Author Topic: *** I need a Head Dr.. 302/308/J,X,LA,WTF  (Read 7666 times)

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: *** I need a Head Dr.. 302/308/J,X,LA,WTF
« Reply #15 on: November 01, 2010 - 10:48:38 PM »
 :iagree:

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Offline Road_Runner

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Re: *** I need a Head Dr.. 302/308/J,X,LA,WTF
« Reply #16 on: November 02, 2010 - 11:18:45 AM »
Excellent news about the 302's, thanks.  So if I fool with the 318 at all I'm definitely going forward with the 302s, probably an LD340 & Ede AVS 650 cfm carb.  It would be great if I was at least close to my performance goals (decent acceleration, etc.), if so I might just stop the engine work there and get going on the suspension, body, paint & interior.  Plenty to do.

Thanks again, Jim
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Offline 72bluNblu

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Re: *** I need a Head Dr.. 302/308/J,X,LA,WTF
« Reply #17 on: November 02, 2010 - 05:33:36 PM »
Excellent news about the 302's, thanks.  So if I fool with the 318 at all I'm definitely going forward with the 302s, probably an LD340 & Ede AVS 650 cfm carb.  It would be great if I was at least close to my performance goals (decent acceleration, etc.), if so I might just stop the engine work there and get going on the suspension, body, paint & interior.  Plenty to do.

Thanks again, Jim

Sounds like a good start Jim. I know that the 318 in my Challenger feels pretty strong, its running a Edelbrock streetmaster, Carter 625 cfm AFB and Hooker Super Comps. Not sure about the cam or compression, its an '83 block with '72 318 heads so even if its stock the compression should be up a little ('83's had bigger chambers than the '72's.). But my guess is its pretty stock, no lumpy idle or anything, and its still pretty fun.

If it were me, I'd have new valve guides installed and try and run the 1.92/1.62 Magnum sized valves in those 302's while I had them off the engine. They have smaller stems, so you have to run different guides, but they'd also lighten things up.

I think the LD340 has the larger port sizes though, so you may want to do some gasket matching with the 302's. Or find an intake with the smaller port sizes, the old Edelbrock streetmaster's have them, and some of the early Edelbrock performers were 318 specific too.

Offline Road_Runner

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Re: *** I need a Head Dr.. 302/308/J,X,LA,WTF
« Reply #18 on: November 02, 2010 - 08:57:12 PM »
Sounds like a good start Jim. I know that the 318 in my Challenger feels pretty strong, its running a Edelbrock streetmaster, Carter 625 cfm AFB and Hooker Super Comps. Not sure about the cam or compression, its an '83 block with '72 318 heads so even if its stock the compression should be up a little ('83's had bigger chambers than the '72's.). But my guess is its pretty stock, no lumpy idle or anything, and its still pretty fun.

If it were me, I'd have new valve guides installed and try and run the 1.92/1.62 Magnum sized valves in those 302's while I had them off the engine. They have smaller stems, so you have to run different guides, but they'd also lighten things up.

I think the LD340 has the larger port sizes though, so you may want to do some gasket matching with the 302's. Or find an intake with the smaller port sizes, the old Edelbrock streetmaster's have them, and some of the early Edelbrock performers were 318 specific too.

Other than your running headers it sounds like our engines would be very similar with my updates.  So would a Ede performer or LD4B have the right sized ports for the 302s?  I guess I thought the 302s were closer to regular 360 heads port size-wise.  I do have a set of hipo 340 exhaust manifolds I may go with if I don't add headers at some point.  Right now it just has dual exhaust.  I'll look into those head mods, thanks.

Jim
1970 383 Roadrunner Tor Red
1973 318 Barracuda Mist Green
2014 Mustang GT/CS Convertible All Black

Offline Moparal

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Re: *** I need a Head Dr.. 302/308/J,X,LA,WTF
« Reply #19 on: November 02, 2010 - 09:00:31 PM »
Wade, I have a chance to get my 340 70 short block back if you still want another 340. the guy was asking me today if I wanted it back

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: *** I need a Head Dr.. 302/308/J,X,LA,WTF
« Reply #20 on: November 02, 2010 - 09:22:55 PM »
Wade, I have a chance to get my 340 70 short block back if you still want another 340. the guy was asking me today if I wanted it back
Don't know about this...Details?
PM me what you want for it....
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
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Offline Moparal

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Re: *** I need a Head Dr.. 302/308/J,X,LA,WTF
« Reply #21 on: November 02, 2010 - 11:04:47 PM »
Charlie said I had sold it to him for 350, so I can get it back at cost.  I am trying to get my warlock power wagon back from him now :2thumbs:

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: *** I need a Head Dr.. 302/308/J,X,LA,WTF
« Reply #22 on: November 03, 2010 - 08:18:01 AM »
Charlie said I had sold it to him for 350, so I can get it back at cost.  I am trying to get my warlock power wagon back from him now :2thumbs:


Sounds Like I could afford that...You interested in these heads if I can still get them?
http://huntsville.craigslist.org/pts/2011485896.html
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
Screwed by Photobucket!

Offline UKcuda

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Re: *** I need a Head Dr.. 302/308/J,X,LA,WTF
« Reply #23 on: November 23, 2010 - 05:38:16 AM »
If it is of interest, I have just put Magnum heads on my 360.  I mention it because I think it has got to be the cheapest upgrade by quite a margin. 

They definitely flow better in stock form and with a 20 thou gasket you get about a one point increase in compression.  I did port mine a bit first but nothing radical, took me one afternoon.  I'm pleased with the way they run, noticeably better than the stock 360 ones that were on there before and it uses less fuel too (I actually had to go leaner on the carb. !).

I believe the stock Magnum heads are dirt cheap to buy over there because everyone says they crack.  This is true but there is a school of thought that it doesn't matter (I think I read about that on the Abodies forum). 

The cracks that develop are very fine hairline between the two valve seats.  They don't go near the water and when the valves are closed there is only about 1 mm of the crack showing (so it's like less than the gaps on your piston rings).

Anyway, my heads did have a couple of cracks but I used them just the same and there was nothing to see on a compression test and they run fine, so I guess that proves it (for the time being).  I have another set with no cracks but they are on my rebuilt Magnum motor which is waiting to go in, so this was really a bit of an experiment in the meantime.

The only thing I had to buy was different pushrods (my engine already had pushrod oiling lifters, most aftermarket lifters are like that).  I got some push rods listed for a 302 Boss Mustang which were spot on the right length.

The two main problems with using Magnum heads is the stock springs are quite weak and the valve spring retainers hit the stem seals at about .52 lift.  Since my cam is pretty mild it's not a problem on these heads, but you also have to factor in that the Magnum rockers are 1.6 ratio so they do give you a bit extra lift.

With the Magnum heads on my other engine I have a bigger cam and I had to cut the valve guides down and use tougher springs - that does get expensive (the springs I mean).
« Last Edit: November 23, 2010 - 05:43:30 AM by UKcuda »
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Offline IMNCARN82

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Re: *** I need a Head Dr.. 302/308/J,X,LA,WTF
« Reply #24 on: November 24, 2010 - 02:38:51 PM »
lots of info.!! Great thread.   :popcorn:
'73 340 5 speed,RMS,BAER,... "Supercuda" (O[   ]||||[   ]O)  
'69 Dodge Charger 383,Auto                  (OiiiiiiiiiiIiiiiiiiiiiO)
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