Sorry if this was already answeared before but I am in a time crunch and I did not find anything that helped with the search link. I have to get some heads that will work for my 89 350 TBI engine. Me and my brother did an engine swap about 3 years ago and took out the stock 305 and replaced it with a 350. However, we left on the stock heads....they are now shot. I am about to deploy to Iraq and I want the oil burning monster to be G2G before I leave. With a quickness I need some help with some cheap head ideas. Found a couple on ebay but I talked to the people and they dont know if the 64cc 350 heads would work! How do you NOT know if you are selling them? I am looking to spend about $500 or less. I looked into getting the 305 heads rebuilt, ported and polished but the people around here said it would be a waste of time. So PLEASE hurry and shoot me some ideas FAST! Thanks a BILLION!

 

How bad is it burning oil? Does it just do it on startup or all the time. Belching clouds at startup is nothing to worry about as bad valveguide seals are a common problem. Continuous oil consumption (blue smoke all the time) is a possible sign of worn/damaged oil control rings or damaged cylinder walls.

 

1-2 quarts a week and the engine barly has any milage on it. I dont drive this much at all...maybe 140 miles a week. Its a little blue on start up but thats really about it. Near me and my brother and my freinds can think is its the heads...only thing that makes sence since they are VERY, VERY, VERY old.

 

See if you can get a set of used L98 heads. Theyre ok heads and they can be found for not too much money. Theyll probably need a little work but theyre much better then the stock tbi heads. Those are as bad as it gets.

1-2 quarts a week is quite a bit of oil. Maybe if the motor was still new but by now it should have ceased consuming oil. Its possible for it to be the heads, but if that doesnt cure it Id look everything over to see where the oil is really going.

 

Thats what I figured too. Hopefully this will solve the problem because that synthetic is exspensive! What are L98 heads also know as? What do you think about ebay heads and which heads from their should I get? I am looking to get already done heads that need NO work and are ready for install. Like I said, I dont have time to dick around with fixing this or tinkering with that. Just need a straight up solution FAST. Thanks!

 

The casting number youd want would be 083. If you dont want to f-around I think some salvage yards and the like had rebuilt cylinder heads. Little more expensive the junkyard cores but in theory they would be ready to go. Dont have any names to recommend but an internet search should bring something up.

 

I'm not to sure how much work you'd need to do if any t othese heads but I can't belive how cheap they are. To port polish an rebuild a set would cost nearly as much as these new ones. just my 2c
good luck with your trip as well.:hail:

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...41&prmenbr=361

 

I looked but again I dont know which I need! I need to know what exactly I need to bolt right up and go. Again its a 350 TBI so I need the cc size that I would need and everything. Thanks for your help! I am on leave now but I would like to buy a set soon. I am up in PA and I come back to NC in about a week. Hopefully I will have a good answear by then.

 

You are going to want to get a set of heads that have 58 to 64cc chambers size and for post 87 year engines. You can use earlier heads but the 87 and laters will be a true bolt on for your motor. Any of the TPI heads from 78 thru 92 will be fine. The 305 and 350 TPI heads are basically the same but the 305 heads have a smaller chamber (58cc to 64cc). So , either of those heads would suffice and bolt right up. The 305 heads would jump your compression ratio too high and therefore I would suggest the 350 TPI heads (These are the L98 heads or the 083's as decsribed above).

 

Ok. Good I will look those up and see what I can find. I should not have to mess with my cam right? That is going too deep and I dont want to go that deep. Thanks!

 

How about some of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=50442

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33617

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33617

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33617

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33617

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MakeTrack=true


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33617

If you find some that would work for me let me know. Also let me know if any of the above will not work for me. You all have been great working with me on this and I greatly appriciate the help.

 

You will not have to mess with your cam. Let me check out those links and get back with you. I would try to find some heads around the area in which you live. Buying heads on ebay and such will cause you to pay huge shipping fees because of the wieght. I know you can get TPI heads for around 100 to 150 bucks locally. You can pay up to 50 bucks just for shipping on heads.

