WIW X-Heads

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Propwash

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Hey gent's...Quick question. Have a guy locally that has a set of bare X Heads. They've been hot boiled and Magnetic Particle (Magnafluxed) checked, with no cracks.

The guy is asking $200obo for the pair. Worth it? Just getting back to small block's so I'm kinda out of touch with prices.

Thanks for the help
 
I agree, it sounds like a decent price, but what are you intending on doing with them? If they are going on an engine that requires X heads to be correct, go for it. If not, you're going to a bunch of money tied up in used heads that could be better spent a set of better flowing heads. By the time you add exhaust seats, guides, seals, valves, springs, retainers and locks, you might as well buy a set of heads from a one of several people here that would be cheaper and probably flow better.
 
Sounds great to me, like getting heads for $100, and you know they are good. The next question is, are the intake valves sunk? Are the spring seats cut? Do the castings look good, bad core shift? X heads flow plenty good for me. Good luck.
 
Its a good deal especially if you need a set of X heads for a resto. However they really dont flow and better then other 340/360 castings with 202 intake valves.
 
I agree with above,x-heads only if you need for a resto otherwise any 340/360 head will be just as good[and cheaper] than the over-rated x head with same components installed....but 200 bucs no cracks in good shape prob be tempting....your call...
 
The X heads with their flame hardened 202 valves were the ones most wanted 40 years ago. Today ? Not so much. 73 and later heads will include hardened seats.
 
Thanks for the input gent's! Much appreciated. The heads are in good shape, and like mentioned, would need everything (locks, retainers, valves..ect..ect..)

That being said, the car these heads/motor would be going in is not any kind of back to OEM Resto. It's more of a budget based build. I have a 340 block/crank already and am looking to warm the motor up to 400-430 HP or so.

I know the benefits of Aluminum heads in dealing with my big blocks, but was hoping to build this motor without dropping $2000-$2500 in heads & head work. With that being said, do you guys think there would be a more cost effective manner to find a decent head for this 340 that would do the trick? Any years or cast #'s of heads that would be a better candidate?

Again, thanks for your time/input guys
 
So you still need valves and a valve job. Theres a few hundred bucks easily depending on what valves you buy.

Springs lock and retainers, another few hundred. You would probably be better off starting with a new set of heads like the Indy/RHS heads or some Edelbrocks,
 
Unless you are doing a resto, WHY?

Valves $120-160
Valve job $200
Surface $100
Springs retainers locks for a mild hyd/solid $200ish
Seals $30

Plus the cost of the heads... adds up fast!
 
Thanks Adam & Cracked. So doing your math cracked, I'd be looking ballpark at around $700. Add in the $200 the guy wants for the heads = $900 total. If I went the eddy route, I'd be looking at about $1500-$1600 hundred total.

So......another question while we got this thread rolling. Is the $600-$700 dollar offset between the X-Heads & the Eddy's worth it? I would guess yes, but you guys would know more than me. I've read on here that the X Heads start bottoming out in the springs at .500 lift. I'd be weary just shoving a cam with .480's at that point. The Indy RHS heads i'm completely ignorant on.


Maybe just buying the X Heads to store for a possible restoration down the road on another vehicle would be a better option.
 
You would have a much easier time reaching your power goals starting with the eddy heads.
 
If you are considering iron. I'd think about the RHS X head as they are pretty decent when outfitted with a 2.02 valve. Plenty of vendors out there. Brian at IMM engines has a nice set up with beehives.

If you shop price, you need to pay close attention to the parts involved. They aren't all the same.
 
Buy them and then sell them to a FAST racer, or to some one doing a resto who needs them.

It appears that you can buy them right which would allow you to sell them "right", yet make a small profit. Go for it.
 
Thanks guys.......Appreciate your time.

Not use to seeing your avatar Adam without the Angry Monkey..lol

The monkey is happy now that he doesnt have to worry about making 30,000 happy. He moved back home to the jungle

Buy them and then sell them to a FAST racer, or to some one doing a resto who needs them.

