I have a set of W2 heads that I’d like information on if possible. The heads are early and cast 10-1-76 and 8-24-76, and part number 3870810. The have DRE 77823 stamped into both of the heads. I am thinking Diamond Racing Engines, would also guess the same as Diamond/Elkins fame. They have had a pretty heavy port work done, more so to the intake side as those have been made into rectangle ports. Just looking for some information on maybe the original application, as I would think it would take a pretty stout engine to benefit with these heads. Thanks Matt

is that porosity in the bottom pic ?

In the bottom pic it looks like the threads for the valve cover bolt. I dont know anything about that set. Would definatly have them preasure.tested before would do anything else to them.

You can tell that was done along time ago. I never remove all the materiel from the guide boss. And the exhaust port is way too big, but that's how it was done early on.

If they pressure test, there is nothing wrong with them. I doubt you will find an intake manifold that will go that big without a bunch of welding. Even the Pro Dominator won't go that big without welding.

never gave that a thought. thanks for pointing that out.

I've seen that a lot on Mopar SB heads that where heavily ported, use good a thread sealer on the stud or bolts to keep it rom leaking vacuum and sucking in oil from the heads

Oval port was focused at road race, oval track and early drag race.
The square ports were maximum effort drag race heads.

Yes your correct that is the valve cover bolt threads that you can see. I did have them pressure checked and magna fluxed and they passed both. Also had them cleaned up a little. Could install studs in the VC holes and epoxy around that if need be. He said that and a couple places around the added head bolt reinforcement. The machine shop said no type of issue into any coolant area.
Matt

My son has a similar set on a 360 he is putting together right now. I am expecting it to kick lots of GM butt. I think they are marked the same.

Are these cast iron or aluminium ? Yes I agree they're diamond or diamond-elkins. They look very similar to the heads Glidden ran in about 1980. The valve cover bolt hole is no problem w/ stud & loctite or epoxy. Unless they have cracks they're great w-2s. A flow bench test would be interesting. They're the early style of casting. An indy intake can easly be modified to bolt up if you are happy with a single carb. They could have an intresting history. Make'em work and haul ass !

They are cast iron, but very interesting as they are very light color wise compared to the later W-2 castings that I also have. If you look at the other thread in the WIW section you can see the difference between the color of the raw cast iron.
Matt