 

Thats great if you could do that! As far as the ebay thing, I just would like to get a set of heads that are "like new" if not new. I am prepared to spend $500 to get them and I know that shipping would cost around 50 or so. I just want to see a gain in HP when I do the swap. Thanks for all your help.

 

Upon quick inspection, all of those heads except the alum. ones and the later model double hump heads pictured with the accesory bolt holes are garbage smog stuff thats been rebuilt.

Go to a yard or call around and see what you can find. Make sure your getting the right head. Ask for casting #s. You can verify the head at www.mortec.com They have lots of casting # listings.

 

How many miles are on your engine and how long have you been using synthetic oil in it?

Steve

 

Been using syn. since I turned the key on this engine and it has about 6-7,000 MAX on the engine. The heads have either 78,000 or 178,000 miles on them.

 

As for compression, if you have the dished pistons that most engines came with then you'll have in the ball park of 9.5-1 witht he 58cc 305 heads. If you have flat tops then you'll have 9.5-1 with the 64cc heads. If you can some how sell a liver or your girl friend, I would get a set of pro topline iron lighning heads, they come in whatever size combustion chamber you want and flow in the neighborhood of afr 180's (within 10 cfm) for only 850 out of summit, or even cheaper on ebay. Bolt on 50-100 hp, seriously.

 

How much do they go for on ebay and are they a direct bolt on? What are the name that I can find it?

 

They are pro-topline iron lightning heads. I've seen them for buy it now at 800$ Theydon't thave the angled center bolt holes but your intake can easily be modified to fit. I will warn you that these heads flow much better than stock, so you will probably have to retune to gain your full power potential or maybe even to get it run correctly. So for a quick no hassle bolt on these probably won't be your best bet, they just make too much power. Man never though I would say that

 

Yeah, plus out of my range too. I am more than likely looking to get one of the others that I posted, maybe the aluminum.

 

Synthetic can interfier with the break-in process since it lubricates much better then standard mineral oils. That may be why it uses oil.

 

Dimented that is exactlly what I was going to refurr to. Is it too late to do anything other than tear the engine down and rehone and rering it?

Steve

 

Syn. really does interfere with break-in? I would not think that it would. Anyway even if that maybe the problem I would still like to try the cheapest first which would be the heads.

 

Dont think the synthetic would ruin anything, just make breakin take forever. Although if that is the case 7k is a really long time for breakin. Either that or some synthetics are just that good. If it still uses oil after the head swap throw some dyno juice in there and give it a couple of WOT blasts to help seat the rings.

 

Ok. I will try that. Anyone take a look at those ebay links? Which heads would be best for me? Thanks!

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33617

This place is in my backyard!!!!! I have heard of these guys, and haven't heard anything bad about them. Those heads seem like they were built right and for 250 that aint' bad.

 

Yeah, I was thinking about getting those but I did not know what cc size they were and I was not sure if 86 and earlier would work with my 89.

 

second link from the bottom has what appears to be some good remanufactured '186 double hump heads that would work. If I had the money I might bid on them. Not as good flowing as vortecs but theyre a decent casting non the less. If you just want to get it on the road then the truck heads would work, but have little value if your interested in performance down the road.

 

Well just about missed that one. If I were going to go with the vortec heads which ones would I want to get that would work?

 

Youd have to use a vortec specific manifold and there arnt any provisions for egr. Youd have to plum a line off of the exaust for egr or tune the egr out. Also, theyre also like any other stock head in that theyd need some work to accept a high lift cam. If you plan on keeping a mild cam theyre a good flowing set of heads.

For what youd want, though, Id go with a set of L98 heads. Theyre a direct bolt on and if you want more performance down the road you can clean up the runners a little and do some work to make them accept a higher lift cam.

 

Ok. So if I wanted some good L98 heads where might I find some? Would ebay sell them? I am looking to buy near the end of the week. I was also thinking that if I can find some heads for around $300 I could pick up a new intake too. I looked at a few on ebay found some nice ones.

