I just swapped in a 350 1986 chevy small block into my camaro, its running and all, it came out of a 1986 suburban c10.


What type of heads should I start to look for where It won't hurt the block it self by putting better heads on it.

I have my old 305 heads, but figured it would probabbly be better to put on vortech heads or something.


If I change the heads should I change the intake manifold and the camshaft at the same time? or do each one at a time?


Any eyesight to the blind?



- Firl

 

Heads with smaller chambers will raise the compression ratio of your motor.

Your old 305 heads have potential (with porting and bigger valves) for this because of their smaller chambers. The ports are
actually the same or larger than many stock 350 heads.
Depends on which castings you have. ( casting number)

There are many other heads to choose from too. Look for ones with big valves and 58/64cc chambers.

Yes changing the cam and intake while doing a head swap will maximize your power gain returns. You'll save on gaskets too by doing the whole job at once. Don't forget about exhaust.

I have fully ported, big valved 305 heads on my 350 and it flyes.
In a word, they work. Good deal for the money spent.

 

depending on what casting the 305 heads are you might be able to make some pretty good performance heads outa em nice n cheap.. i'd personally do it all and once and be done with it rather then keep takin stuff apart n puttin it back 2gather.. look for sittingbulls posts on machining the 305 heads.. hes done some impressive things with em..

 

Honestly, everything I know I learned from F-Bird'88

He's THE guru around these parts :hail:

 

How can I tell if I can use my 305 heads, I thought since the 350 engine was bigger I wasn't able to use them. But the 305 heads have already ben milled, what else should I have a machine shop do to them?

And I now have dual exhaust hooked up to my heads on my girl.

I don't understand quite how the heads work but I thought that the piston had to go inside them so that since the 305 was a different size that it wouldn't work, but it would be great to use my 305's since there new.

 

sbc heads are sbc heads, the differences are valve sizes, combustion chamber sizes and flow rates, etc.. the piston doesnt actually go inside the head with normal pistons.. what did you have the heads milled to? if the chambers are too small it may bump the compression on a 350 up too high to run pump gas.. like i said before search for sittingbulls posts on 305 head mods, also as he has pointed out F-Bird'88 is also very knowlegeable so do a search for his posts as well.. you would probably be lookin at things like screw in studs, larger valves, and some porting/bowl blending etc.. do you know the casting numbers of your 305 heads? if not remove a valve cover and take a look.. some of these heads are excellent canidates for head work some arn't.. only ones i can think of off the top of my head are the 416's but i know there are severl others people have had good results with.. hit that search button and find some good info!