Cronic3rd

A buddy of mine has a set of old **** power pack heads that I might be looking into getting for my 87 LG4.

These heads have been ported to the max have hardended seats, guide plates and other such racing goodies. The have spent many a year on various race cars. They have been milled to some stupidly low combustion chamber also.

I know these things have no acessory mounts but that can be gotten around. What I am really asking is there gonna be any major problems using castings that old? Is it possible to get brackets to mount the alternator where the air pump is?

also what kind of gains will these heads give me? Like would it be a good idea or a bad one to get these heads?

RB83L69

The accessory mounts cannot "be gotten around", unless you don't mind doing without minor comforts like an alternator. That's why you can get them for next to nothing. AFAIK there are no brackets available to work around the lack of the bolt holes.

The ones that don't have bolt holes also don't have the combustion chamber adaptations that allow them to tolerate modern gasoline, and as such are extremely prone to spark knock and detonation.

Pass. They aren't worth it.

Cronic3rd

Actually the head has been drilled and tapped for an after market alternator mount. They are in his car right now with an alternator. Although what you are saying about the chambers sounds logical to me though (he usally runs leaded avation fuel).

RB83L69

You can't drill them and tap them for an alternator, there's no metal there to drill and tap, only the thin part of the casting. Heads with the bolt holes have a big thich bolt boss in behind there for a bolt to bolt into. Even if you manage to jam one on there that will make it down the ¼ a few times, that's nowhere near the same thing as running one for thousands of miles that way.

Dude, BTDT.... those heads have been around a really long time.... they don't work. You're far from the first one to get this idea out of the last 34 years since they started using the bolt holes, and you won't be the last I'm sure; out of all the times I've seen people try to rig that arrangement, I have yet to see the first success. Of course I've only seen it tried about 25 times in person, and I've only tried it maybe twice myself, and realized that it just isn't going to happen. That's why those heads are all but free nowadays.

Try it at your own risk. I can guarantee, it won't be satisfactory in the long run, even if you manage to get it to appear to bolt on somehow.

Cronic3rd

This is the type of alt. bracket he uses. Is there a reason a bracket like this won't work in a 3rd gen? (BTW I don't really think they are worth as much as he is gonna want for them so he gets to keep 'em)

RB83L69

Ummm.. yeah... it goes on the other side of the motor, it bolts to a place on the intake that your intake doesn't have, and it needs a bracket that goes to the water pump which isn't the water pump that fits the rest of your acessories, and it needs a bracket that goes to the exhaust manifod to a cast-in boss that your manifold doesn't have, although you can sort of fake that with a bracket that comes from some of the header mfrs.

Other than that, it should work fine.

Riley's35089rs+

He is right ya know..you can bolt that bracket up..and it will hold the alt. for awhile...but the metal will weeken and bend without anothe bolt to hold it back....figure out a way to do it..then patent the Idea so you can be rich. I wonder why someone else hasnt developed a conversion kit...because those old heads just arent worth it....ask me how I know

Riley's35089rs+

this fat *** bracket bolted in 2 places and still wouldnt hold the belt....nothing holding it back...I shredded many belts

zippy

power pack heads haven't been a racing goodie since the 60's. they certainly aren't worth it.

Cool Runner

Well I can't comment on the quality of the heads in question but March does make a low mount alt bracket wich would work without bolting to the heads. Only thing is you gotta give up power steering.
Just an FYI:
http://www.marchperf.com/pg9.html

Ricktpi

Alan Grove Components also makes alternator mounting systems that don't rely on threaded holes in the heads. The power pack heads probably won't be worth the trouble though.

Cronic3rd

Thanks to everyone who has posted. I have pretty much decided not to go with the heads - too much trouble.