the engine i got for the car is an 83 and its going in an 88. i want to take the head that was on the bad motor and have it checked at a machine shop. i want to use it. or is the head on the 83 the same and im wasting my time swaping the two. if i should use the later head how do i identify the head to be correct for the 88. it was a remaned motor. any advice is greatly appreciated as im wanting to drop the head off tomorrow. thanks guys.
1.The head off the 83 is going to required the drilling of one hole to mount the 88 lower intake on it. Use the 88 head if you can. If it's bad and you have to use the 83 head, the required hole is not hard to drill and tap.
The 88 head should have what are known as "D" shaped intake ports. See the picture "head3" See the general D shape of the intake ports.
The head should also have what are known as "D" shaped combustion chambers. See the pic "DanCc2" See how the wall opposite the spark plug hole is straight across. The chamber in this pic has been modified but the point is the straight wall. Now look at the pic "Dport headanddistributor" The is an NA (not turbo) head. It has D port intake runners but the combustion chamber has a "heart" shape. Notice the shape of the wall opposite the spark plug hole. It is not straight. You don't want this kind of head. Some people have used them but they have a higher compression ratio and the valves are more shrouded.
I would at least have a valve job done to which ever head you are using as long as it checks out. New valve seals are cheap. Have it chacked for flatness as well as cracks.
[This message has been edited by Pete D (edited 08-07-2005).]
thanks pete. just want to do this right.......... once.
Pete, can't you grind down that heart shape a little and lower c/r a bit?
GaryS2, yes it can be ground down SOME. You cannot go all the way to a straight wall
Here is a pic Boport posted at TF. I've seen other configurations. It can be done ut it takes a lot of chamber work and you can only go so far - ask me how I know
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ok. i just went to look at the head and its not a turbo head. should i use the 83 head then? are there any other differeces in the heads of the 83 to 88? and if the head of the 83 is the same basic design as the 88 thanks pete for saving me money on sending the wrong head to the shop. steve
Besides the hole for the #1 cylinder lower intake bolt, there are no material differences in the head. Don't throw the 88 head away, As I said it can be reworked for turbo use, but if the 83 head is good that will be the cheaper, quicker way to go now.