Need some help, Deal or not? I have a chance to buy some Big Block heads for my 396 and wondering if these were worth the $600 this guy wants for them and if it would improve my performance much. :confused: I have cut and pasted the info he has on them, Here it is:
THESE HEADS ARE PERFECT, WITHOUT ANY FLAWS. THEY ARE COMPLETELY REBUILT. THEY HAVE BEEN CLEANED AND MAGNAFLUXED TWICE TO ENSURE NO CRACKS. THEY ARE PASSENGER CAR HEADS MAYBE CHEVELLE OR IMPALA, I HAVE SEEN SOME ADS FOR THESE HEADS AS BEING CORVETTE HEADS BUT THAT INFORMATION IS NOT CONFIRMED. THE MOST INFORMATION I HAVE FOUND IS THAT THEY ARE FOR A PASSENGER CAR HEADS AND THEY ARE 97CC COMBUSTION CHAMBERS BUT THE VALVES ARE BIG VALVES. 2.19 INTAKE AND 1.88 EXHAUST. IT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A 325 HORSE ENGINE WHEN THESE HEADS WERE INSTALLED. THE ONLY PORTING DONE IS AT THE VALVE TO INTAKE TRANSITION AREA BELOW THE VALVE SEAT. THESE HEADS ARE NOT WARPED AND HAVE BEEN CHECKED FOR STRAIGHTNESS. ALL OF THE NUMBERS ARE AS FOLLOWS; THE HEAD CASTING NUMBERS ARE BOTH THE SAME #'S 3856206 AND THE DATE CODES ARE C205 AND C305. THE SPRINGS ARE GOOD UP TO .550 LIFT. THE VALVE SEALS ARE VHT'S. AND THE PAINT IS PERFECT ON BOTH CASTINGS.

If they come with one piece stainless valves it would be an ok deal.

I have a lot more in mine that are the same head. You will put that into them buying valves and having the heads cut to accomodate them. Doesn't sound like a bad deal to me.

Matt

Pete, the 206 heads were found on the 396/325 engines in '65. From what I've read they are not a bad head and, if you need the small chambers, should work fine. So you know though, they came stock with small valves so someone installed the big valves (the ad kind of makes it sound like he's suggesting they originally came with the large valves). The problem here is that installing large valves in an early head is a bit risky - easy to cut into a water passage. Additionally, I believe the general consensus here is that big valves in a small bore won't necessarily equal better flow. Finally, if you go with these, you should probably check that the tops of the bores are cut to ensure the big valves clear - might turn out to be a mood hassle otherwise.

Dan

Stopped by the local machine shop today to ask about these heads. They said they would work nice and that I wouldn't have any problems with clearances. They also told me that these heads were a great deal considering the work that has already been done to them. Anyone else's opinion?