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69496
06-03-2010, 12:27 PM
We always hear horror stories of cars that are not what they seem for sale out there. Well I got a pleasant surprise for once.

I recently bought a 1970 Camaro for $5,000. It was in good overall shape but nothing special. It ran rough but I figured I could get it to run ok with a tuneup. Well after replacing the plugs that were about .070 gap a couple burned plug wires a idle screw adjustment and setting the timing correctly the car woke up big time.

I decided to pull the valve covers to see what the casting # was on the factory heads and I find S/R I-052. A quick internet search and it turns out they are World Products SR Torquer heads. Obviously not the best but a pleasant surprise since I purchased the car thinking they were just old factory cheapo heads.:cheers:. Maybe I will wait a little longer on that LS swap now.
406 Q-ship
06-03-2010, 12:44 PM
How does it go.......I rather be lucky than good.

It is always nice to get a suprise like that, and think what might be deeper inside that engine.
joemac
06-03-2010, 12:44 PM
Cool find.
6'9"Witha69
06-03-2010, 02:52 PM
For once a good surprise. Congrats.
shmoov69
06-03-2010, 03:11 PM
Cool, my luck would have been a mismatched big chamber smogger head and a tiny chamber 305 head.....with worn out seals! LOL
69496
06-03-2010, 03:32 PM
How does it go.......I rather be lucky than good.

It is always nice to get a suprise like that, and think what might be deeper inside that engine.

He did say it was a 383 but I dismissed him completely. Now I think he was telling the truth about that. No roller rockers though. I am curious what cam is in it and also running the block #'s to see if it is a 4-bolt main. It pulls good but no tach yet to see where the power falls off.

What cam do you guys think would be a good match with these heads? Depending on what I find inside I was thinking of a cam around .500 lift and 228-232 duration on a 110. What do you guys think? 400hp if its a 383?
BA.
06-03-2010, 07:58 PM
That's a nice surprise man! Those are decent iron heads!
ArtosDracon
06-04-2010, 10:36 PM
Might want to think about a 112 LSA with those heads and a carb, 114 if injected. overall duration sounds good, I usually offset a little more to the exhaust like a 226 232, but if you've got a profile you like, then stick to it. Use what you know.
rednecknate
06-04-2010, 11:38 PM
Correct me if i am wrong its been ten years since i built a 383 but dont they all have to have the 8" balancer not the 7" so you could tell easily by that measurement But some one else confirm that for me...
ArtosDracon
06-05-2010, 01:48 AM
depends a lot on the crank used. If they used a stock 400 crank and the matching balancer and flexplate, then yes, it should be an 8". Considering the aftermarket heads, no easy way to tell.
69496
06-05-2010, 06:43 AM
Might want to think about a 112 LSA with those heads and a carb, 114 if injected. overall duration sounds good, I usually offset a little more to the exhaust like a 226 232, but if you've got a profile you like, then stick to it. Use what you know.

Thanks.
69496
06-05-2010, 06:46 AM
depends a lot on the crank used. If they used a stock 400 crank and the matching balancer and flexplate, then yes, it should be an 8". Considering the aftermarket heads, no easy way to tell.


Well I can check for the 8". I guess if it is 8 than it probably is a 383, if its a 7 than still maybe.
H2Ogbodies
06-06-2010, 07:44 PM
Well, the guy could have sprung for an internally balanced steel 3.75 crank-that way it's be real hard to tell. Maybe somebody dropped a "claimer" motor from a dirt car in it...never know sometimes.