Another 452 question

[squeakfinder]

The 440 I am using for my build is out of a 75 Dodge pickup and it has 452 heads. It seems that anytime the subject comes up about these heads someone makes the statement "There a better head because they have hardened valve seats." The question I have is "Did all 452 castings have hardened exhaust valve seats?" When were the 452 castings first introduced?

Thanks Larry.

[firefighter3931]

Larry, the 452's are a 76-78 casting and yes they came with the hardened seats for unleaded fuel. As long as you stay with the stock 1.74 ex valve the hardened seat area will remain intact when the valve job work is performed. Going to a bigger exhast valve requires cutting the seats and consequently, new (hardened) inserts installed in the heads.


Ron

[squeakfinder]

Yep, thats what I thought. My machinist has a reputation of spending big money on other peoples engines. He told me this morning he was having trouble finding any information indicating they all had hardened seats. In that case he was thinking put bigger exhaust valves in wile were at it if it's going to need new seat inserts installed. I think I'm going to need to rein him in again.

[Purple440]

rotsparts,

I picked a set of '78 heads, 452 casting, specifically because they have hardened valve seats.  Although I installed the bigger 2.14/1.81 values eventually and had new seats put in.

Check out this article if you haven't already and show it to your machinist: http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/techarticles/5115_cylinder_heads/

[squeakfinder]

Thanks for the link. I hadn't come across that article yet. I printed it and I'll be taking it to my mule headed machinist.

And welcome to the site.

[firefighter3931]

Thanks for the link. I hadn't come across that article yet. I printed it and I'll be taking it to my mule headed machinist.

And welcome to the site.

Let us know what the mule headed wrench has to say. 



Ron

[Purple440]

And welcome to the site.

Thanks man - but I'm just following Chryco around lol

actually I found this site via Google