Re-built 390 heads?
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Freshman User
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Re-built 390 heads?
I am looking at having to get re-built heads for my 390... Anyone have any advice? And do re-built heads generally come with hardened valve seats?
The heads I have now are C8AE-H heads, but my mechanic quoted me anywhere from $350 - $600 to rebuild them... Autozone can get a pair of rebuilt heads for $206, but they don't specify the casting number, they only ask if it has smog tubes, which I am fairly certain mine do not. 2 of the exhaust valves have hairline cracks, another one has pieces chipped out of it's 2 cracks, and one of the other ones somehow jammed itself into the head, and has a lip gouged out on it's rim. The pistons and cylinders look fine, so I am fairly certain the damage to the heads was from when the previous owner re-built the motor and didn't have the heads checked out.
I want the truck to run reliably, but I also don't want to end up spending $600 a head to get it running again.
The heads I have now are C8AE-H heads, but my mechanic quoted me anywhere from $350 - $600 to rebuild them... Autozone can get a pair of rebuilt heads for $206, but they don't specify the casting number, they only ask if it has smog tubes, which I am fairly certain mine do not. 2 of the exhaust valves have hairline cracks, another one has pieces chipped out of it's 2 cracks, and one of the other ones somehow jammed itself into the head, and has a lip gouged out on it's rim. The pistons and cylinders look fine, so I am fairly certain the damage to the heads was from when the previous owner re-built the motor and didn't have the heads checked out.
I want the truck to run reliably, but I also don't want to end up spending $600 a head to get it running again.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 747
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From: Klamath Falls OR
Your C8AE-H heads already have harden seats. You might need valves guides put in. You can buy a nice set of valves for $120.
$600 to rebuild your heads is a Joke. You might want to find a machinist that is willing to do the job. Not one that doesn't! I wouldn't buy a set of heads from autozone. I have seen to many times that they are not machined or set up right. JMO
$600 to rebuild your heads is a Joke. You might want to find a machinist that is willing to do the job. Not one that doesn't! I wouldn't buy a set of heads from autozone. I have seen to many times that they are not machined or set up right. JMO
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
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From: south louisiana
D2TE's had the hardened seats. C8's do not. Either casting can be found for less than $600 rebuilt. These castings are the most plentiful FE heads around. If yours are damaged, find another set. Unless you're going to use it as a daily driver, I wouldn't worry about the seats wearing.
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The truck is my daily driver, hence the reason I need it to run reliably 
And yes, there is a gouge in the valve seat where that one exhaust valve is jammed into the head... Anyone know where I can find a pair of re-built D2TE's? And will they bolt on to my block and intake without too much trouble?
Also... I was thinking of putting headers on the truck, because the exhaust maifolds are crap... Not only are they crap in general, they're in bad shape, with a couple of the bolt holes busted off. But headers aren't "street legal". Is there any way around this, since it's my daily driver?
Sorry for the stupid questions... I'm still new to some of this.
And yes, there is a gouge in the valve seat where that one exhaust valve is jammed into the head... Anyone know where I can find a pair of re-built D2TE's? And will they bolt on to my block and intake without too much trouble?
Also... I was thinking of putting headers on the truck, because the exhaust maifolds are crap... Not only are they crap in general, they're in bad shape, with a couple of the bolt holes busted off. But headers aren't "street legal". Is there any way around this, since it's my daily driver?
Sorry for the stupid questions... I'm still new to some of this.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 2
street legal- as in passing smog? most of the vehicles with FE's are exempt from most of that stuff I think- but then again, I live in oregon and don't have to deal with that crap!! any D2 head will bolt on with as much ease as the ones you already have....
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
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From: south louisiana
D2's are the same heads as C8's. Just the D2's had induction hardened seats. Don't see why headers wouldn't be legal as Fordraceboy said, just about all vehicles with em are exempt.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: texas
$500.00 or so is about the norm if he is replacing all guides, new valves, O/S valves are more, surfacing two sides, etc. I would avoid the $200.00 heads from AZ.
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Freshman User
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I looked around a couple engine shops, and found a nice pair of rebuilt D2's for $400 even. 
Had 'em look at my C8's, they said they *could* rebuild them for me, but they couldn't take them as a core because of some issues with the exhaust bolt holes from the previous owner. The D2's they have, however, look sweet in comparison.
So I get to clean up the rest of my engine and double-check torque on everything, and repaint the rest while I'm saving for the heads.
Had 'em look at my C8's, they said they *could* rebuild them for me, but they couldn't take them as a core because of some issues with the exhaust bolt holes from the previous owner. The D2's they have, however, look sweet in comparison.So I get to clean up the rest of my engine and double-check torque on everything, and repaint the rest while I'm saving for the heads.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 99
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From: Oregon
Where are you at Josh? I got a set of C8's with decent exhaust manifolds still attached(a couple bolts are broken off, but it'd still end up cheaper and easier possibly) and hardened exhaust seats installed. They were working fine when I removed them from the donor short block I used(I had a ported set that matched my 4 bbl intake). I'm around Portland, Oregon, but consider, it might be cheaper to get that set from the machine shop, shipping can be a steep price.
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Hey Josh, what part of Oklahoma? I live in the Dallas area and if you need a set of 390 heads, I have a pair. They're on the engine I bought for a rebuild. I'm going back with some Edlebrock RPM Performers so if you need 'em, let me know.