350 heads...help!

So i recently bought my car and found out that instead of a blown head gasket, it had a cracked head. The machine shop told me my heads were fine, we pulled it off after it was still running like shit...yadda yadda, had a crack in the number five combustion chamber.

I recently ordered new heads for it. Remanufactured cast iron 64 cc 350 heads. 2.02/1.60 manley swirl polished valves, 3 angle valve job, new seats, wall guides, seals, retainers, springs...everything that could be done to the heads..was.

So they come in yesterday and im looking at them, they're really nice and i look up the casting number.

It tells me that the heads were cast on May 22 1985 and they were cast for 1980-1985 305's and had a 58cc combustion chamber with 1.84/1.5 valves.

I don't know whether to be disappointed or not. The 58cc will help with better compression but 305 heads don't flow like 350 heads.

I want some suggestions as to whether i should send these heads back and ask for the 64cc 2.02/1.60 350 heads i was expecting or keep the 58cc 2.02/1.60 305 heads they sent.

Here is a little background info on the engine theyre going on...

1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham

1973 4 bolt main 350sbc
350 turbo trans
crane energizer cam. 480 lift
edelbrock air gap intake manifold
edelbrock 650 carburetor
harland sharp 1.6 roller rockers
2800 stall converter
dynomax ceramacoat headers
accel distributor, rotor, cap, wires, plugs, coil
...thats just some of it to give you an idea. so please give me any suggestions at all. Thanks in advance!

first off, I realy dont think you can get 2.02s in the 305 heads. secondly. sure the 305 heads have the 58cc chambers to up the compression...but they dont flow...send em back. John

On another thread there is a set of Corvette heads for sale "ready-to-go", but expensive and I offered a bare set of 461 heads for $200 +shipping. Then Streets said he has a set of 462s and even a set of 461X heads (the ultimate early heads?) "gathering dust", so such heads are available as well as Dart or Vortec heads. Since you looked up the casting numbers you may have more information than I do since I rely on:

http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/randysr...Headguide.html

Maybe the manufacturer of your heads has updated/ported 305 heads so as to provide accessory bolt holes on the ends and/or because 461/461X/462 heads are becoming hard to find. It sounds as if you paid a lot for the heads, so realistically it would seem that you could buy Vortec or Dart heads ready to go with all the features you want. They tell me my 461 heads were speced at 62 cc originally and they have been cut for 2.02 intake valves so they were originally 1.94" intakes I suppose. I guess if I were in your place I would first call the source of your heads and ask for an explanation, but if the heads are unported 305s I would seek a money-back rebate and look for other heads.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

I paid $400.00 for these heads plus shipping which was $55.00, i also had to wait 3 weeks for this place to ship them. I'm very very disappointed. Anyone know where i can get a good new set of heads that can handle a .512 lift for about as much as i paid for these, let me know.

From one Oldsmobile Owner to the next, you got screwed my friend. Take them back, tell them their the wrong head and demand your money back. Then pick up almost ANY swap sheet, go to a trading forum/swap meet/flea market and look around. The best thing about swap meets/flea markets is you can haggle. Hallging is Fun! :)