Need veterans advice.

[82355]

Zero factory 350's had 2.02" valves in 1982. The last year for a factory 2.02" intake valve in a 350 Chevy, was 1980. It was ONLY available in a (light casting) 624 head, in an L82 Corvette.

Martin

 

[Bohemian]

There was no four bolt main 350 in an '82 K5. Someone had swapped engines before your time.

The only state a 350 was available in an '82 K5 was California. The other 49 states could have a 250 6 cylinder, a 305, or a 6.2 Diesel.

Martin

i'll agree to disagree.
Peace.

 

[Bohemian]

Zero factory 350's had 2.02" valves in 1982. The last year for a factory 2.02" intake valve in a 350 Chevy, was 1980. It was ONLY available in a (light casting) 624 head, in an L82 Corvette.

Martin

i'll agree to dissgree.
Peace.

 

[6872xtc]

the thing about small valve vs big valve gen 1, gen 2 heads is if you need another set of heads for a sbc gen 1 or gen ii, the big valve heads with different combustion chamber sizes are more common, nobody wants the small valve heads anymore cause they don't flow as good as the big valves do, anything you can do to increase air intake and exhaust output makes the engine happier and will give you more performance, you're strangling it with small valves. You're also usually not paying more money for bigger valves, better valve springs. Even if you're not going to use them to their full poiential, it gives you scalibility, flexibility when you want to upgrade, down the road like a cam swap or some kind of power adder.

I'm not advocating replacing anything that's not broke, worn out, but if you gotta replace don't limit your scalibility from the get go by putting in small valve heads on a new or rebuilt gen 1 or 2 sbc.

I honestly feel that too many have gotten into the big valve belief solely by looking at top end numbers. I am not saying that you necessarily are, but in general. I understand your point to not prevent future upgrades.
I remember how the late sixties Cadillac, Olds and Buick engines made great low to midrange torque, but gave up top end power.
The aftermarket is obviously not going to make small valve heads to possibly only sell a few sets a year to those who want a specific build.
And I believe that the typical driving rpm range experience is one of the most difficult things to assign a number to for comparison.
I have seen guys who would be impressed with things, but won't use them for their personal project.
As you said don't rip out something that is good, I just personally wouldn't chase big valves for a truck application. My experience wasn't stellar for my application. The 406 in my '72 C10 liked the 2.02 valve heads.

 

[82355]

In his defense, the majority of 350's used a 1.94" intake valve, and the majority of 305's used a 1.84" (if I remember correctly). That might be what he is talking about?

Martin