Which heads for '81
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 195
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From: Bausman PA
Which heads for '81
I need new valve seals and thought I might as well go with some new heads. Which would be the best heads to go with that would bolt on without any other mods ? Thanks for any input.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Bausman PA
I got an estimate of close to $500 for new seals. Sounded a little high to me. That's why I considered new heads. I just got the car a couple of months ago. Right now the main objective is to stop the puffs of smoke at start up. The car has headers and the carb and distributor have been replaced with non-computer pieces. Any thoughts on what new seals should cost ??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Bausman PA
The price quoted was from a local shop. It's been a long, long time since I've gone into an engine. Not sure my back would like hanging over the fenders, if even for a short period of time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Maybe there's a nieghborhood kid, or a friends kid, who would enjoy learning something about working on an old school hotrod. Might make a good helper, if ya gave him a few bucks, and he could do the dirty work while you supervise. Worth checking into.
Scott
Scott
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Here ya go, check these babies out!
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-152123/
Bolt 'em on an go. A teensy bit more compression, and bigger valves, to boot!
Scott
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-152123/
Bolt 'em on an go. A teensy bit more compression, and bigger valves, to boot!
Scott
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 5
From: Middleburg Florida
It all depends on what you want out of the engine. The stock configuration is fine for a daily driver, though it won't break any speed records. New heads with bigger runners or vavles won't do you any good without additional mods. Unless your planning on doing those mods now or in the near future, your better off going with the repair of your current heads.
$500 seems high if you're going to pull the heads, and all they're going to do is replace seals. If they're going to rebuild the heads, that's a different story. You could always shop around and see what other shops are getting though.
$500 seems high if you're going to pull the heads, and all they're going to do is replace seals. If they're going to rebuild the heads, that's a different story. You could always shop around and see what other shops are getting though.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 807
Likes: 2
From: VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA
20 bucks for new seals, 30 bucks for a spring compressor and I did mine in about 2 hours. From start to finish and I had never done anything like that before.....shop around. It should only take 2-4 hours for someone to do.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151
Likes: 1
From: Cedar Springs MI
if you have the money I would just go for some vortec heads and new intake since you already have a new carb and dist, and headers. what about exhaust?? true duals??
seems to me you already have enough mods to make new heads with more flow rock.
las t I looked Vortec heads were not much more than 500.00.
seems to me you already have enough mods to make new heads with more flow rock.
las t I looked Vortec heads were not much more than 500.00.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
if you have the money I would just go for some vortec heads and new intake since you already have a new carb and dist, and headers. what about exhaust?? true duals??
seems to me you already have enough mods to make new heads with more flow rock.
las t I looked Vortec heads were not much more than 500.00.
seems to me you already have enough mods to make new heads with more flow rock.
las t I looked Vortec heads were not much more than 500.00.