It appears that you can buy them right which would allow you to sell them "right", yet make a small profit. Go for it.

I think the FAST guys can run any casting small block head now because they are all pretty much the same. At least you can in the Super Car series which is the same thing basically.
 
Wil, they are probably worth the asking price. Considering what you may have to spend to get them ready to run will get you close to the RHS head price. If it was me, I would put a little more into it and get the RHS heads. Guide and seat work ads up quickly. They will need hardened exhaust seats at a minimum and probably need guide work. I am sure you won't want to run 40 year old valves. Plus springs, locks retainers, seals, blah blah blah. Honestly, there's nothing at all special about the X heads. They are essentially the same head as any other small block open chamber head with the exception that they have 2.02 valves. I would seriously consider RHS if you want iron or spend more for the Edelbrocks.
 
As a person that as gone the X Head route then changed heads due to build specs (after the heads were totally stripped down and fully rebuilt), trust me on this, spend just a little more and get a really good head with room to grow. Be them RHS or Edelbrock (which Edelbrock would be my choice because I have them). If AutoZone is still have their 20% discount going (I thought I also saw a post about Pep Boys as well in the last week or so), you can order the Edelbrock heads for even cheaper.
 
Just throwing this out there, a pair of bare iron EQ heads from competition products is only $650 and they have way more potential than factory LA heads. Only downside is they only accept magnum-style pedestal mount rockers.
 
run away from those fast. do some research on them.

i have done research on them, and i happen to know a few gentlemen that have them on there cars and haven't had a lick of problems w/them.

if u want to research on the net, on just about anything you'll find a horror story on it. just go to wallmart and pick a dvd player and read the reviews.........

did a research on this site, and all though i didn't read but about 5 posts, i still haven't come up w/anything regarding that they are a pos........ here's a link sample........
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=193452&highlight=aerohead+racing

i happen to have a set of indybrock's that they make and also know two other racers that run them w/no complaints.

i was just trying to help a guy out w/an econo build.....
 
Thanks Adam, Burch, Hollywood, 70Duster, MOPEkid and RRR......Obviously a lot of options out there. Lotta folks passionate about what they got or what they've used, I understand that. With all the leads you guys put out there, it sure gives me a lot of ammo moving forward.

One of the things that is very apparent..... Rebuilding the X-Heads will get me right up in price by the RHS & Eddy heads quickly, and depending on how much I want to spend, the RHS and Eddy heads seem to leave more room for further performance. The big stop sign in the road is unfortunately budget. That being said, I'll eat hot dogs and Mac n' Cheese for a month or two if it means $500-$600 bucks to meet my 400+ HP range.

Stepping back and looking at this conversation, it's very similar to one I had over at FBBO when building the 512 not too long ago (which RRR was a part of). Big difference is i'm not trying to build a 9-10K Stroker, but still want to get in that 400-430HP range. One part of the equation from that conversation that hasn't been brought up is quench. Are any of these heads closed chambered? I thought the X-Heads were, but could easily be mistaken.

So with that, here's a scenario....... Say I blow a grand total on the X-heads, and they happened to be closed chambered. I'm hampered by the limited lift, to say a tad under .500", but I can build a zero deck motor w/proper gasket to really take advantage of quench. Would I just be shooting myself in the foot, because with $500-$600 bucks more the better breathing, higher lift capable RHS or EDDY heads would outperform the X-heads right out of the box anyways? Are the RHS or Eddy heads closed chambered anyways? Would the budget heads get me there, or should I throw on my "you get what you pay for" T-Shirt?

Again, sorry for my ignorance guys. It's been several years since I had an A-Body. Right now my head is already spinning reading about small bolt pattern conversions, late model upper control arms with big ball joints, and mega priced 8 3/4 rear ends. So, I really do appreciate all your input. And if I start talking in circles, just tell me to can it. lol
 
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