Thread: chevy 350 head help

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hello i bought a 1978 chevy 350 with stock heads. someone gave me a pair of used pair of 2.02 valve size heads rebuildible i was wondering how much better are the 2.02 chevy 350 heads than stock ones.

Hey Pontiac, welcome, I would think one of the pros will come along and help you with the right answer, but I'll take a stab at it for now. The flow of any particular head is its strength. Some flow better/more than others. Valve size can be overrated in that the smaller chevy valves often work better on the street than the bigger 2.05 or 2.02's, BUT the 2.02's are there if you ever get the r's up and need them. Personally I just built a 357 (350+.040) with old 462 hump heads and put 2.02's in them. Nosalgia works for me.

The bigger the valve the better, it's the intake runner port size you don't wanna go too big on. Are these stock 2.02 heads? What are the numbers on them?

Originally Posted by pontiac287

hello i bought a 1978 chevy 350 with stock heads. someone gave me a pair of used pair of 2.02 valve size heads rebuildible i was wondering how much better are the 2.02 chevy 350 heads than stock ones.

Watch the costs on rebuilding the old heads. If they need seats and guides (lots of them do) it doesn't take long for the cost of machine work and parts to equal or exceed the price of new aluminum or cast iron heads that have greatly improved flow charachteristics as compared to the older heads.....

remember to get all the benefits of larger valves, you should also open up the air coming in with an aftermarket intake and 4 bbl carb, and also the air going out with a set of headers!

Well, I'm just in one of those moods, so I'll give my old standard advice to you since you're new here. You're starting at the wrong end of the car. The first thing you need to do is to work on the diff and rear suspension. Install a shorter gear with limited slip and some decent tires along with some good shocks. Then go a little looser on the converter, then headers and a good dual exhaust system with a crossover pipe. The old girl will think you've swapped in a big block and you haven't even cracked a bolt on the motor yet. Yeah, yeah, I'm just an old guy, what do I know?

Originally Posted by techinspector1

Well, I'm just in one of those moods, do I'll give my old standard advice to you since you're new here. You're starting at the wrong end of the car. The first thing you need to do is to work on the diff and rear suspension. Install a shorter gear with limited slip and some decent tires along with some good shocks. Then go a little looser on the converter, then headers and a good dual exhaust system with a crossover pipe. The old girl will think you've swapped in a big block and you haven't even cracked a bolt on the motor yet. Yeah, yeah, I'm just an old guy, what do I know?

im not old myself, but i had the same thoughts as you

Originally Posted by techinspector1

Yeah, yeah, I'm just an old guy, what do I know?

PLENTY !!!!