w-2 heads info
hello all guitarguy here (Ray) new member today and need help,info on a set of w-2 heads I have. the cast #s are 3870810E. I looked online last night and what I read was just confusing. on one hand the info said they were just economy heads on the other they said all kinds of special parts need to be used with them can anyone set me straight?
The wording "Economy" is sometimes a term that is confused with what we normally apply the wording to like, "I have a economy car for its mileage, not its power."
In this particular use, it designed reuse the "Inexpensive" stock parts and not race expensive parts. The "Econo" head re used the stock 340 T/A rockers. Years back, you just purchased the T/A off set rockers and the shaft it rides on IF you were lucky enough to own that 1 year only 340.
While they do not make the Econo head anymore, the MoPar lots are littered with them.
The current W2 heads use rocker stands or more actually aluminum stands to hold the shafts which the rockers mount on.
A W2 head comes in long and standard valve lengths, in general. After that basic description, they divide again into Econo and race W2 heads and come in standard and long valve versions.
So now we are up to 4 basic W2 designs. Then add a 48* version for the race blocks.
A trip through the years of how many W2 head versions that have been reasee, your head will probably spin and get dizzy.
Summit racing was the W2 head for sale and if you go there and take a look, just make sure your looking at the W2 head for the stock 59* lifter angle.
Commonly this W2 head is called the 59* - W2 head.
You can weigh the worth of your heads to a degree vs. the brand new W2 - 59* head.
If you want to use them, also take into consideration the cost of all the parts needed to make them work and the machine shop to do the work unless you can do the work.
For a cruiser, just prep the head and do not port it.
As cast, there a powerful head. Ported W2 heads can make 600+ HP
If your interested in selling them, let me know. Give me a PM and we'll talk.