Hi. This question is for my brother actually. He has a 92 camaro with a 92 350 engine in it. He plans on doing a cam, heads, intake, etc. Just wondering if there will be a problem using the older style heads on an 87 and up motor. I know about the offset intake manifold bolts, but will the heads physically work, or are there any other differences than that? He can pick up a set of aluminum heads for really cheap, but they are only for 86 and under.

 

Those heads will be fine.

 

just curious what fuel system he will be using ?

staying with FI or going to carb ?

either way, intakes are made in stock and also aftermarket form to run either fuel system with either heads

there are factory 87 and 88 carb intakes for the 87-up heads and there are aftermarket intakes to run FI on the 86 older heads

the only difference is the angle of those center bolts of the intakes

good luck

 

The valve cover bolt pattern is also different - '87+ used centerbolt valve covers (4 across the middle of the 'covers) and pre-86 used the perimeter bolt pattern (4 on the outter flange of the cover - 2 top, 2 bottom).

If you are going away from centerbolt valve covers thats not a problem, perimiter bolt covers are everywhere and they are dirt cheap. If you are going TO centerbolt though, sometimes they can cause interference problems with some aftermarket roller rocker sets, like the Comp Pro Magnums. They sometimes interfere with the 'supports' inside the valve covers on the centerbolt heads.

Thats not an issue with the pre-86 style though, so I don't think that affects you.

 

ok was wondering about the same thing. i have a set of 84 416casting heads from the original 305 in my TA and an Edelbrok performer intake. so according to you guys i can just swap them right on to my new 87 motor(sill a carbed 305)?i wasnt sure if there would be a problem or not because when i went to just swap the intake i relized the angle of the center bolts were diffrent, but hey if it will work then i guess i can bolt those on instead of selling them. sorry about the thread hijack