snowtrooper1966

Can anyone confirm if this is a bolt on swap?
Have a 1966 361 with some valve issues.
Have 1969 383 heads available that appear to be in good working order.
Thought was to have the 383 heads hot tanked and magnafluxed just to make sure they are good to go.
Anyone with any experience with this swap?

TVLynn

361 may have closed chamber heads, 383 are open chamber head and would lower your compression. That may not be a bad thing... IT doesn't matter if you are rebuilding the motor

440roadrunner

Some early heads did not have rocker stands cast as part of the head. Not sure if the rocker shafts will interchange. So far as I know, this would be the only issue.

snowtrooper1966

Some detail pix of donor 383:

moe7404

i think the block stations last year was 62-63. i do know the change was complete by 65. but if you keep all the parts for which every head you have with that you should be ok.. all so find a factory manual. and pay close notice to the clocking of the shaft. i think its some thing to do with the oiling groves in the bottom of the shaft. be sure and pop the end plugs out to clean the inside of the shaft, use a sheet metal screw thread into the plug and pull both out, then clean the in side. course get new plugs first. also note that the push rod socket in the rocker is NOT in the center. one is called a left and the other right. this is the name of that rocker it doe not necessarily mean which one is on the left or right of the other

snowtrooper1966

Yep, after more reserach, your stament seems to be correct. If they are the stock 1966 361 heads, then they will be closed chamber, and I will lower my compression by swapping on the stock 1969 383 open chamber heads....

Was hoping I would be gaining some performance, not losing..

Only benifit seems to be the 383 heads get me on the road quicker and cheaper.

Now im thinking I should just stuff the entire 383 in there, but that's not in the budget right now.
Also want to keep the Charger as orginal as possible......

snowtrooper1966

383 heads need complete rebuild, so gave up in that. Figured I'd be better off rebuilding stock heads, until I took'em off:





Now I need to find a set of closed chamber heads....

RacerHog

Now..... Thats what I call a used up set of heads...

snowtrooper1966

Rebuilt my stock closed chamber heads. They came out nice. Put hardened valve seats in 'em:











Been driving the Charger now for about a month, loving every moment!

RacerHog

Don't forget to put sealer on the exhaust studs or they will leak water....

Skwerly

Nice job on those heads.