Mismatched 243 heads..what me worry?
#1
On The Tree
Thread Starter
Mismatched 243 heads..what me worry?
I picked up a set of 243 heads on Craigslist.
When I was looking them over...I was very diligent looking for cracks and checking straightness. Along with investigating the porting that the guy started on one cylinder.
I looked at the casting number on each head, made sure they were 243.
However, I didn't notice they were cast at two different GM casting sources ( the rockers were on and covering the cast source insignia)
Non-Castech "E" casting release (upper left)
Castech "D" casting release
They definitely came off the same engine, because they have ABC auto tell tales glued on the freeze plug (to verify not overheated). Meaning they have had at least one valve job. The Castech head definitely looks more grimey
My guess is something happened to one of the Castech heads when "ABC" serviced them, and they purchased a new casting from GM.
They have the same casting numbers, however the Castech head appears to be Release D and the Non- Castech head looks to be Release E.
Anyone ever run across this?
I read about Castech issues on the 706 heads, and nothing on Castech issues on 243 heads.
Everything else looks good on these heads.
Just looking for some feedback.
If nobody can give me just reason not to...I'm probably going to do a little clean up and run them.
They are just going on a mild 1998 LS1 in a Vega.
Thanks!
Dan
When I was looking them over...I was very diligent looking for cracks and checking straightness. Along with investigating the porting that the guy started on one cylinder.
I looked at the casting number on each head, made sure they were 243.
However, I didn't notice they were cast at two different GM casting sources ( the rockers were on and covering the cast source insignia)
Non-Castech "E" casting release (upper left)
Castech "D" casting release
They definitely came off the same engine, because they have ABC auto tell tales glued on the freeze plug (to verify not overheated). Meaning they have had at least one valve job. The Castech head definitely looks more grimey
My guess is something happened to one of the Castech heads when "ABC" serviced them, and they purchased a new casting from GM.
They have the same casting numbers, however the Castech head appears to be Release D and the Non- Castech head looks to be Release E.
Anyone ever run across this?
I read about Castech issues on the 706 heads, and nothing on Castech issues on 243 heads.
Everything else looks good on these heads.
Just looking for some feedback.
If nobody can give me just reason not to...I'm probably going to do a little clean up and run them.
They are just going on a mild 1998 LS1 in a Vega.
Thanks!
Dan