390 head rebuild
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New User
Joined: Feb 2011
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390 head rebuild
Is there a kit available for rebuilding heads? I have a stock 390 in my 76 F350. I'm just looking for a quality stock rebuild. Everything I have found so far is complete engine rebuild kits.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
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From: NorCal
Btw, you're likely better off ditching those OEM heads and going aluminum. Compare Eddy RPM heads (PN 60069 about $1300 per pair) to the labor and materials involved with rebuilding stock heads (seats, guides, seals, springs, retainers, lapping, assembly, etc.) and you'll likely find that for a few hundred dollars more will result in significant performance and efficiency gains.
... and that's my nickel.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
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I'll just add most of the cost to rebuild heads is machining. There are lots of ways to do it and different outcomes. What is required depends a lot on current condition of the heads.
Inspection by a competent and trust-worthy machine shop would give you a good idea of needs and choices you can make. As HIO said, full re-build of a tired set of heads for new or better durability can be very spendy. If the heads are in unusually good shape or you make some lower cost choices, can be a lot less. I had a budget rebuild done on a set of iron heads years ago and they lasted 50k miles. I was delighted at the time.
Inspection by a competent and trust-worthy machine shop would give you a good idea of needs and choices you can make. As HIO said, full re-build of a tired set of heads for new or better durability can be very spendy. If the heads are in unusually good shape or you make some lower cost choices, can be a lot less. I had a budget rebuild done on a set of iron heads years ago and they lasted 50k miles. I was delighted at the time.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
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If he was not so far away, the OP would probably like to talk to your shop! $300/pair is a good deal.
New valve seats (in case the hardening on the originals is worn through or seats sunk), new bronze guides, new valves and new springs could add quite a bit. With all that, rebuild cost would be pretty high... close to or higher than new AL heads which also breath better.
Hopefully the OP's heads are not in real bad shape and he can find a good shop to freshen them at lower cost - like $300 - for stock rebuild.
New valve seats (in case the hardening on the originals is worn through or seats sunk), new bronze guides, new valves and new springs could add quite a bit. With all that, rebuild cost would be pretty high... close to or higher than new AL heads which also breath better.
Hopefully the OP's heads are not in real bad shape and he can find a good shop to freshen them at lower cost - like $300 - for stock rebuild.
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Cargo Master
Joined: May 2011
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From: Northern California
Maybe I have unwittingly been getting lucky with them being in good shape. Is it the FE heads that are expensive or are these costs typical for all v8 heads? I had a pair of gt40p's for a 302 done for $200 a while back and they have been running great. Granted these are a few decades newer than any FE head but still they had 300k on them.
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Cargo Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,387
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From: Northern California
Wanted to make sure I wasn't talking out my rear end here so decided to visit the machine shop I am referring to... they are currently building my 390 so a good opportunity to check in. Long and short of it is that heads do usually run in the $300-$400 range. They also seem to be well versed in older engines... they had several flat head type engines in the works. If it helps anyone, the name is Hust Bros. out of Marysville, CA.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2014
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From: Chillicothe, IA
On FE engines, find a shop that knows older engines. These heads are hardened, so machining Should be done to a minimum. Hardened seats are not necessary. When I took mine in, The guy says, "Oh, worken on a 390?" as I grabbed a head from the back of the truck. He did a little surface planing, put in new valve seals and a little cleaning and testing. Total cost for head work, full gasket kit, frost plugs and ARP headbolts was a little over $300.
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