I don't want to mess with my restored '62 head, and want a head with high heat rating. I've found a truck engine from an '81 or '82 and want to know if this would be good for decking, porting, etc? What issues are there? Are the pushrods smaller in diameter or something? Thanks.

you can hop up a 81 the lifters are hydrolic in it but if you want to change them to solid it's a matter of changing the entire set right from the cam to the rocker arms but i beleive they are a thin wall construction so you may not be able to bore it out as much

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MOPAR OR NO CAR
1985 Ram
1975 Coronet
1998 Dakota

I think hes talking about just using the head,,if thats the case the later head will be fine ,actually better considering that it has hardened seats and the revised combustion chamber.Just make sure to use the earlier solid lifter valvtrain.
HyperValiant

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1960 Hyper-Pac Valiant(rolling test-bed)
1963 Valiant V2OO(Son's summer project,- he just turned 15 )
1972 Valiant 4dr(Daughter Kelly's repair in progress)
1974 Valiant (v8) daughter Kelly's work in progress

The combustion chamber is different? How so?

Are the ports any different?

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I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.

Step,
The port are pretty much the same but the chamber is some what revised for better combustion.
Read Docs article on cylinder heads and it will be much clearer.
HyperValiant

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1960 Hyper-Pac Valiant(rolling test-bed)
1963 Valiant V2OO(Son's summer project,- he just turned 15 )
1972 Valiant 4dr(Daughter Kelly's repair in progress)
1974 Valiant (v8) daughter Kelly's work in progress

The '81 and up head is very good for porting, etc. It actually has more meat in it than an early head. The ports may be a touch smaller than early heads to start with.

The one advantage that it will have over a '75-'80 head is that you can pull the lifters out through the head if you have to.

The one disadvantage is that you need the '81 and up valve cover.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.