#16 Heads...should I get them?

Jan 31, 2004 5 Replies

Hi all,



I am in the middle of a build on my 400. It's a stock bore, with CompCam 270 (224/224 .470/.470 112 - I think- LSA), rear end is a 3.08 and I have a Borg Warner Super T-10 4 speed. This is a weekend driver on the street.



Ok...all that said, I have 6x-4 heads but one of them is cracked. It'll cost me 120.00 to get that welded and get both my heads in bolt-on shape.



I found some #16 (72cc) heads from a `68 GTO that are ready to go for



300.00 plus probably 60.00 in shipping.

Should I go for it or not? The CR would go from roughly 8.3:1 up to



9.8:1! Also what gains would I get horsepower and torque wise on it....and is it worth spending 250.00 more than I have to spend anyway for those gains?

Thanks


I have #16s on my '67 GTO. They came off a '68 428. I am trying to remember everything I did, but I just can't. Anyway, I do have stock pistons ( I think I do, anyway) and the Ram Air (S grind?) Comp Cams cam installed. IIRC, the 428 had 10.75/1 stock compression. Also, IIRC the 428 and the 400 share the same piston size - the 400 has a shorter stroke which should lower the compression number, right? Anyway, I run super (94) exclusively - I've never tried regular (87). It runs very well with this setup, but keep in mind that I had #16s on before the change as well. I have no point of reference that would say they are better than the 6x heads, but it will definately run with them.

For the HP/torque answer, check out the engines that had the #16s on them. I believe a '67 catalina would have run them.

Finally, would I spend 180 more to have a set of heads that weren't ever cracked? Yes, I would - but that's me...

I really don't know if they have hardened seats. Anyways, my engine builder convinced me to stay with my 6x-4s.

It kind of pains me to say it, but as all the junkyards seem to melt everything down over 10 years old, and since Pontiac 350's are considered pretty worthless, I would guess tens of thousands of 6x-4's have been recycled for 3 cents a pound. They made a large number of 77 350's, but I think the majority have already been crushed. If anyone is in a junkyard and spots a 77 Grand Prix with a 350, try to carry those heads out! It's sad to think you'd have to repair something once so taken for granted.

Hold the phone...... I have a 350 in my back yard. 74's ish What should I look for ? Two barrell 350. Still good.

cw kingdommatworldnetdotattdotnet in NC

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