I am planning to rebuild a 454 and just found some 049 heads. I cannot spend a bunch of money but want to do this right. I am trying to get good performance, not race and will probably go .030 over. The local machine shop suggests I stay stock with the heads. Any suggestions for me here would be greatly appreciated. Should I buy new valves, springs, bigger rods, etc... or can I stay with original parts and get away with it?

Mr. Bill,

You just about have to go with insert hardened exhaust valve seats and matching valves. Make sure the shop doesn't use the el cheapo valves that don't have hard-chromed stems. For a stock-type engine I wouldn't worry about bigger valves, just try to get somebody who knows what they're doing to clean up the ports behind the valve seats. Make sure they set up your valve springs at the correct height/pressure. You can't run the exhaust valve rotators if they wreck the installed height.

Don't deal with any shop that wants to press out the original thick-wall iron valve guides and replace them. Plan here is to install thin-wall (.500" OD) guides. Much less trouble.

Tom

[This message has been edited by tommob (edited 01-07-99).]