JerseyMark

iTrader: (2)

Hey everyone,
I have a chance to pick up a set of heads pretty cheap. They are Chevy heads with a 333882 Casting #. I searched the net and came up with this info...

Casting #333882
Engine Sizes 350-400
Years 74-80
Combustion Chamber Size 76cc
Ports Size 160/60cc
Valve Size 1.94/1.5


I know the intake valve has been punched out to 2.02


My goal for this build-up is to get about 350-375hp. Since I am getting them cheap, I dont mind taking them to a machine shop and having them do some performance work to them. Are these heads a good choice for me?

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

Never owned a set, but I've heard they're lousy. I think it's the same heads they put on 400 sbc's stock.

Prone to cracking, thin cast, low compression smoggers. I don't think they'd be my first choice at all. JMO

JerseyMark

iTrader: (2)

I did a search...(Probably should have done that first) And a found multiple posts that aggree with you. I guess I should pass on them.

I was really hoping they were good... .I was getting them for $50!

likeenz24

iTrader: (2)

I have always heard that they are decent for what they are....I would say that with 2.02 valve that they would make 350-375 hp with no problem......I had a set on a 355cid for the same reason...I got the cheap and I was on a budget....The car was a 73z28 and it would out run 5.0 mustangs then.....It was just a flat top piston 350 with a .480 lift hydralic cam.....You could always run them for now and save up for a good set of heads....

my3rdgen

Don't waist any money on them unless for the $50.00 they are ready to run.

If I had taken the money I spent on mine and bought a new set of Vortecs, I'd still have almost $200.00 left in my pocket, and the Vortecs are a lot better head than the 882s.

likeenz24

iTrader: (2)

I totally agree...Vortecs are really good inexpensive head...Just
didnt have them back in the day when I used the 882 castings...lol

my3rdgen

Yea, I was a blunt scull, I didn't know any better! lol!!

Wish I had read up on them before I dumped $750.00 into the darn things. Now I am stuck with them.

JerseyMark

iTrader: (2)

Alright... Lets say I skip the 882's

I can get a brand new assembled set of vortecs from GMpartsdirect for about $250. How are they? Much better? What kind of work can I do to them to make them flow better? Do they come with good valves/springs? Or should I replace with better stuff?

my3rdgen

They are good for .475 max lift as purchaced.

They are $259.00 each fully assembled.

If I had a daily driven 400, I myself would run them as-is right out of the box (you will need a Vortec style intake) with an L98 Roller cam or an LT1 Roller cam as long as the lift is under .475 (I think it is on the LT1 but can't remember for sure, it most definitly is on the L98).

It would be a torque monster with the L98 cam, maybe up near 400flbs and 300hp with headers and a nice dual plane intake.

AlkyIROC

I was never a fan of 882 castings. If the exhaust crossover for the intake only goes to one exhaust port instead of both center ports then it's the best of the worst castings. If the exhaust crossover goes to both center ports then the head is probably cracked since the casting is so thin between the 2 ports.

If I was after a junkyard factory casting to use, I'd look for a 997 or 993 casting. Same 76cc smog head casting but they're a much heavier casting and the chance of having any cracks is slim.

Air_Adam

If you are going junkyard hunting, look for 416 or 601 heads. They came on early '80s 305s. In stock form, they are MUCH better heads than 882 heads. The valves are smaller (1.84/1.5) but thats not hard to change. They flow much better than 882s and are a heavier casting as well. They also have 58cc chambers, which means that even with dished pistons in a 350, you can get 9.5:1 CR pretty easily. Flat tops in a 305 will also give around 9.5:1.

And plus... they are "just 305 heads" so they will cost next to nothing.

JerseyMark

iTrader: (2)

I am going to carlise this weekend & I will probably come home with a set of heads. I think I am going to try to get a set of vortecs. From doing searching, i found that there are two different casting #'s on vortecs. Which casting # is better. Other than casting #'s, what else should I look for?

Thanks,
Mark B

JerseyMark

iTrader: (2)

Nevermind... I found this article which answered my question. Anything else I should know before searching for a set?


Vortec Article

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

I just bought my set of Vortecs a month ago brand new. The 2 casting number are 906 and 062. You want the 062 casting. The 906 used a specially hardened exhaust seat that restricts flow in the low to mid range. Both casting numbers have the same part number. If you order them brand new trough like summit which I did, you will get the 062 casting.

Out of the box these heads rock! Keep in mind you have to use self-aligning rockers. There is some mild porting that I did on mine to remove some casting marks in the exhaust ports. Also there is a lip in the intake and exhaust bowls that you can smooth out as well. I have an article on porting these heads that I can scan and send to you if you'd like.

