POTENTIAL OF D80E HEADS???

Is there any performance potential in a set of D80E heads? I found a set with intake and exhaust port work, with 1.94/1.64 valves. They are currently 69cc chambers. I am considering these for a moderately built 302 daily driver, Performer package. How much could I shave off these heads, to raise compression to a worthwhile level without running into problems? What size chamber can I expect to end up with?

Might be able to let you know in a few days. I started porting a set of those this morning. (Letting the grinder cool down a few minutes)
[addsig]

I think the biggest problem with these heads you have already addressed.They had small valves(especially if they were on a 351) and the huge combustion chamber.They can probably be made to breathe as well as any small block windsor factory head.If you are just building the engine maybe you can get some pistons that will bring your compression up with these heads.I don't know how much you can safely mill them,around .040 I think but I don't know what kind of CCs you'll end up with.If you mill them this much you will have to have the intake milled too I believe.I'm sure you'll get some more definete reply's.

ok cooling down again. Also melted down some pistons to fill up the heat crossover and the thermactor holes. Totally ground out the hole on the first port so it is just a little hole at the bottom of the port and I'll fill it with the alum then grind it flush. Somebody already put all new seats in these heads recently and without replacing the intake seats the biggest I can really go would be 1.84/1.50 which is what I'll do with these.
[addsig]

I have a set of heads off a 79 351W, not sure what casting they are, I assume they are around the same vintage as the D8's if not actually D8s. The combustion chambers are huge compared to a set of E7s I had laying around. There is no quench area on these heads. Personally I would only consider using them as boat anchors or extra weight for traction when it snows.
Kywookie

I wouldn't use 'em. The chambers are huge with no quench. The compression would be abyssmally low; good for a blown or turbo application maybe. The low compression would make it really doggy, especially with the little Performer cam. And with out the quench, it might detonate like hell. I don't like the pedestal type rocker set up either. I'd look for a set of early 289 heads with the small chamber to give it a little more pop. Even in stock form. The Performer package isn't a heavy breather and I'd think the compression would be worth more than the airflow. Hot Rod ran an article a while back.where someone swapped a set of early 289 heads onto a 5.0 and picked up something like 25 hp.

That's just my opinion, though. I could be wrong.
[addsig]

One good thing about these heads is that they work well for forced induction or street stroker applications. They were actually popular in the early 80's for roots supercharger setups. If you use them on a 393w, with KB 364's youre looking at 9.1-9.3:1 compression. A little low, but even with the non quench chamber, it would be pump gas friendly. (You would have to port the bejesus out of them to be of any limited performace use on a 393, but I'm sure it could be done)

Thanks guys. I believe I'll just pass them bye and continue with my origional plan of sprucing up my 65' 289 heads. The thing is, the small 54.5 cc chambers in the 289 heads, are going to put me in the neighborhood of 10:1 compression or so. I may be able to do some porting/polishing in the chambers to increase the chambers just a little to get compression closer to 9.5. How much if any ammount could I expect to be able to increase the chambers...55.5 or so?

From what I understand, you don't want a real smooth surface in your combustion chamber so you need to be careful about what you do in there. The only place in the chamber I would recommend removing material would be around the valves, to unshroud them. You may be able to knock out a cc by doing that. If your cam has enough duration you should still be OK on pump gas. Some of the other guys could probably be more specific on duration suggestions than I can.
Kywookie

I am going to a dual pattern cam...Summit grind 218/228 duration with .471/.471 lift and 114 lobe seperation. I think these are actually made by Crane. I purchased a port and polish kit. If I am not mistaken they have you gasket match and then polish the combustion chamber of the heads. If I am confused and "out there" please let me know.