C3. You will have higher compression and should have much better performance with the 041 heads. I would rebuild the 041 heads using the new valves and studs out of the 882 heads and junk them, use them as garage door stops or sell them as cores for whatever I could get. JMHO

 

I know the 041's aren't bad, but they are definately not screw in studs.

I don't know how good any part of those 882's are right now. I went with them to lower the compression a bit and better match the cam profile. I went with thinner head gaskets to get a respectable CR out of them. I also got a great deal on them(get what you pay for, I guess) and they looked like they already had all the needed machine work done.

They ran great....for a couple weeks.

I need to take a look at the 041's and see what's really in them. I know the valves aren't as big as the 2.02/1.60's that were installed in the 882s. I really don't want to spend any more money than I have to right now. I just spent a small fortune re-doing the interior. Most likely, I'll just bolt on the 041's as is and that'll hold me off till I want to throw more money at a machine shop.

 

The 041 came with 1.94 intakes and press in studs or 2.02 and screw in studs. If you just have a bad guide in the 882's you could use the big valves, screw in studs off the 882's. disassemble the 041's and remove the press in studs and tap for the screw in's, grind them for the 2.02 valves, check the guides and reassemble the 041's. Since they are both going to be off the motor you would then have a respectable set of heads 64 cc heads and a cam change isn't that big of an expense or that much work while it is apart. get the cam kit that comes with new lifters, springs and pushrods. That is what I would do if $ were an issue and you want a performance upgrade for not much extra $ or time. Then your done, for awhile.

 

Actually, money is an issue. As I said before, I don't want to spend an extra dime if I don't have to. I just dropped $1500 on restoring the interior, so the last thing I want to do is spend another $4 or 500 in machine shop costs. And on top of that, there's no telling if the job will be done right. The 041's are pretty fresh, since the motor was only built less than 1000 miles ago(by a previous owner).

I also really don't want to spend another 4 or 500 dollars on a cam swap...when you take into account the cam, lifters, springs, etc.

Even swapping the cam regardless of money is a huge pita, even with the heads off. I'm not really happy with the idea of pulling the radiator and everything else that goes along with it. Granted, half the work is done when the heads are off, but half the work isn't done yet.

I just finished my interior, and it'd be nice to drive the car before the weather gets bad and I have to put it away till spring. A head swap is an easy saturday project and I can have the car going again for under 100 bucks.

When my hobby funds are refreshed and money becomes no object again, I'll do the head swap again. But it'll be done with a nice pair of aluminum aftermarket ones.

I appreciate the advice, and it's good advice, but money is tight right now after the interior. It seems like everytime I say the mechanicals are good, I can spend money on something like the interior, something mechanical goes south.


Chris

 

 

can you use an angle plug head.

 

Angle plugs would probably make header clearance better, but I'd have to look to make sure.

I'll probably stick with the 041's since I already have them.

Unless they're free?

Chris