502 BBC heads question ?

[drsportster]

Do all the 502 Chevy Big Blocks take a standard cylinder. head In the 427 days you had to know if you had oval ports or rectangular ports is why I am asking about the 502 head Is there only one possibility ? I f you were to order a 502 head ?

 

[cwtech]

According to this link, most 502's (1990 & later) came with cast-iron rectangular port heads.
https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/12562920.html

Aluminum heads for the 502 are available in oval or rectangular ports.

 

[Watthour]

A simpler alternative is a Deere D engine - 501 CID with only two bores. Similarly, there were a couple of head variations for that one, too.

What sort of induction are you using?

 

[drsportster]

According to this link, most 502's (1990 & later) came with cast-iron rectangular port heads.
https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/12562920.html

Aluminum heads for the 502 are available in oval or rectangular ports.

How do you know which your 502 takes ?

 

[Sprint 6]

How do you know which your 502 takes ?

Depends on its original usage. The 502 was never factory installed in a vehicle, only over the counter. Most 502's were sold as performance engines and will have rectangle ports. GM performance did sell a truck 502 with oval port heads as a 454 replacement. Chamber volume would be selected based on desired compression ratio.

 

[Janicholson]

How do you know which your 502 takes ?

Two things to consider:
What intake manifold the build will use, and what the head gasket holes match the block. Jim