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

Oh also I forgot. If you look at a lot of articles there is tons of confusion on the max lift. Some say .420", .470" and so on. The paper work that came with mine and the specs according to gmgoodwrench.com say .480" max lift.

JerseyMark

iTrader: (2)

Definitly send me that article!

OK, now lets say I am aiming for 400hp. Would a cam with a lift of under .480 be able to get me into that range? In the article I posted above, they explain how you can modify the spring seats to get a bigger lift cam into it. Should I make that modification, or just use them out of the box with some mild porting?

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

I would say that you could leave the valves alone and still make that kind of horse power. Choose a good cam and other components like the roller chain, rockers, etc is going to free up friction. The article I have outlines a deeper port job that what I did. Brand new out of the box I didn't want to mess up the valve seats. Especially since they come with the coveted 3 angle valve job. If you were to hogg them like in the article you would yield even more gains than me. Something to consider if you snag a used set.

Also the bolt pattern for the intake is different. Edelbrock makes several different ones that fit. As for the article I will get that to you tomorrow. I'm going to bring to work and scan it into a .pdf for you. I also have some pics of my job I'll post up.

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

I'have e-mailed the article to you. If anyone else is interested in it let me know.

RB83L69

Everybody has already seen the article. Few people however have seen the retraction of that statement that they published a month or 2 later.

It would be helpful to go look that up before spreading around the thing about the alleged difference in the 2 castings.

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

I did a lot of research on the vortec heads before I bought them. The consesis was all the same. Avoid th 906 casting. Everywhere I read. Something changed with the casting for them to change the cast #and keep the same part #. I had also read somewhere that there is a cast lip that is larger in the 906 compared to the 062. It of course could be ported out.

As far as the retraction statement, I'd like to know where you saw that at. I researched for a couple of months and never came across that. The article on porting was done on a set of 062's. I also have a friend who has been running the 906 casting for a few years and he made the comment to me about the 062 having the 3 angle valve job already done. I don't know for sure because I don't know if he bought them new or used. He did pay to have the 3 angle job done. Funny thing too though, the local gm dealer part guy (who is very competent) didn't know the difference either. Both casting # just come up with the same part #

Bottom line; If you buy them new you get the 062 casting.

SLEEPER 86

i believe the article was in chevy high performance or phr,but i clearly remember the retraction stating that one head was as good as the other.and the appology.i believe it was in the editors column.i will find a link to it
Eric

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

I don't doubt that they retracted their statement. However they changed the casting number therefore something changed. Here is a pic of the 906 casting. Notice the large lip created by the header bolt hole.

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

Now here is a pic of the 062 casting from Summit. Notice the difference in the exhuast port. There is no lip! Where that metal is is where some air can flow. So I still say that the 062 casting will flow better.

kdrolt

It's hard to tell from the pix you posted, but it appears that the lateral lip you refer to on the used 906 head pix is a result carbon deposits from the (L31) exhaust manifold (or gasket) having a slightly larger opening at the lip you mentioned than the actual size of the exhaust port on the head itself. If the lip were real, from reinforcing the casting near the bolt hole, then it would appear that the bolt-to-bolt width on any exh port would be different on the 906 head as compared to the 062 head.

IOW you are trying to show, by pix comparison, that the 062 vs 906 head differences have to do with the exhaust output port. IIRC the difference in the 062 vs 906 head was supposed to be in the exh valve seat -- and that the 906 had a deep-n-thick more restrictive valve seat than the 062 heads.

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

I see what you are saying. Here is another pic of a cleaned up 906. I am still interested in seeing the retraction article about the different valve seats. Like I've said, why would the change the cast if they didn't change the head?

By the way, I don't follow IOW and IIRC?

kdrolt

I doubt they changed the initial casting except for the casting number. Remember that the casting is raw from the foundry; after any head is cast, then removed from the mold, and then cooled, it gets machined for threads, flats, and valve seats ... among others. At that point, the mfg could machine the valve seat differently for the two different casting numbers depending on the intended thermal stress on the exhaust and need, if any, for upper rpm power. I'm not saying that it was done that way because I haven't seen both heads for myself.

IOW = in other words
IIRC = if I remember correctly

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

Right! The original cast may not have changed but something did for them to change the number. You probably are correct that it is in the machining process. That bring us back to the difference in the valves seats, which I originally posted.



So the question still remains. What is the difference. Everywhere I have read has mentioned the valve seats. More research hasn't yeilded any new info to believe otherwise. Now, if you buy them new you get the 062 casting. The only way to get a 906 is from the boneyard or a refurb. With the cost of machining after you pay for your cores you would end up spending more the $530 to get brand new 062's on your doorstep.