barnett468

heads might not do much if you don't have a high perf cam. you also should have around 10.0 compression.

ProblemHouston

Cam - $300.00
Head work - $500.00 (keep originals to stay high in the compression ratio)
4bbl intake manifold - $300.00
Already own a 500 cfm carb eddy carb (got it from a trade figured it was enough for a slightly modded 289)

Since I don't have the knowledge to install the cam and do the heads could I get all this done for under $2k?

Derf00

Do a compression test and leak down compression test. You could be getting blow-by. Has the engine ever been worked on or rebuilt? Blow by is normal wear-and-tear and if you are getting continuous smoking but the car drives 'ok' it's most likely that... you'll just be down on power.

barnett468

The labor just to r and r the cam and heads will likely be around $1500.00. this does not include porting, head gaskets etc. you will also need a new timing chain. do not port 2 barrel heads. throw them in the trash.


they only have high compression if they are 4 barrel heads. the 2 barrel heads are very low compression at a huge 63 cc.

you can get aftermarket heads in small cc high compression.

Al Newman

Read your spark plugs. If you have a plug or two that have obviously whiter insulators than the rest, those cylinders are burning anti-freeze. If some plugs show a lot of ash build-up, the valve guides are leaking in those cylinders. If some plugs are wet and oily, you have a ring problem. If all plugs look the same, with none of the above signs, you most probably have a seal leak on some exhaust valves, which allows the oil to leak into the exhaust port and be burned off at start-up. Another test is to determine if you have smoke coming from the exhaust pipes on accelleration or decelleration. Accelleration usually means rings, while decelleration means valve guides. This is a bit of oversimplification, but is basically on the mark. Replacing valve seals isn't hard, once you have watched it being done correctly.
Best,
Al