Howdy Zorm:
You've been looking in our windows. Yes, there is a better head for your project. There is a "Stickie" at the top of this forum titled "Head Swapping". Check that out.
In a nutshell, look for a D7 or later head from a recycle yard. It will have bigger intake valves, hardened valve seats, a 1.75" carb hole, a larger volume intake tract.
The down-side is that it will have chamber volumes of aproximatley 62 ccs compared to your '66s head of 52 ccs. This must be compensated for during the head rebuild or you'll be down on compression. Another factor to consider is the difference in your stock steel shim head gasket at .025" thick and the aftermarket gaskets of about .050" thick.
Both of these issues can be taken care of by milling aproximately .075" on the head mating surface during the rebuild. This will reestablish your stock 9:1 compression ratio and improve valve flow slightly because of the valves opening deepeer into the cylinder.
Along with milling specify to your head builder that you want a three angle performance seat, and the intake valves back-cut with a 30 degree cut above the 45. Also specify that you want the stock springs shimmed .030". That's assuming the the stock springs check out up to specs.
If you're planning to go to a two barrel in the future now is the time to have the log modified for direct mounting that carb.
You didn't mention your exhaust plans, but now is also the time to install a center exhaust port divider, if you're going to. It is so much easier to fit it tight and have it welded in while the head is off, then later.
We do the exhaust port divider welding and carb mount fabrication before milling, just in case the heat causes any warpage.
I'm pleased that Mike et al, at Classic Inline is not leaving us stock headcases behind in the pursuit of knowledge. Watch for the dyno results he's getting. He is getting very good at controlled research- apples to apples, and before and after comparisons.
His results could really help to steer us old-skool types in a better direction.
Adios, David
