Question is answered: 273 Engine Block Decking

Hi Pishta. Thank you for your response. I am not much of a mechanic, so I am sorry that I do not know the difference between open and closed chambers. I will say that the heads have a bit of a recess where the valves will open and close. These are stock 273 2bbl heads from a 1966 Dodge Dart. I will do what you described for a test. Also, I do not know if this block has ever been decked before, but, after I removed the heads, during dis-assembly, I turned the crank, and the pistons did not reach the top of the block deck. All eight were slightly below the deck. Thank you for your time. Old Dart 66

Use the 2bbl heads as they are. They should be the 920's with 1.78 and 1.50 valves. My D/Dart ran a best of 12.95 and 105 mph back in 1966 with bone stock heads. So they should be good flowing. After all they are a swirl port design. I'd just do a good 3 or 4 angle valve job on them.