I think the reason the 4 bbl heads got such a bad rap was a few someones decided to put single plane intakes, big mech secondary carbs and huge cams on them then tried to drive this combo on the street, probably with the stock gearing. That's a sure fire recipe for no bottom end torque. My brother had a 71 Torino with one and it never had a problem with gettin up and going, even with 3.00's out back. As for price differences between the W & C parts, there is none. The only thing that is more expensive is doing machinework on the heads, that's all due to the compound valve angles. But likely if you find someone who does big Chevy heads regularly, that might not be an issue.
I think the pro-C crowd point is that you can use stock heads on a C and fly. To get the W to fly next to a C, you better have high dollar heads! Keep in mind, I like both engines. I am just taking the pro-C side as a devils advocate for this thread. Other threads I might go to the other side of the arguement if no one else is! I like em both and they both have good points. The primary pro I stand behind anytime for the Cleveland is that it just looks awesome in a little engine bay!
I can see a 73 Montego GT (heavy!) with 2.75 gears... Then the guy puts on a Strip Dominator intake and 850 DP! If I had done that, I'd bad mouth a 4v Cleveland too! Same as the Holley bashers... they don't learn the carb and blame the carb when it runs like crap.
Yea, I tried an 850DP on my 68 Merc's 390 once, it really was more of a necessity (only carb I had on hand to use at the time) It too, had 2.75's in the rear, 4200 lbs, C-6 auto completely stock. Everytime you nailed the pedal from a dead stop, it would die. Perfect illustration of a too big carb on too small of an engine.(and a 390 isn't small) Get it out on the interstate and it would fly when you nailed it.
It's a 72 351C. 2 bbl. This one's weird, it jumped time due to the timing chain stretching. The nylon coated cam gear's still got all it's teeth. Go figure. The chain had so much stretch, it was riding up on the cam gear teeth and rubbing the sides of the timing case extension. No signs of any other troubles.
IMO a virgin block is well worth that kind of dough. For 200 bux, I would have no problem (if I was needing a Cleveland) with buying it and tossing the heads for scrap. The block is worth that IMO.
I would give 200 for it right now but i dont know if ill be able to make that trip anytime soon. suday night i go to work and then i get out of school friday afternoon, other than that the only time i have is when im asleep and between fri afternoon and sun night. if there was another way im willing to pay a lil extra for it. there is a small posibility that i would be going to new orleans nov 4 to see the jags play saints but it would probably be in a car. let me know what you come up with and ill see what i can come up with.
I've been all over Mississippi in the last thirty years and don't recall ever hearing a town called Prontotoc. MapQuest hasn't either. It didn't come up with a Lee county either.
thats weird, tupelo is one of the biggest towns in north eastern miss.its jus a few miles from where the new toyota plant will be. around pontotoc is oxford tupelo and union county.
OK, I know where you're talking about now. I don't get up there much. I drive a truck and sometimes can possibly arrange to deliver stuff.
