i have 74 cuda w 71 440 and recently discovered coolant pouring out of a crack about middle ways on my head not knowing the extent of damage yet. i started looking at my options for new alum heads and have pretty much came up with 440 stealth heads for 900.00 or edelbroch for around 1400.00. not building to drag race but i have upgraded to msd ignition and dist and mild cam hoping to have a mild built car. i have read alot about 440 heads combustion chamber being deformed and allowing the gasket ring to hang over slightly inside the chamber is this still a problem? i know this topic has been beat to death just looking for some recent info

I think the problem has been solved. It was not an issue on the early run heads if you ran the ROL head gaskets. FWIW I've got a first batch set of heads and the blue felpro permatorq head gaskets did not overhang.

Good luck getting a set of stealths, I hear they're on backorder until the next shipment gets off the boat. There are some good deals on the eddy heads out there as well.

did you have to do any thing to them such as machine work before installing?

I didn't have to do anything, but like the edelbrock heads they are hit and miss. The first run of stealths had supposedly defective valve locks/retainers, 440source sent me new ones which I put on prior to installing the heads. If I had to do it over again I would go with the CNC stealths. They're ported and gone over by modern cylinder head and should be good to go on delivery. Of course at the time the cnc option hadn't been brough to the table yet.

It wasn't ever really a problem. Any engine builder should know to double check the head gasket against the combustion chamber. Not all head gaskets fit all combustion chambers. I keep a small selection of used head gaskets hanging on the wall for just that purpose. When I get a new cylinder head on the bench I verify what size of bore diameter the head needs and then order accordingly.

Andy is correct. When the heads were first designed, the chambers were originally setup to use the larger diameter gaskets such as the ROL's we sell. Many people were used to using Felpro's 1009, which has a smaller diameter fire ring and would overhang in many cases. (FYI: we tested several Edelbrock heads as well and found the same issue,)

So, we have changed the edges of the combustion chamber slightly to allow most any popular gasket currently on the market to work without any overhang. This change was made a while ago, and the heads currently being sold have this change implemented, so the overhang should no longer be an issue, no matter what gasket you decide to use.

Also, the heads are currently back in stock and ready to ship.

Just got a call from 440-source today.... They're shipment arrived!!

Are there CNC program being offered again now that the new shipments in?
Website didn't show anything yet.

I have the first set on my 65.The rols even averhung a tiny bit.I used FelPro Marines gaskets.The cheap FelPros also fit.Two years and no problems at all.I did change the lock retainers and keepers and my shop back cut the valves and checked them with a little cleanup.Id have done the same with Eddys as I run a .588 solid with domes and a 4 speed.Mine have seen 7800 quite a few times.Rocky

Same here. I love mine and I'm putting about 400 rwhp to the groung with just a mild build!