With my 557ci rebuild, I will be having my 460ci Heads ( D9TE-AB 1983 ) reworked for performance as i cannot afford to buy a set of alloy heads, a engine builder I spoke to the other day told me not to waste my money on my cast heads-he stated to go buy some second hand dove heads instead, only thing the probe pistons I got with the Scat 557ci kit are for my 97cc heads, are the early 80's 460ci heads really that bad, from what I have learnt in this forum they need some work in the exhaust ports, is it possible to still make some big horsepower with my cast heads ? Thanks Jamie.

 

You engine builder doesn't know what he is talking about. The ONLY advantage that DOVE heads have is smaller chamber for higher compression (well they also came with studs instead of bolt down rockers but the later model heads can be machined for screwin studs so not much of an advantage) The D3VE heads flow almost identical flow numbers as the DOVE both ported and unported. upgrade to 2.19/1.71 or 1.75 valves, port them well and your set.
If your engine builder doubts me, I can find the link to scotty's website with the flow numbers for both sets of heads ported and unported but your builder has bought into the hype which is mostly just that hype about the DOVE casting and in your case you definatly do NOT want the early model heads.

Oh and I just noticed the casting number you posted and that is a block casting number not a head number. yours should be D3VE on the heads from 1973-1986 (although there were some E5 and E6 castings as far as anyone can tell they are identical and interchangable with the D3VE heads)

 

check out my post "iron head capability", a guy provided a link for me to a site that has a chart of all the cast heads and aluminum heads for comparison ported and unported. I think you'd be surprised what you can do with the d3 truck heads i sure am

 

Thanks Monsterbaby, That puts my mind at ease, I had a look at my heads only numbers I can find are 5B21 on the left head and 5A28 on the right ( numbers are in middle of Heads ) along the side near number 3 port on both heads is a X . I am having 2.25 inlet and 1.76 exhaust valves fitted and opening up inlet port size to 2.24 x 2.60, as with the Victor Intake 2965 to match the fel-pro gasket kit 1231. How much metal should be taken out of the exhaust ports-as i was told to be careful as there are water passages there..Thanks again.

 

Monsterbaby, with my cast heads ( early 80's ) do I have to have them machined for screw in studs or can I use the Ford Racing M-6564-C351 Rockers, are my heads the pedestal style ? as I already have new 3/8 push-rods ( Stock length ) Pro-magnum lifters and the Ford Racing camshaft M-6250-C460 ( 595/620 Lift ) Thanks Jamie, Australia.

 

Jamie, the C351 rockers are the ones that would be for your heads but I really don't like to see them used on much over .550 lift. they will work but thats pushing them. I personally would have the heads machined for the screw in studs and guideplates with that cam and go with a set of 7/16 stud mounted rockers. the frpp M-6564-A460, the TFS 53400621, or the Crane 27750-16 are a good choice for rockers (they actually are all the same rockers with a different color anodizing, all made by crane) right now the TFS seems to be the cheaper of them.

 

Thats what I will do, as I have the Hardened 3/8 pushrods , guide-plates and the 7/16 screw in studs ( all Manley Brand ) I was just hoping there was a Rocker I could use with my cast heads that bolted straight on, Thanks for the Info and part numbers...