[batman09]

What heads for a 350 have the spark plug wires on top.My current heads(stock)Have the spark plugs uunderneith the exhaust manifold and it takes hours (and alot of cursing) to swap them out.Also what is the difference between angle plug heads and straight plug heads?Thanks bm

[Siggy_Freud]

Straight plug and angle plug just refer to how the spark plug sits in the head. One goes in straight . . . the other angles down. Some say the angled ones have a little more performance because they spark plugs point at the exhaust valve more but I've found that to pretty much be BS.

I dont know of anyone that makes the type of head your talking about for a SBC. Thats almost like a hemi head. There is some performance to be had from centering the spark plug at the center of the cylinder.

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by batman09
What heads for a 350 have the spark plug wires on top.My current heads(stock)Have the spark plugs uunderneith the exhaust manifold and it takes hours (and alot of cursing) to swap them out.Also what is the difference between angle plug heads and straight plug heads?Thanks bm

If you get a hold of Duntov, he may still have some from a 377 he designed for the Vette back in the '60's.

If you can get them, I'll buy them from you.

[MI2600]

There's no difference in the heads. It's the exhaust manifolds that dictate if the wires go under the manifolds or over the valve cover. It sounds like you have rams' horn exhausts. Even then though, it shouldn't take hours to change plugs.

[Lonestar]

Oops!!! Duntov is dead, but I ges his sbc hemi heads should exist somewhere, right? Only 4 or 5 sets ever made. In fact, GM sold the rights to the hemi to Chrysler.

What kind of car are you working on that has the plugs so hard to get at?

[batman09]

1967 nova...its got the ramshorn exhaust manifold on a 350 crate motor.There is so much junk in the way I have access issues(especially on the right side)The 350(w a/c)Is super tight in my engine bay.

[Centerline]

Originally posted by Lonestar
In fact, GM sold the rights to the hemi to Chrysler.

Sorry to burst your bubble but GM had nothing to do with Chrysler's legendary hemi (and neither did Ford).

Chrysler was working on the hemi design during WW II while they were building tanks and aircraft engines for the military.
The hemi design was nothing new even then. They had been used in some of the top names in auto racing such as Duesenburg, Stutz, Miller, Healey, and Offenhauser for years prior to the war. The only connection Chevy ever had with the hemi design was Zora Arkus Duntov who designed the famous Ardun hemi heads or the Ford flathead.

Centerline

[Lonestar]

Looks very nice. Why in the world would you spend all that money on that glitz...but not a set of headers?

Originally posted by Centerline
Sorry to burst your bubble but GM had nothing to do with Chrysler's legendary hemi (and neither did Ford).

Chrysler was working on the hemi design during WW II while they were building tanks and aircraft engines for the military.
The hemi design was nothing new even then. They had been used in some of the top names in auto racing such as Duesenburg, Stutz, Miller, Healey, and Offenhauser for years prior to the war. The only connection Chevy ever had with the hemi design was Zora Arkus Duntov who designed the famous Ardun hemi heads or the Ford flathead.

Centerline

Wrong...do a google search on Duntov's r&d with the Corvette. He designed a 377 and a 404 hemi engine. GM held the patent but never justified the cost with the bean counters.

Trust me I do know what I am talking about...my gramps was an engineer on Duntov's team.

[trees]

Lonestar, your gramps may have done just as you say, 'cause I know an old geezer that says the same thing. But look at the dates of production Vettes and production Chrysler Hemis and that tells you that Chrysler had them in production when Chevy was trying to develop them. They most likely did not produce because Chrysler Patent lawyers whipped Chevy Patent lawyers.

Batman, try removing/installing the plugs from underneath. I'll bet you a set of headers you have double the room that I have in my 36 Fords and being old and decrepit, I can still change them in about 10 minutes after they are put on jack stands.

Trees

[AngliaBob]

According to Hod Rod October 2004...
Mike Nordahl, by way of Nick Arias III, progeny of Nick Arias Jr, is currently building 604 ci Hemis...based on the 1975 design Nick Arias Jr had..
Mike Nordahl of Willyz Replacement Parts has one in his 40 Willys Americar.
The blown motor produces 910 hp 846 lb torque..

[batman09]

Its an ongoing project.New headers and dart iron eagle heads are next in line.

[Lonestar]

I do not want to start an argument, but I must say that as an owner of a 1967 L-88 all original (inheritence from Gramps 2 years ago), I disagree. I actually met Mr. Duntov when I was younger, he was out at the farm discussing work with Gramps. I grew up with GM engineers, kind of why I am an Engineer myself (structural).

Although the hemi design was not a new item at the time, GM did hold the patent which was sold to Chrysler.

Most ideas are based upon previous work.

I shall quit this thread as most people tend to get riled, but please do your homework prior to posting.

Originally posted by batman09
Its an ongoing project.New headers and dart iron eagle heads are next in line.

That is a mighty sharp looking ride. Keep up the good work!!

[orangef4]

Try Arao. Pretty neat 32 valve heads. For a measly 5K..........

[johnnya]

batman09,
I feel your pain. I have a '66 Nova SS with an L-79 327. I get to the front two plugs on the right bank(#2 & 4) from the front of the engine. I take #2 plug out with a motorcycle spark plug wrench and then take #4 plug out. Put #4 plug in then put #2 plug in. The clearance on the right side of the engine between the spark plugs and the spring tower is so little that you can't even get a normal spark plus socket on the plug.
If you don't know what I mean when I say "motorcycle spark plug wrench", let me know and I'll try to post a picture of it.
Johnny