Replacing Cylinder Heads
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
No, you do not, just unbolt and set aside the accessories. Now, this will be a great time to replace your timing chain and timing gears. But you will have to drop the pan.
Whose heads are those? What you have to understand is that the Chinese can and do cast pretty good heads, however, the valve train is often very suspect. The .525 max lift kind of verifies this. Can you get those heads bare? What intake & carb are you going to use?
Whose heads are those? What you have to understand is that the Chinese can and do cast pretty good heads, however, the valve train is often very suspect. The .525 max lift kind of verifies this. Can you get those heads bare? What intake & carb are you going to use?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,246
Likes: 7,837
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Absolutely no issues putting heads on a C3 with engine in place.
Why those heads?
Make certain you measure up pushrod length.
Guide plates?
Who makes these?
Who's valves? Springs? Retainers?
200cc intake runners? What are you building?
Why those heads?
Make certain you measure up pushrod length.
Guide plates?
Who makes these?
Who's valves? Springs? Retainers?
200cc intake runners? What are you building?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
I don't know where you got that idea VetteGuy but its a pretty easy straight forward project.
And putting the front end up on ramps will save your back.
If you do go this route from cast iron to aluminum heads, you will need specialized additional parts.
ARP Head Bolt kit.
Head gasket compatible for mating aluminum to iron.
Pushrod length checker.
Longer pushrods compatible with guide plates.
Usually longer reach sparkplugs.
And putting the front end up on ramps will save your back.
If you do go this route from cast iron to aluminum heads, you will need specialized additional parts.
ARP Head Bolt kit.
Head gasket compatible for mating aluminum to iron.
Pushrod length checker.
Longer pushrods compatible with guide plates.
Usually longer reach sparkplugs.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,246
Likes: 7,837
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Well, totally different spark plugs. Most factory iron heads use a tapper seat plug. While aluminium heads usually use a gasketed type plug. And yes, reach will vary.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,246
Likes: 7,837
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Just had a look at your profile. Looks like you already have a replacement engine. Much better than stock.
Why on earth would you want to replace the heads on a already good engine?
Especially with these heads?
Color me confused.
Why on earth would you want to replace the heads on a already good engine?
Especially with these heads?
Color me confused.