 

Check ebay along with the classifieds sections on all the camaro boards.

www.ls1tech.com
www.ls1.com
www.thirdgen.org
www.camaroz28.com

key words to search for

350 TPI
TPI
TPI heads
083 heads
350 TPI heads
etc etc
Tune Port Heads
etc etc

 

So what you are saying is that the TPI and TBI are the same heads? If so that should make things easier.

 

No, definitely not. TPI and TBI heads are different. TBI heads suck because most are swirl port heads built for low torque. Get the TPI heads, that's what he was saying.

 

Ok. So TBI heads suck and TPI are better and they both work on this application. Thats very good info that I needed to know. These heads should be easier to find now. I will check ebay a few more times since they sell new and rebuilt heads. I will probablly get aluminum heads and maybe an intake. Any ideas on intakes if I get TPI heads? They would have to work with TBI set up.

 

The cast iron 87+ will accept your present intake. IIRC, the aluminum ones use the older style intake bolt pattern so youd need to use a pre-87 intake or do some grinding to your present one. The spark plug changes will be even more fun since theyre angled with the aluminum heads.

 

Yes TPI heads are far superior to TBI heads. I am sorry if I made that confusing.

 

So if I go with aluminum, I have to go with a older intake. Now with the older intake would I have any problems with my TBI set up? Question for latter on down the road....should I stay with TBI or eventually go with a carb? Eventually I would like to see around 375-450 HP and convert my auto to a manual and my rear end with some disk brakes. But that is way down the road yet as I have prioritys before I get that far like...PAINT JOB! And headliner and carpet but thats about it.

 

So if I go with aluminum, I have to go with a older intake. Now with the older intake would I have any problems with my TBI set up?

 

You can drill the holes in your current intake to accept the older style heads. You realize that a set of aluminum L98 heads go for a ton of cash too right? I think I've seen them around 600 a set maybe?

 

K, I found a set of heads that have the casting 14011034
2.02 INTAKE VALVES 1.60 EX NEW SPRING GOOD TO A 600 LIFT

Also found intake that is bowtie for a square bore carb. Would both of these (or either) work on my application?

EDIT: Never mind, some butt munch just bid it up to $405! I seen it just 30 mins ago starting at 100! I just cant win! I need a good set of heads at LEAST! Still looking!

 

You want a cheap set of heads that are better than TBI heads your best bet is to just go to a junkyard and find some iron L98 heads. They're decent heads, much better than TBI heads.

 

The thing I am worried about is at a junk yard I really dont know what I am getting. Could be a good set of heads or they could be thrashed. What I want to get is a set of heads that are either new or redone so there is no doubt to how long they should last. I did find a couple on ebay but I heard that if I get aluminum heads then I must get a pre-86 intake. I just dont know what to do. I really like the aluminum heads.

 

Why are there 2 types of heads....carbureted and Injection? I dont understand why one would not work with the other. It is kinda limiting my options.
EDIT: Also found a set of camel hump heads...are these good heads for my 350? They said that these heads would bolt up to the current intake...true or false?

 

Ok. Got to order some today. I have to know if I can make the aluminum heads work with the stock intake or if I have to buy a new intake. If I have to buy a new intake where might I find one that would work for my TBI and what should I be looking for in a intake? Thanks everyone for your feedback and help. I can not express what a great help you all have been.

 

With some grinding to the center bolt holes the stock one will fit. Its kinda crappy, though, so maybe getting a decent one wouldnt be a bad idea.

 

What kinda intake would you suggest? Where might I find it?

 

I am just going to go with some heads that will work with the intake I currently have. I dont want to do too much at once. I found some used heads for $175 and some new proformance heads at $490 both are shipped prices.....which should I go with? There are 2 sets of used heads each set for $175...... 1 set has 40,000 miles on them and the other set has 30,000 miles on them.

 

what's the casting numbers on the heads? and what are the aftermarket heads that are 490?

 

14101083 For the used set which is now $160 shipped. And the specs for the new set is as follows 68cc chambers, 202 - 1.6 valves, screw in studs and guide plates, 500 lift valve springs, all the good machine work. The new set is supposed to be proformance set. Hit me up fast as I am going to buy one of these within the next 2 hours. THX