I probably should have asked this question long ago but,what are open chamberd heads,I have a 72 ,429thanx

 

Open chambered heads are factory issue '72-FI heads. If the casting number is for sure D2VE, get rid of them, they are junk. If you want a set of open chamber heads, D3VE are the way to go. If you want closed chamber, find a set of C8VE-D1VE. Only difference is the size of the thermactor passage.

 

now see there is a big goof up. unless someone wasn't watching what they were typing.. there were no open chamber heads for the 1973 heads these were closed chamber heads just like the 68 thru 71 heads. but now i can finally put this spec to rest .. i have always stood behind the 1972 open chamber heads they are a very good set of heads ran these for years on a well massaged 472 big block with NO PROBLEMS .. alot of other people don't like them that is why they say junk them, that's fine that is there right to there opinion.. as for the compression value, the 1972 open chamber heads ( only year for an open chamber design ) had better compression than the 1973 open chamber that everyone says are better. here are the compression specs differences for the 2 years..

1972 - 429/460 - 89.9 to 92.9 c.c.
1973 - 429/460 - 94.7 to 97.7 c.c.

these numbers are taken right out of the Ford Engine shop Mnauals.

well now that i have opened up another can of worms everyone is going to jump in now and again trash the 72 heads, all i can say is take the info that someone has put over 100,000 on 2 different engines with these heads and have had no problems, and you can just junk them like a few folks say and go out and spend more money on heads, if your tight on cash stay with these heads they will do you just fine. C.J.

 

You just proved that '73 heads are open chambered, NOT closed. The reason that the '72 heads are not prefered is the fact that the chamber is shaped like a bathtub, plain and simple not an effecient design. The '73 heads have a semi-quench shape, which is better, reducing spark knock. And the '73 heads will make more power, because you can run more timing, and the quench effect can work wonders.

 

thanks for the replys.

 

When I saw this subject brought back up I KNEW cobrajet wouldn't be able to resist. LOL!!!! I,m just giving ya a hard time C.J.

 

CJ,
No offense meant, and I'm glad they work for you, I just heard they are junk, and not just here, from guys I know personally.

 

hey, never a harsh word taken. it's always good to haggle out a topic or topic's. whenever someone writes a topic it is always hard to read it in the eyes of the author, as the same to everyone out there also don't mean any disrespect also. those motors worked out fine. now stepping up to alittle more power with a fresh rebuild with the same cubic inches with a nice roller motor this time..

those old motors i ran about 14 degrees of advance timing with no knock unless i ran cheap fuel, always ran preminum gas. also can't remember but also had the crank sproket advanced 4 degrees. i don't think i had it retarded 4 degrees.