OK so I put on a new set of valve covers on today and noticed that I have two completely different cylinder heads on my small block one was a 333882 and the other was 462624, is this OK?

They both have 76 CC Chambers and both are considered smogers from what I have read about them so far, and both have 1.94/1.50 valves also. That's about all I know about on these heads. I was just surprised to see to different heads on my motor.

 

People do stupid things like that sometimes.

 

i had a remanned crate 350 with the same heads as you, 2 different, same numbers and everything. Its probably a rebuilt motor. The heads are identical in every way except cast number. It ran for years with no issues, i sold the motor and i assume its still running today.

 

Me too... same heads as well. Mine was locally rebuilt before I got it. Ran fine though - those two heads aren't significantly different. Only real difference is that one is a 'lightweight' casting.

 

That's cool then sounds like it's no big deal then. The motor was rebuilt a few years ago, But the only one that know by who is in Iraq. I got the car from my best friend so it wont be hard to find out the specs on the motor when he gets back.

 

The good news is that any loss due to mismatch will be insignificant compared to how bad those heads are to begin with.

 

I have seen that happen quite a bit when one head gets damaged, ie cracked or something. It will get taken to a machine shop and they will give them a different head. Same style head, no harm no foul. In reality, its a perfectly fine thing to do, from a "back in service" standpoint. It would be different if it were a performance engine.

 

Those lightweight smogger castings are always cracked, too.

 

That's OK it's almost tax-time anyway, I'M going to look for maybe a set of double hump heads, vortec heads, or maybe the pro-comp 210 cc's. I would like to find a set of double hump heads with 2.02/1.60 valves though.

won't the vortec heads also accept 2.02/1.60 valves also?

 

Double humps are obsolete, there have been better heads made in the past 40 years.

There are much more important things to worry about than valve size.

 

thats probably why all these motors have the 333882 heads, the other 462624 head cracked and was replaced with the older, probably not as brittle head.

and they do SUCK!
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of that list i would go with the vortecs, or aluminum fastburns The double humps are obsolete, like Aperion said, and the procomps are questionable.

 

I understand, though I am really just beginning to take in knowledge when It comes to things like a cam change and heads.

Just out of curiosity what cam would some of you recommend If I went with a set of vortec heads? keeping in mind that this is a daily driver.

 

Something like an XE268 would be good, if you did a little work on the heads for the lift.

 

who makes that cam?

 

Comp Cams.

 

how much lift can stock vortec heads take? I would like a little more of a cam.

 

Any more cam and you'll need to change the torque converter, too.

 

.460ish.

 

ok, thanks for letting me know that. what kind of power would i be looking at with the vortec heads and that cam?

 

The lift limit on stock heads is low enough you have to assume you're going to be working the heads for anything but the wimpiest cams.
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What kind of exhaust will it have?

 

stock size pips with headers magnaflow cat and flowmaster muffler.

 

Not much point in putting much of a cam on it without headers, too.

 

He did mention headers...

As for powerband, I would say something in the 1500-5500ish with Vortec heads. Just keep in mind, though, with Vortec heads, comes the new intake. Vortec heads with machine work + new intake probably = cost of aftermarket, better flowing than vortec castings, that doesn't require new intake. Just a thought.

 

I did not know I would need a new intake with the vortec heads? I just put a summit stage 1 intake on last year.

Hmmm this is got me thinking now, just how bad are the pro-comp heads?
I understand they would need a little work before just putting them on. I've heard they have push rod clearance problems, that is an easy fix.(from what I here)

What other kinds of problems do the pro-comp heads have, like will the alternator and power steering brackets bolt up to them? should they be ordered bare and assemble them with top quality parts myself?

I'm not looking to build a 450HP beast just a really nice powerfull street car. maybe 300-350HP.

 

Vortecs have raised runner locations and a different intake mounting bolt pattern.

All the accessories should bolt up just fine, pushrod clearance issues can be handled easily, that's all easy fix stuff. Pro-comp is under the category of semi-suspicious casting quality. Not the greatest in the world.

I would look at Dart, World, or RHS before Pro-Comp. Some people lately have been saying Patriot also makes decent stuff, however, I have no first hand experience with them so I cannot say. I personally like RHS stuff, they used to be Pro-Topline. Their assembled heads already come with all the good Comp Cam stuff (saves the price of matching springs to cam, also solid quality valve train parts, obviously).

 

Well it's all a lot to think about, I'm really not sure if i'm ready to jump in to this just yet.(heads & cam)

I still got 2.73 rear end gears, I bet if I just put in a set of 3.73's that would make a big difference. also maybe a nice y pipe and 3in cat back, or even a higher stall torque converter. You know kind of pave the way for more power.

Kidda funny my thread's always start as one thing and turn in to something completely different.lol