Sorry for the multiple posts, but I'm desperate - I need help locating a single cylinder head for my son's project truck. We finished the build of his 383 engine last week and hauled it to the muffler shop yesterday morning for pipes. I picked it up and drove it about 2 blocks before it clattered badly and died. When I loaded it on the trailer, I noticed antifreeze dripping from the driver's header collector. This can't be good! When I pulled the plug on #7, out came a boatload of water/antifreeze mix plus one beat up plug. Once the head was removed, we found a single 3/8" bolt with a washer on it, stuck under the intake valve. We can't figure out where it came from, all the bolts we used on accessories, etc. were new and heads had been painted and this one was old. At any rate, it took out one piston plus beat hell out of the head. It might be weldable but I'd rather see if I can locate a replacement first. We used Pro Topline 906 Vortec replacement heads on this project because they have much thicker decks and are supposed to flow better than GM's 906 and 062 castings.
That said, if anyone knows of any dealers that had carried these heads in the past and might have a single on hand, please post it here or email it to me at 81vette4speed@cox.net. I have a set of Vortecs that will need to be machined for higher lift cam and screw-in studs, but those are committed to another project. I'm not looking for a free cylinder head, just the names of past dealers of the Pro Topline heads where I might be able to locate one. This truck has to be running again in 3 weeks for a grade on my son's senior project, so time is short.
Thanks in advance for all your help!