[propaniac]

I was at my local junk yard today looking for drivetrain parts and found a set of big block heads. The guy says that I can have em for $100.00. They look ok one exhaust valve is beat up into the seat a little but otherwise they look ok. The guy said the engine was running when he got it. I trust the guy so I believe his story. The casting # is 3993820. What do you guys think. I allready have a set of 049's but this sounded like a good deal I told him I would be by tomorrow to get em.

Good deal or not?

thanks

John

oh yeah and for you car guys I saw two disc braked 9" I could get a deal on. If you want let me know and I will find out what he wants.

[unstable]

3993820 400-454 71-72 Oval Port
820 255/114cc port

[propaniac]

is $100.00 a good deal or not? And are these heads better than 353049's

Help me out guys

[unstable]

If you are going to run OEM components, I'd guess that $100.00 would be a good deal.

Personally, I don't think the castings are very desireable. The ones you already have don't flow as much...if that tells you anything.

I'd save my $$$ and look at getting a better casting...unless you are anxious to get this thing going.

[DoubleVision]

by the condition, it`s a coin toss, if they need the works, springs, valves, guides and etc, then you`ll have a lot of $ invested in them. if they just need a basic reworking, along with the valve replaced and seat reground, I`d say it`s a good deal. there specs come in close to the 049s, only difference being the exhaust runner sizes are slightly bigger on the 049`s, 114cc`s compared to 119cc`s, the chamber size is slightly smaller, so this would aide in a small compression increase. so in the end, I`d say it`s up to you if you want to invest the $ into them. here`s the specs i get on them.
353049.....73-84...oval...OPEN...454, 122cc chamber, 255/119cc ports
3993820....71......oval...OPEN...402, 113cc chamber, 255/114 ports
3993820....71-84...oval...OPEN...454 Passenger and Trucks, 113cc chamber, 255/114 ports

[propaniac]

Thanks guys I think I will go ahead and get em.

[abe]

those heads are great castings. the best heads to get are from 1971-1974 on the big blocks . the last 3 digits are 820, 049, 241, and 781. if u do your home work and read a few books about the big block chevy heads. they are about the best oval port castings u can get from the factory. in fact they flow more air then u think. if u dont believe me go and read a few good books from your borders book store and not just one book i'm talking at least 3 or 4 books. they are good till 5500rpm and make great torque. and can be used to race if u install over size valves. the bad valve seat can be fixed at a good machine shop. i'll use those 4 castings mentioned above over ANY rectangle {HI PERF} ports for the street any day. period

[propaniac]

Thanks abe and bob. I went ahead and bought them. I just dropped my 049's and the 3820's off at the machine shop today guys gonna let me know which ones are in better shape. I am going to have him put in hardened seats into whichever heads are best since the engine will be running on propane. I also got a drag racer friend of mine to do a port and valve job for me.