CHEVY Old Heads! Yeah, I'm talking to you...

Which of these old SBC heads best suit this 305?

  • 041

    Votes: 1 33.3%
  • 434

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 896/520

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 416

    Votes: 2 66.7%

  • Total voters
    3
  • Poll closed .
The 041 were very late 60s, early 70s truck and large car 350 CID. Essentially were double humps internally, but with bigger 68 - 72 CC chamber. I'm not aware any came with 1.94 or bigger. These were basically double humps, but with low compression chamber and small valves. The good is they were pre EGR, production ended 1973 IIRC. Fairly stout, and fairly standard on Chevy/GMC 350 4 bolt main 4x4 pickup.

1973 and after was the 462624 was the 1973 large 76 CC replacement for 1973, but have been told some were in 1972 and some on Nova with the 307. Light casting, very crack prone, always 1.5 exhaust, but intakes could be 1.72, 1.84, 1.94. Intake runner 161 CC and exhaust 62 CC. They will accept 2.02 - 2.05 & 1.6, and history is can be ported for good flow. I had a set 1.94/1.5 gave to guy building older Chevy truck, just wanted noise and smoke for car shows, no intent to race.

The 3884520 power pack had two types from factory. One was 1.84/1.5 64 CC from the 250HP 327, which is the one I have, ...I think 1967 variety. Might give to corvette museum. The other is 3884520 (same number), but the 283 220HP variety, 60 CC, 1.72/1.50. IIRC these were the ones that David Vizard talks about, 1.94 Intake, 1.60 exhaust. These heads have short runner high velocity, excellent for small cube SBC.

The 520s you have, I'll send some cash, the 327 is naked and I have been looking for a set of 520s. I have the October 1954 cast date all original 265 V8 Corvette, that some time near future will go to Corvette Museum, the 327 can go as well, just couldn't find heads for it.

So any way, the 520 on a 305 would be ok but better with 1.94/1.60 valves and smaller chamber. Small runner high velocity should make it spunky to maybe 3500, after that it will start running out of juice.

The 416/601 variety 305 HO heads do good on street so long as no plan to run hard and long at high RPM. Although they were used for racing, Enduro, outlaw and sprint. I've used several times for 350 high compression mainly show truck & car. It allows much more duration on the 350, bleeds off some excess compression that reduces detonation. Keeps the Dynamic around 7.6. gives good aggressive sound on street and show.

Corrections to the HO head is 1.94/1.60 and slight porting and matching.

The best overall Factory Produced 305 head is the 305 Vortec, after that you need to look at after market.

Here recently I started up conversation with aftermarket for an as-cast 305, straight or angled, small CC 58 - 64, 185 - 195 runner, 1.94 & 1.6 or 1.65 exhaust. The issue with Small Block Chevy is scavenging. But 2.02 and 2.05 intakes seem to sell better than reality.
 
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Some quick answers....

Most of the HO heads I have are 58 CC, at least that's what was specified from factory. I haven't test all. I have heard of 54 CC and even 52 CC, don't think ever seen some.

Yes the best factory supplied is the 305 Vortec, even though don't have heart shaped chamber.

One of the worst is the TBI "Swirl Port". Even though Power Nation got some good numbers with them prior to tossing them out and going aftermarket aluminum.

Valve size... On the 305..., 1.94 is biggest you want to go. Every one seems to want 2.02 and larger, yet more bang for the buck if you stay with 1.84 or 1.94 and install 1.60 exhaust.

On a street car the cost benefit starts radically going the wrong direction after .5 lift. This is why .488 lift and 230 duration is a better choice for street, daily driver or weekend cruiser. The cost of going from .466 to .623 starts becoming astronomical for the realized gains.
 
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The 520s you have, I'll send some cash, the 327 is naked and I have been looking for a set of 520s
They're yours, dude. You've given me and others so much you deserve 'em. Free of charge. Besides, I'm not getting any use out of them & probably never will, and would prefer to not lug them to another "home". Don't forget that one is an 896, but more importantly I know nothing about their condition.

If you want to make a road trip I'll throw in the th200 core, some '88-'98 stuff, Gina's old seats, other heads/ parts, and basically anything you can carry.
 
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The 041 were very late 60s, early 70s truck and large car 350 CID. Essentially were double humps internally, but with bigger 68 - 72 CC chamber. I'm not aware any came with 1.94 or bigger.
I have '69 date coded 041's on my L48 350 & have 1.94 intake valves. They came only with either 1.94 or 2.02 from everything I came across on my rebuild.
 
That's good to know. I heard of 2.02 in some, never came across any. There is some odd ball stuff came from Canada, including the Chevy Van 4 Bolt main 305.

Also thinking this morning, might be incorrect... 041 was 76 CC on some? Don't have one here to check. I might be thinking 624s most of those were 76 low compression 350 CID.
 
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That's good to know. I heard of 2.02 in some, never came across any. There is some odd ball stuff came from Canada, including the Chevy Van 4 Bolt main 305.

Also thinking this morning, might be incorrect... 041 was 76 CC on some? Don't have one here to check. I might be thinking 624s most of those were 76 low compression 350 CID.
Here's some numbers on the 041 (right angle triangle cast mark). From my '70-'75 Chevrolet By The Numbers book, the L48 application is 1.94/1.50 valves & 63.305 CC for A, B, F, X. The Corvette (270) & Z28 (360) LT1 were 2.02/1.60 & 63.305 CC. Corvette 350/350 was 2.02/1.60 & 63.995. The 3927186 head (has a double hump cast mark) has the same application specs will all except the Corvette 350/350 wich is the same as the 3927187 head (also double hump cast mark). Then there's the 3973414 (another double hump) which is the same as the LT1 applications
 
I wouldn't use any pre 1975 heads unless you have hardened valve seats installed. The 041s are probably the best head you have listed there but they don't have hardened. I learned this the hard way 30 years ago using 041s. I thought the rockers were loosening up. It was actually the valves receding into the heads.
 
I wouldn't use any pre 1975 heads unless you have hardened valve seats installed. The 041s are probably the best head you have listed there but they don't have hardened. I learned this the hard way 30 years ago using 041s. I thought the rockers were loosening up. It was actually the valves receding into the heads.
I was concerned with that originally but kept reading it was fine unless tuned lean, and there's always additives like "Instead O' Lead". But... I paid through the nose to have seats installed in some heads once and don't want to do it again or ruin anything, so I believe I'll be using the 416s when I get the chance.

Thank you all for the valuable information and opinions.
 
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