Is there enough potential in these heads that is worth the effort or should I consider other options,mind you I am on a limited budget so getting better heads takes away better parts somewhere else.

I recently replaced my 906 heads with Stealths.

Easy swap. Couldnt be happier!

Depends on what you mean by effort. Just a valve job, and normal clean up? Sure, but if you're talking about porting, I wouldn't bother...better to start with an aluminum casting.

My opinion.....Before you spend a nickel on your old heads, get a written quote from your machine shop. Then compare that number to the cost of a new pair of Stealth heads.

The above poster is right, anything more than a decent valve job will cost more than the Stealths. But I understand bucks-down engine building, so here's an alternative: Get the quote first, then template port them yourself before the valve job (in case your cutter hits the seat). The 452s are supposedly easier to port for amateurs because of the short side radius.

But if you would have anyone else port them, just go directly to aftermarket heads.


R.

The only work needed from a machine shop would be surfacing,multi angle valve job,valve guides,maybe larger valves.
Any and all port work is easy for me,I have done many,just do not have the tooling for the other stuff.
I do not know much about these 452 heads,I always used 906 or 915 bb,
X,J and just this summer 302 sb.
I am thinking about aluminum heads though,will take some saving up for.

As has been said, price the work you would have to pay for and compare to the cost of a cheap set of aluminum heads. Then consider flow numbers you can achieve with iron heads compared to the out of the box aluminum head. More importantly dyno numbers or track results achieved by others with said aluminum head.
The real question is can you reach the performance level you desire cheaper with home ported 452's or aluminum heads.
452's have a lot of potential. I'm not a pro head porter, but have seen some VERY good running cars with ported 452's

Maybe this is closer to what you were asking.....There is as much potential in a pair of 452s as any other bigblock head. Years ago when Chrysler was blowing out bare castings for cheap, racers figured out that they were quite good. Plus, the induction hardened valve seats negated the need for inserts.

Fast forward to 10 years ago. Steve Dulcich's three part article on bigblock heads was and is a good read for any would-be home porter, because he quantified some results with flow testing. But one thing I remember is his statement that the later heads, meaning 1973 and up, were easier to put big valves in, with good results. Short side radius was easier to do properly.

I am guessing at least $400 probably more into machine work on those existing heads. But check it out first, then make an informed decision.

If you do get a number, post it. That'll help others.

If you build the 452s, make sure the piston is at or close to zero deck. That way an aluminum head swap wouldn't require new pistons.

One last thing. If you decide to go 452s, they were improved halfway through the run. Chrysler had decided to drop the bigblock so there was no way to get a new casting number. The improved heads have thicker port walls. You can identify them by the numeral 1 cast onto the end of the head.

R.

Another idea is to keep your eyes open for a lightly/moderately used pair of Ed or Stealth heads. May cost less than fixing up the 452's.

The 452 is a pretty good head for a factory iron head. But as was said the aluminum heads are the best bet now a days. If you have larger valves put in then that can get pricey. I used 452 heads on my old 383 years ago and with just buying valves and springs along with valve seals cost me a few hundred and that was almost 20 years ago. I did my own porting and valve job. So I would consider the Stealth heads or maybe the Eddy RPM heads. Also the 452's are open chamber so you wont have good quench with them. Ron

When I looked at rebuilding an old set of 906 heads (new exhaust seats, new guides, new seals, reuse original valves, springs retainers and keepers, plus cleaning up deck surface), the cost was within a couple of hundred of a new set of Eddie's. If I replaced valves, springs and hardware, it would have cost me more to use the old heads. That was about 10 years ago, I can't say the same is true today.

Danny

you sure can ...