Are these heads any good?

[Mr.Mopar]

I have a set of 77-79 360 heads casting #4027596. They have 1.88 intakes and 1.60 exhaust. The intake runner looks a little small looking at it from the manifold side and the pushrod pinch area makes it even look worse. Could these be ported out and able to perform any good at all? If they are worth it, should I install 2.02 intakes? or are they good boat anchors.

[DartGT66]

They are just as good or bad as any other production 340-360 head. (except the last 360 heads, 308's that are slightly better). The benefit of the 2.02 intake valve deoends of the port work and the lift of the cam. In most typical street cars, there is no benefit.

[Mr.Mopar]

So you are saying that any 360 head is good? I am confused. Someone please set it straight.

[6 packin]

All early pre magnum 360 heads had pretty much the same ports, were the X and some J heads excelled, were there 2.02 valves and the bowl openings, easy work done to the later heads which include the smog heads.

[DartGT66]

The only major difference visually is the air injector hump in the bottom of the exhaust ports. That is a solid chunk, and can be ground completely away, however there is no flow in the floor since it's too low in the first place, so even that doen't hurt. There is way more variation in who does the port job than what casting number happens to be the starting point.

[Mr.Mopar]

Well then, I am going to clean up these heads and do some base line flow testing, then port them out but this time I am going to stick with the 1.88 intakes and try to keep more velocity. I read in my Mopar speed secrets manual that velocity means more power and that the 2.02 intake valve doesn't necessarily mean that the car will go quicker given the mild street cam that I am using now. On the street, the better flow numbers at the low lifts will win.

[rumblefish360]

Good call there Mr. MoPar. Now, the other thing is how are your current heads flowing?
An article in a MoPar Muscle a while back had a set of smog heads ported out. There numbers weren't to bad if I remember right. They ended up with 430 HP. (2.02 valve used) I didn't like the cam used. It was more of a race profile cam. Not what I would call a street cam.
Weather there better or not is the question I can't answer, but i am interested in the results.

[perfmachst]

hello, good to see someone interested in port velocity. as mr betts( of super flow) stated, port shape and velocity is very important to power and cylinder fill. I have found on the flow bench, the1.88 valve will out flow the 2.02 plus has a lot more velocity in the ports. velocity will give you very crisp throttle response. good luck

[Mr.Mopar]

rumblefish, my port flow #'s are posted on the X or J head question on this board. I am really not too impressed with them so that is why I am going to try a different head and the 1.88 intake valve this time. It should be a good learning experience. Right now I don't have very good flow at the lower lifts and I am sure my velocity is hurting. I will post the results when I am finished.

[rumblefish360]

The numbers don't look to bad. You could continue to port the out. Fast one has been getting very good results from iron heads for awhile now.
Ask him for some tips and pics.