According to this casting number, 411783 these heads were made till 1976 for 455s. Were these heads ever made with the air rail holes? Are there any other types of heads with air rail holes that will bolt on to my newly discovered 455?

 

I think you are talking about the egr system right? If so, why do you want that? I think the J heads were used until maybe '76 or '77, somewhere around there, you are right about that. Even the early 455 heads like Cs had the egr "bumps" on the insides of the intake runners to accomodate the egr system, they just weren't drilled and tapped for use. I removed the ones on my C heads because I didn't need that system and they were in the way. Anyway, if you don't need egr then use any heads you can get, preferably not Js as they had the smallest intake valves and flowed about the worst of all 455 heads. What is the 455 going into and what kind of application will the vehicle be used for?

 

California smog regulations require that my fake 403 (according by my VIN) have AIR, EGR, and the rest of that crap. I have had my 79 Trans Am for years thinking it was a 403, until I checked the casting number recently to discover it's a 455. I'm going to keep this motor, and not even deal with mounting the AIR system. Unless I can get some inexpensive heads w/ air rail holes to bolt on my 455.

 

Oh, ok I see. California Well my best suggestion would be to cruise on ove to Realoldpower.com and ask those guys. There are a lot of motorheads and engine builders over there that can help you out. I am sure that at least a few have faced the same obstacle you are now. My first recommendation would be to contact a speed shop and have them modify some good heads to accept them plumbing on top, IN APPEARANCE ONLY, if you can hack it. Would the inspectors look for the presence of equipment by checking a list, or sniff the car, or both? There has to be a way around your predicament. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the advise, I've already explored some of those options. My machinist found some heads for me for $200. each. I'm not gonna dump a lot of $ in this smog motor, so I'm just gonna find a guy to close his eyes for the visual insp. Other than that it tests clean out the pipes anyway. The bullshit you have to go through with these tree huggers really makes life hard.

 

You know it. I lived there about 22 years ago when it all got started