596 or 308 castings on a 4bbl 360

[popinsmoke]

Gentlemen,

I am building a mild 360 4bbl in my 78 Magnum, The short block is the stock low compression 360 2bbl that Ma Mopar made millions of.

Now I am in the process of installing a Comp Cams XE268H complete kit as well as an airgap intake and street demon 625 4bbl carb.

The lean burn system has been ditched in favor of the MP electronic conversion with the orange box.

Plans are at this time to run the big outlet dakota exhaust manifolds in to a 2.5 inch true dual with an X pipe.

So my question is the car has 596 casting heads currently sitting in boxes that came off the car and 103k miles, I have access to a pair of 308 castings at the local bone yard as not allot of Mopar guys frequent my yard.

Everything that I have read says that the 596 castings are the best of the smogger heads but the 308's are the best pre magnum head, my question is how much better?

If I am having 2.02 valves and bowl work performed anyway is there that much of an advantage to the 308 "swirl port" design $ for $?

Also looking for the MP head porting templates anyone know a good source to find them?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

 

[moper]

For what you're doing either head will work. The 308 is basically the same 596/915/J/X/O intake port, but with the better Magnum-esque exhaust port. But they do have issues with cracking across the seats. So the 308s are IMO the better of the two, but will cost more because you have the 596s sitting already and there's no guarantee the 308ss are usable.

 

[popinsmoke]

That is a very good point, As it stands I am leaning towards using the 596's for the very reasons you stated.