If I was going to put an XE256H comp cam into a stock LG4 (other than full exhaust), what would you recommend I do with the heads? Valve springs is pretty much a must from what I've read - which ones should I go with? Anything else?

 

Or would I be better to head to a junkyard and look for a better set of heads to save my time?

 

No really, those heads are perfectly fine for the situation at hand.

Good cam choice as well. Widely known to be in the sweet spot of what that motor/car/gear/converter combo wants.

Valve springs are the main thing you ABSOLUTELY MUST do... wouldn't hurt to swap out the valve guide seals, and maybe the rockers. "Positive" seals are the way to go, don't bother putting the original O-rings back in, or with "umbrella" seals. The Comp 1400 series rockers would be a great choice.

 

Get some cheap eBay "Z28" springs or a set of brand-name Comp 981 springs as drop-in relacements for the weak stock springs and have fun. Reuse the stock valvetran gear with them- yes, even the factory exhaust rotator/retainers. If you really really want to ditch the stock exhaust-side rotator/retainers with non-rotator retainers you need to drop a 1/16" shim under each exhaust valve spring to maintain stock installed height.

Heads themselves are fine for what you're doing. The price of upgrading is not usually worth the performance improvement on a mild little 305.

 

Sofa - thanks for the info!

Damon - so just Z28 springs, nothing else? I shouldn't bother with one of the smaller kits from Comp with lifters, etc?

 

Well, yeah, you always want new lifters with a new cam. I was just talking about what upgrades you should do to the heads to work with that cam.