86 Black Roller 318, swap/interchange into 72 318

FunnyOldMan said

Plan is to re gasket Blue 72, to my knowledge bone stock, slap together performer and 650 on for now. 86 is from you guys say will be a one I want to take time on to do right. Ran before I pulled but leaked everywhere. Wanna maybe go with magnum aluminum heads. Shame too, 86 heads were 302 j heads. 300 horse is a good learning start.

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302 heads are NOT J heads. J heads are early 340/360 heads.
I would not bother with 302 or OEM Magnum heads.
IF the block was a Magnum / no oil through the head gallery, I’d go straight to the Edebrock Magnum heads. Otherwise, it would be a regular aluminum LA head.

An ‘86 block is a roller LA and I’d do that with a hyd roller cam and OEM/Mellings replacement hyd roller lifters. Better pistons for more compression. Being a 318, it’s hard to get some decent compression without a dome piston. And that’s what I’d purchased. A KB piston with a dome. There available in hyperutecic and forged aluminum.