Gents, within the scope of my knowledge of Olds design, I know big block heads can be bolted on small block motors. I've got a strong '72 350 but I wanted to pour some tabasco sauce in the tank if you will. My thoughts were to remove the old heads and stick on a set from a 455; preferably from a '70 W-30. Now I know I may be reaching far on this one, but any thoughts? Even aftermarket with specs comparable to the legendary Cobra Jet motor: 2.200-inch intake and 1.760-inch exhaust would be nice.

 

You would lose compression for the cumbustion chamber on the big block heads are 80 to 84 CC's. small block heads are 60 to 64 CC's. The ports in the big block head will cause problems with the intake. The size valves you are talking about will never happen in an Olds head, there is not enough spacing between valves to go that big. You can put 2.00" / 1.62 valves in the small block heads.

Gene

 

Why stop at just heads?
Get a whole big block!

 

X2 on the big block a 70-71 big block will really wake up your Olds

 

And changing from a small block to a big block is pretty straightforward. There are threads talking about the few tweaks you need to be aware of, try a search on the topic. John

 

Thanks for the Intel. Bigger block would be optimum, but I was thinking, seeing she still appears to have a whole lot of life in her (And I got her all fancied up), that I would use a set of Edelbrock heads with 2.072'' intake valves and 1.680'' exhaust valves. The only stipulation is I would have to change the intake of course (3711).

 

If you use the E-brocks, you will need a set of roller rockers and harden push rods. Also there is a problem with the mechanical fuel pump and clearing the head. I have heard that you have to clearence the head. But if you go to far, you will hit water. Plus you wil have to mill the heads to get the combustion chamber CC's down to a usable number.
Anything is possible, it has been done, you can make it work. Go for it.

Gene

 

Gene, hey bro, you seem to be the coach on this one, what would you do then, because Edelbrock makes it seem so simple?

 

How do I go about putting those valves in my heads (2.00" / 1.62 valves in the small block heads)
(ignorance on certain topics is a curse of mine