305 heads on 350

[doctrdoo]

I know this has been asked before but couldn't find it.just curios-what are the advantages and disadvantages of putting 305 heads on a 350? will headers from a 350 work on 305 heads?anuthing i might need to change or look out for? can get my hands on a free set of 305 heads and have a 350 in my 85 chevy C-10 truck now.this is a daily driver- just looking for more performance.thanks

[roundedline]

If you are putting 305 heads on a 350, you are going backwards.  The are smaller chambers, but they are also less flow and have smaller valves which means less are and power.  You would be limited to about 4800 good rpms.  If you spend some money they could have better flow, but why when you can bolt on a set of vortec heads or any 350 heads and be better off.

What kind of performance are you looking for?  

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

[doctrdoo]

Thanks for the reply. right now i have a stock 350 with flat top pistons(bored.30 over),stock cam,headers with a parts/pieces duel exhaust,elberdrock performer manifold and a 600 cfm eldebrock carb.mostly this truck is a daily driver(since being a long bed) but was just wondering about the 305 heads since i have a set left over from the previous eng.other than getting vortec heads (which would require getting another manifold,other valve springs for the heads and other assorted things for the switch)what kind of heads would be another option? not looking for this truck to race with but would like a little more power and performance. any other parts option suggestions?

[Leadfoot]

doctrdoo,
 If you don't mind grinding on your intake,you can elongate the 4 center bolt holes (change the angle) and re-use the intake you have with the votec heads..all the ports and water passages are the same..just those 2 center intake to head bolts on each side are on a different angle than your intake..30 minutes with a die grinder and a carbide burr and it'll work just fine..

Tim

[doctrdoo]

hey leadfoot-thanks for the info.is that all that needs to be done to the intake?i thought i read where there is more involved than that.what about changing the valve springs on the heads??i'm not going to a really big cam-just something with a little more power over stock. i know i'll need centerbolt valve covers.i just want to get all the info for switching to vortec heads before i start this-i have to drive this truck during the week and work on it during the weekends.any other info on vortec heads swap would be great-thanks.

[1976Scottsdale]

I think that the 88-93 or something heads (pre vortec) are the ones that are like that.  I thought that real vortec heads used 4 bolts on eack side, could be wrong though.  I ran 601 casting 305 heads on my 350 that I just finished and YES, roundedline is correct, you get about 4600-5200 GOOD RPM's.  You also get a monstrous low end though that my old 993 heads could not touch.  My 601's were also ground and flowed for some reason, they have 1.95/1.50 valves and port work on the runners, not sure of how much.  They came off of a 350 that someone wanted to mud with, so they thought it would be cool to remove the choke and use ether... lots of ether to start it.  It knocked because being only a 500 mile engine, they had destroyed 4 pistons... blew them apart.

[SUX2BU99]

Interesting info. So if I'm looking for some better heads for my 0.060 over 350 with Edelbrock 600 cfm carb, unknown cam (might possibly be a 260 duration cam), Sportsman II intake, roller rockers, long headers and I'm guessing stock low-flow heads, what stock heads should I look for? Where are the casting numbers on the head to find out? I'd like to find out what number my heads are too.

[Z28 c10]

if you want to run stockers without modifications to the intake or changing intakes, look for a set of old 2.02's. The fuellie heads are your best bet, but they're hard to find. You'll know em when you see em, on the front of the head when you're looking at the motor, you'll see why they call em double humps. Here's a pic of double humps.Some people call them camel backs.

http://www.imgdump.net/index.php?view=s2_c8fd8e1e341.jpg'>http://www.imgdump.net/images/s2_c8fd8e1e341.jpg'>


 JayTater

 Z28 C10

Edited by: Z28 c10 at: 5/3/06 9:02 pm

[SUX2BU99]

Ohhhhhhhhhh so THAT'S why they called camel backs. Very interesting!

[1976Scottsdale]

The camelbacks are the best, but they lack accessory holes save for the 186 heads.  The casting numbers are under the valve cover near the rocker arms.  I usually look for heads with these last 3 digits: 487, 487x, 991, 993.  Most older trucks will have 993 or 882 heads.  882's crack easily, as do their lighter counterpart, the 624.