304 vs 360 heads...differneces?

[mr.vic]

i am looking to pick up a 304 from a CJ, unknown year motor has been sitting for a while, it has trans and d300 still attached for $300 and comes with some aftermarket intake, carb, headers and other stuff. good deal since most people want $200 - $300 for a d300 alone up here

can anyone tell me were to find the identification tag to determine what year it may have come from? is it on the pass side head on a round tag?

i am looking at rebuilding and swapping the heads to my 360 (1981 vintage) and at the same time toss on edelbrock manifold and holley 4blr (off the 304) in place of the stock 360 intake and 2brl carb.

any info on the heads cc chanber and what people have done in the past would be great help.

Thanks! :lo1l: :lo1l:

[mr.vic]

ok so i didn't see the sticky about the amc heads. that is good to see. can anyone advise what benifits if any swapping over the smaller 304 heads to the 360 would be? higher compression, little more power, but needs higher octane gas?

sorry i am very much a newbie when it comes to to the AMC and engine stuff. thanks for the help in advance.

btw - my rig is a 91 YJ with 360/tf727/d300, dana 44 and ford 8.8 axles with SOA.

[dwg86]

304 AND 360 have the same size cc. the 1970 heads had 51cc and 1971 and up 58cc. The valves are smaller on the 304 heads, so I see know benefit from using them on a 360.

[tufcj]

No benefits, only poorer performance because the bigger displacement engines need to breathe.

The only way to truly date the engine is from the valve cover tag. A 1" or so square tag, usually on the front of the passenger cover (it may be on the rear of the driver side if the covers were reversed). Usually, it's long gone. There may be the last digit, or 2 digits of the year cast into the head between the rockers, or into the lifter galley. Either way, you need to pull the valve covers or manifold.

You probably know, the displacement is cast into the side of the block, right under the motor mount bracket, between the freeze plugs.

Bob
tufcj

[fuzz401]

You probably know, the displacement is cast into the side of the block, right under the motor mount bracket, between the freeze plugs


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/fuzzcj7/IMG_0503.jpg

[jeepsr4ever]

Fuzz did I ever tell you that you have the greatest pictures. :? :idea:

[mr.vic]

thanks for the information, it doesn't make sense to put the 304 heads on the 360 motor.

nice pic fuzz, that 401 looks like it is going to be a monster :lo1l:

[401 Pacer]

Am not sure, so don't take this as gospel, but they way I heared it....360 valves will foul the cylinders on a 304 due to the smaller bore.

Something to keep in mind though....Mother Mopar often slapped 360 heads on their 318 engines and not only did they fit but performance improved (they did this on their later police packages). Not saying that this directly carries over to AMC, but its food for thunk just the same.

[Mudrat]

Fuzz did I ever tell you that you have the greatest pictures. :? :idea:
Do you know how long it takes him to clean up enough to take those pix?? :? :wink:

[dbesade]

Am not sure, so don't take this as gospel, but they way I heared it....360 valves will foul the cylinders on a 304 due to the smaller bore.

Something to keep in mind though....Mother Mopar often slapped 360 heads on their 318 engines and not only did they fit but performance improved (they did this on their later police packages). Not saying that this directly carries over to AMC, but its food for thunk just the same.

In order to put 360 heads on a 304 you have to notch the cylinders.. and because of shrouding problems you probably will end up with worse performance.

my 2¢ worth

-Dave