Rebuilding Heads for a SBC 350`

[joker51]

Ok I know this is a stupid question and I should be able to find the answer myself, but I can't seem to find it. Maybe its from all the cleaning fumes I have been smelling all day working on the 350.
But how do I tear apart the heads? Are there any sites out there that take you step by step? After finally taking a couple days to look at the 350 since its been torn down last summer, I realized the engine is perfect(for a used motor), the reason it had no compression is the heads need to be rebuilt, the valves are not seating properly, now I just need to find out how to do this.

Thanks

[Don Shillady]

Hi, I have just been through this myself and here is some of what I learned. I tried to research all the places which rebuild short/long blocks with prices with/without shipping etc. and finally found a small shop run by a circle-track racer only six miles from my home and although I wanted a 383 I had financial limitations and ended up with a basic rebuild and a street torque cam only slightly different from stock and rebuilding the heads with a three-angle valve job, Z28 springs and smoothed out exhaust ports. If you have the 882 heads they are the "best of the worst" and I am sorry now that I did not have enough funds to buy Vortec heads initially because I ended up spending slightly more for the milled and "half-ported (exhaust ports only)" 882 heads than I would have for the Vortec heads and now that I have a Performer intake I would have to buy another intake to switch to the Vortec heads. I do not think you can easily take the heads apart in your garage without a spring compresser. You need a device which presses down on the spring enough to remove the split keepers at the top of the valve stem and this is best done in a shop. You should be able to get the heads rebuilt for about $300 or you can buy/trade-in-exchange heads from places like Advanced Auto for about $200, but you will be amazed at how rough the inside of the ports are and the sharp edges of the casting marks. I recommend you find a shop to rebuild the heads or exchange for rebuilt heads since the valve seats are hardened and the days of a driveway rebuild with hand lapping valves has been superceded by exchange programs. If you want H.P. I recommend you take a look at the Vortec heads, in retrospect I should have done that!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

[viking]

Buy ya one of these, I'm sure either Summit or Jegs stocks em

[hambiskit]

Joker51, Good Luck. It sounds like you got plenty of good help here already. You can do this.

[joker51]

Thanks Guys, Streets I didn't get the email. Where did you send it too? timskar@qwest.net joker51@bis.midco.net or skarhotrod@bis.midco.net ? Just wondering, thanks for all the help I think I will have to airbrush your name on the car or something with all the help you have given me, And all the others that have helped with advice and all. Well that will help with the paint color as all the cars gonna be is names LOL

[joker51]

Thanks Streets, I forgot about that one, I always wondered who that email was and why they were sending me stuff, now I guess I know LOL