are 452 casting heads crap?

[BigBlockSam]

hey guys
  i have several sets of 452 heads. are these   heads any good for a  performance motor? how do these heads compare to 906 casting?

[firefighter3931]

hey guys
  i have several sets of 452 heads. are these   heads any good for a   performance motor? how do these heads compare to 906 casting?

In stock form all the BB heads flow essentially the same. The 452's respond very well to mild porting and have hardened seats in the exhaust valve area. The hardened seats are needed for unleaded fuel. Those are my favorite iron head and if i was doing a street engine the only (iron) head i'd consider is a 452. I've got a couple of spare sets myself and they're not going anywhere.  

Ron

[Ghoste]

Unless you're going to e-bay 'em and then they are worthless door stops and it just so happens I need worthless door stops. 

[Charger72SE]

my 72 440 HP has 452 heads.  listings I've seen has the 452's coming out in 1976. 

so I'm guessing someone changed the original cylinder heads?

[cudaken]

 Ron, buddy and pal of mine. I still say the harden seats are bull s--t. There was a posting some time ago that explained why it was BS. 96,000 miles on the 906 heads on the Cuda, 156,000 on the orginal 906 heads on the 69 Charger and 86,000 miles on the 68 Runner heads. OK, they don't count, yanked around 1976 and there was still the good stuff.

Guess to be on the safe side not a bad idea. As far as port work that can be done on them, well I have never had a pair worked so I have no miss spelling about it

Soon as I saw this posting, I knew Ron would like them. Neil likes 915 or 516's. My self, well 518's, well no longer in the budget so 906's.

                     Cuda Ken, OK  will shut up

[Ghoste]

Myself, I like the hardened seats but it's quickly coming to the point where it seems like any iron head is as costly to rebuild and port (if you're like me and have to pay someone else to do it) as it is to buy aluminum aftermarket heads.

[firefighter3931]

Ken, you do have a way with words   I've seen a few sets of 906/915 castings that had valves sunk into the seats. The reality is that without leaded fuel for lubrication, there will be metal transfer between the valve and seat. How long they last is anyones guess, but they will eventually sink. I suppose if you're just w/e driving it there's not that much of an issue because mileage will be low.

The 452's have induction hardened seats, while the earlier 346/902/975 open chamber castings were flame hardened. The 906/915/516 castings don't have any type of heat protection on the seat area but that is easily fixed with a seat insert. That just adds to the cost and why do it when there are lots of the later heads still available out there ?

Ron

[Charger72SE]

Guys,

wanted to know if 72 440 HP had 452 heads as part of the California package.  listings I've seen has the 452's coming out in 1976. 

does anyone know?

thanks!

[firefighter3931]

Guys,

wanted to know if 72 440 HP had 452 heads as part of the California package.   listings I've seen has the 452's coming out in 1976.  

does anyone know?

thanks!

You are correct....the 452 head was a 76-78 casting. A 72 440 would have had 346 heads from the factory.

Ron

[squeakfinder]

I just started tearing down a 440 that came out of 75 3/4 ton pickup. The # on the side of the block is 400630-440-3 and the number's above it are 8 26 75. The heads are 4008452.

[Nacho-RT74]

Does somebody needs NOS 452 heads ?

I have 3 sets Used with valves and a set NOS without valves

BTW, Does somebody knows how many cc. are combustion chambers on the stock 452s heads ?

[jg68]

Does somebody needs NOS 452 heads ?

I have 3 sets Used with valves and a set NOS without valves

BTW, Does somebody knows how many cc. are combustion chambers on the stock 452s heads ?

The 452s had around 90 to 92cc