390 heads?

[todd]

What are 390 heads? My old motor had 390 heads and I thought it was a 428. Do the heads change the engine size? I guess that 390 heads are the same as 428 due to the fact that they are on a 428 block. I am a little confused on why they are called 390
heads. How are they different from 428 heads....or are they?

I know that there are several gearheads that may help



Todd

[Woodz428]

The bread and butter FE's sometimes shared a head casting, they so share valve sizes. Some 428s had those type heads, then some were the CJ which are very similar to early 427 heads (bigger valves/ports). Different heads won't change engine size, although sometimes compression, 390s and 428s (as well as several other size FEs) all share basic castings and that's why a different head will fit. The reference to 390 heads was probably more a statement that it lacked the nice CJ heads than it had another set of heads on it since the straight up 428 probably had, what are the same as ,390 heads.

[FFR428]

What are the casting numbers on the heads? The 390 had many std/HP heads made for it's application. The CC volume was the big difference. As woodz stated the 390 and 428 shared some of the same heads in some applications. G.