5.0 Swap: Gt40p heads not fitting on 302

[bubbanugs]

Hi Everyone,

I’m back with another question on the ongoing swap.

So I bought gt40p heads to go on my 93 302 block. I’ve decided to tear the block down and hone the cylinders after many of yall said that’s an important can of worms. I tend to agree it’s better to do it right once.

In the meantime, I wanted to check the head fitment. It looks to me like the alignment pins on the block and head interfere.

Before I try pulling the pins out of the heads, I figured I ask. Am I missing something? I’ve read a little bit about the pins being different sizes and people drilling to 1/2”. But again, thought it’d be useful to just ask first before I start doing something that might bite me. Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[Curious Hound]

I don't understand the question. Are they different sizes? In your pictures, it looks like you have 2 sets of pins. Either use the ones in the block or use the ones in the head. You can't use both.

 

[bubbanugs]

Ok I figured as much. I even tried pulling the ones in the head out with pliers but I decided to put them down and do some research before hand. I will pull the ones in the head out tomorrow.

Any tips for removing them? Should I just bend them in at the seam? I am worried to use heat on either side because it may warp the heads or block. ill hit them with kroil right now.

 

[Curious Hound]

I've never had to pull those. Kroil os a good start. I would try pliers. If pliers don't grip, try a pair of dikes (diagonal cutters) or big vice grips. I think they are hardened. So you probably won't do much bending or folding of them.

 

[bubbanugs]

Makes sense. I’ve got dikes and pliers. I’m sure I’ll find a way.

 

[rubydist]

Put a large vice-grip tight on the alignment tube, and then use a hammer on the vice-grip. Those things tend to get stuck pretty hard and it takes more than just a tug on them to get them out usually.