Abigail, my '68 Fury 383 just turned 00,000.00 for the first time and runs borderline perfect! I'm the second owner and the car only traveled about 1,000 miles in the ten years before I got it.
The original 383 has never been apart for anything (I have every service receipt since June '68), doesn't leak although, she used to smoke a little while using compression coming down a hill and I have only had to add 1 quart of oil in the 5,000 miles that I have driven her. I was told that the umbrella seals for the valves were probably going bad and I should just drive it and it may get better. It did get better although, not perfect and she'll smoke a bit at start up but, not always.
The other issue is that my 906 heads wouldn't have 'hardened valve seats'.
I was searching Craigslist parts today, and there are a set of 452 heads complete with valves, springs rocker assy. etc. $150.
My question:
Would it be more cost effective to buy the 452 heads with the hardened valve seats and have them re-worked and install them on Abigail?
Or: Have my 906s fixed? Is it a big deal to install 'hardened valve seats'?
When the time comes, I'm going to change the timing chain and nylon sprocket to a steel unit I also have a '68 factory 4bbl intake, AVS carb and a set of C-body HP exhaust manifolds to also install.
I will save all of the original stuff.....
It's my understanding that the 452s flow almost as well as the 906s and Abigail is a cruiser! lol
The original 383 has never been apart for anything (I have every service receipt since June '68), doesn't leak although, she used to smoke a little while using compression coming down a hill and I have only had to add 1 quart of oil in the 5,000 miles that I have driven her. I was told that the umbrella seals for the valves were probably going bad and I should just drive it and it may get better. It did get better although, not perfect and she'll smoke a bit at start up but, not always.
The other issue is that my 906 heads wouldn't have 'hardened valve seats'.
I was searching Craigslist parts today, and there are a set of 452 heads complete with valves, springs rocker assy. etc. $150.
My question:
Would it be more cost effective to buy the 452 heads with the hardened valve seats and have them re-worked and install them on Abigail?
Or: Have my 906s fixed? Is it a big deal to install 'hardened valve seats'?
When the time comes, I'm going to change the timing chain and nylon sprocket to a steel unit I also have a '68 factory 4bbl intake, AVS carb and a set of C-body HP exhaust manifolds to also install.
I will save all of the original stuff.....
It's my understanding that the 452s flow almost as well as the 906s and Abigail is a cruiser! lol
