If I'm able to find a 454 block I'd like to keep my head from my 396 block. They are the 96.4cc closed chamber heads with 2.19/1.88 valves and a three angle valve job. I spent money on getting them shaved a little to true them up and cleaned and new valves and seals installed so I don't want to waste them.

What are the casting numbers? You might want to have them opened up in the chambers a bit to help with shrouding, but they should be great - decent compression with a flat top, which is what most folks are going to.

One of my heads is listed by Mortec as 65-66 396-427 closed chamber 98cc. The other is the same except its '67. Will these fit on anything else but a Mark IV block?

Sound's like reworked -206's to me??

pdq67

Anybody know?????????

OK, I think Scoggin Dickey sells a kit that is used to put any head on any block. It consists of little copper filler washers that fit in the headgasket water passage holes so the block-head combination won't leak water internally if I remember right.

You might look in their site to see if these kits are still around?

pdq67

Nobody??? I need to find out so I can look for a block.

Like they said above Felpro or some one makes gaskets to fit Mark IV heads on Gen VI blocks. Not sure about gen V.

A friend has a 454 with a small dome .100 and has 10:1 but his may be 100+cc heads. So go for it.

Again, check out the kit I mentioned..

pdq67

The early 65/66 head should be either a 206 or 702 casting - I'm betting 702 since they are more common. Not sure about the '67 head. From what I've read on here either will work with flat tops. As always, ckeck valve/piston clearence to be certain.

I'd be more concerned about the different castings, unless some effort was made to ensure the chamber sizes between the different castings are the same, as well as flow.

Dan

Just stay away from Gen 5 blocks - they have to use either Gen 5 or aftermarket heads. I picked up a Gen 6 for a good deal, got all the roller lifters, etc. in the deal. HTH

Am I wrong in thinking since they are listed as 396-427 they should work for a 454? I was mainly concerned about the cooling flow aspect of the heads to differant blocks. Thanks guys.

Based on my limited knowledge (i.e. repeating what I've heard) I always thought that using closed chamber heads with open chamber pistons (454s are all from the open chamber era) was a no no. Clearance issues. There are a lot of builders on this site that can verify the do's and dont's.

Maybe with flat top pistons it is o.k., plus you'll boost compression. Like I said, the actual builders can speak with authority. That's my free advice, and it's worth every penny.

MyBoTy, did mention about flat top pistons. I found several head casting numbers listed in my Speed Pro catalog that are for 454 blocks and are 96.4cc. 3856206,'70-'73/ 3964280,'70-'72/ 3964290.'70-76. These have to be closed chamber, right?? Just curious, they must be flat top pistons.