Are the world torquer 305 heads centerbolt or regular for the valve covers. I am getting these heads so I need to know if I need new valve covers or not. Also, does anyone know what part numbers and what type of gaskets I should use for my heads and my intake on my 91 305 tpi? I am tearing down my engine soon so I need to know what gaskets to buy when I put it back together. If you guys could help me out that would be great. Thanks.

 

IIRC, the World SR's, SR Torquers, and the SR Torquer 305's all accept either perimeter style valve covers or centerbolt.

As far as the gasket #s, can't help. Sorry.

AJ

 

Thanks man that is gona save me some money.

 

I got the '86-earlier style heads, so what I've got to say only relates to them from direct experience. Everything else comes from World's information directly.

This is what they say: "Late model S/R Torquer (042750) cylinder heads have center bolt valve cover bolt bosses only. All other cylinder head models (042650) feature dual valve cover rails. To correctly install center bolt valve covers, you must grind down the perimeter valve cover bolt bosses before cylinder head installation." So, assuming you get the later 042750 heads, you only have one choice, and no grinding is required.

My experience went like this: I had a set of '87 center bolt covers, so I ground down the perimeter bosses flush to the rail line. After getting the engine started, I had a huge oil leak on both heads. I finally discovered that the head rails were 1/8" narrower than the cover rails, so the covers would not fit. I emailed World, their response was to the effect, "That comes up every once in awhile. We have early-90's truck covers for a fit tool. You might want to get a set of those." So, I'd say do a fit check of your covers before you install the heads. You don't want to make this discovery at the same time I did (although this very well may not be a problem on the later style heads).

Gaskets: Their info says, "Fel-Pro #1003 or 7733PT-2 (265-350) REQUIRES 350 HEAD GASKETS. DO NOT USE STOCK 305 HEAD GASKETS. For added performance, 305 Torquers feature revised combustion chambers. Stock 305-bore head gaskets cannot be used." The 1003's are a .041", 9.1cc composition gasket. The factory uses steel shim, and I wanted to keep compression up as much as possible, so I got Fel-Pro 1094 gaskets: rubber-coated steel, .015", 3.2cc. Pricey (~$22/each), but worth it, in my opinion.

Did you plan on getting these assembled and just bolting them on, or doing some work to them? Every test I've seen done on them included pocket porting, and even World themselves, when I asked them, recommended "bowl work". I did the full Standard Abrasives DIY guideline job on them, and don't regret it. Chevy High Performance, in their "My Generation Camaro" ariticles, did a pocket port as well. They didn't do the guide reduction/smoothing, though - big mistake, again in my opinion. I would highly recommend at least doing a pocket port & guide reduction/smoothing on them before you install.

Sorry for the long post, just wanted to pass on my lessons learned. Runs great, by the way, generous use of silicone sealer allowed me to use my perimeter valve covers even without the bosses.

 

Oh, the 1003 gaskets are about twice as much (~$43 each) as the 1094's. The 7733P5-2 are an economy alternative (~$9 each).