Looking for 1 289 HP head for use on July 1965 engine, can be bare but must be useable, I don't have mine in front of me to check the numbers with. Thanks!
LATE '65 Head Needed
-
-
The reason I THINK I need a replacement head is that the machine shop that is doing my heads is saying that due to rust accumulation on the area where the intake sits on one of them it would most likely need to be machined (cut) around .030 to get rid of the rust--I had removed the intake and the engine sat unprotected in my garage for 25 years-he feels this is too much of a mill, I wonder if we do that why we couldn't do the other head the same ammount and then the intake the same so it would all match?? I am NO MACHINEIST so I really don't know if this is a do able process or not, I'd really like to save my ultra important and valuable heads.
-
OK, I just got back from the machine shop and did confirm the rust problem on my head.
Again the guy says it is a bad idea to try & cut the head in that area up to .030 to get rid of it, he said the only hope was to do it & have me double up the intake gasket to compensate and I think that is asking for trouble.
So, I need one C50E head with a date code near 5D28.
The other thing I was thinking about is getting a standard 289 head with the proper date code and having it "converted" to HIPO specs...I've seen these type of heads advertised but have never compared the 2.
I am also considering using the '69-'70 351W heads, I can get a set at a very reasonable price and I had done this swap before and think using these would yeild more horse power that the original 289HP heads, any opinions or a good C50E head with a date code near 5D28 would be much appreciated.
-
The doubling up of the intake gasket doesn't make sense. If it is just a few small pock marks then that should not cause a sealing problem. Often, an old iron head that has been sitting a long time will have badly rusted seats that will not cleanup and will need inserts. Have the heads been machined in the past? It is possible there is just not enough material left.
-
I don't think the heads have been milled/cut before, but I have no real way of knowing.
The area where the rust pitting is along where the intake manifold would sit, and again my machine shop guy says that it will need to be milled/cut at least .030 or more to get rid of this rust therefore that is why he said really the only way to TRY & correct this is to double up on the intake gasket to compensate for the material that was removed.
Again, I am no expert in this, I just know I would either like to somehow save MY head or find anouther with a proper date code to replace it.
-
The intake side of things should be under very little pressure, only vacuum, so could you clean it[ tank it ], and then put some kind of super sealant that would bind to the gasket? don't throw away any hipo head!!<img src=images/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
-
Couldn't the rust holes be filled in with high temp epoxy - then filed flat. I guess it depends upon where the rust holes are.
Or for that matter - check with a really good welder - I'd bet you can build up the holes above the surface with a TIG - then lightly surface it to bring it back true.
-
Guys, Hey, Thanks for the replies and suggestions!
I think I'm going to go and get my heads from this guy as he is kind of small town type shop and although I have "known" him for almost 30 years, and he comes highly recomended I'm not completely sure he is the one that I want to do my heads, Block, and crank now.
I called CYLINDER HEAD EXCHANGE in CALIFORNIA yesterday and spoke to a gentleman who seemed to be interested in looking for/finding me a replacement head from his inventory and then he said bring it/them down and let me take a look, and when I told him I was in Florida, he basicly blew up on me and said FORGET IT!!! I guess my money is no good at his business!
-
- Official Post
In defense of Cylinder Head Exchange, they are really good people to deal with normally as I go there quite often. However if they had any Hipo heads, I would alredy have gotten them as they call me whenever anything shows up. Between Cylinder Head Exchange and Valley Head Service, most heads can be salvagable. If you want to send me your head, I can run it around for you as they are both in my area and I did run the Valley Head Service shop at one time. Larry Ofria (Valley Head Service owner) and I go back embarrassingly far in time to around 1966. He was working out of a chicken coop at the time doing heads under contract for a chicken farmer from Texas. I am trying to remember the name of the chicken farmer. I remember now! It was someone named Carroll Shelby. Maybe you have heard of him?
-Fred-
-
Are you still looking? Would an early June 65 date work for you?
LMK,
Hank
Participate now!
Don’t have an account yet? Register yourself now and be a part of our community!