7-X-Cyl-Head

super651

I bought a 232-7-X- Iron Head this weekend from a local friend of mine for many years . It has #309391 stamped between 4-5 cyl.and on the piston side of the head. ( the casting #was ground off) The date code is C253 and has 1/2 stud holes. (the head looks like new with no Pits or Head gasket Fire-ring depressions)

Does anyone know if the CCs is the same as the stock 232 iron head?

Thanks to ALL Rudy.

SuperDave

I checked the 48-54 Master parts book for the number 309691and it doesn't appear. The only 7X CI head listed in the Severe Duty portion of the book calls out P/N 309390. I wasn't aware of Hudson making 7X parts for the 262 or 232. Of course some parts would interchange. I can't imagine why they would do that. All the sanctioning organizations back then allowed the largest CI engine availble from the factory. As you know, most 7X parts were created for racing purposes. Perhaps it's a post 54 part? I don't have a 55-up parts book to check. Certainly a puzzle..?? A 232 head with 1/2" studs would make a good racing head for sure! Maybe some of the 7X experts will step forward with some insight..

Dave w.

Park_W

I believe the standard 7X head WAS a regular 232 head, but with 1/2" stud holes. For whatever reason, often the number marked on a head or other engine part was one digit away from the number in the parts book. In some cases it was the difference between the "bare part" and an "assembly," having at least one other part included. Dave, what's the number for a '52 or later 232 head ? (I don't have my reference books with me). Maybe Rudy has a standard 232 head that's been drilled out for 1/2" studs or bolts.

super651

Thanks Superdave and Park.

I did not give the full Info. The head did come off of a 308 7-X engine and Not a 232.

The engine was bought in 1954 from the local Hudson dealer Willis Odonohue by my friend Harry Grossell for a total of 280.00 and was installed by there Mechanic. ( new 7-X for 280.00 Wow ,he had one still on the shipping crate ) This was a Long block engine.

We were drag racing in the 50s and 60s and i was running a stock 308 in a 54 and he the 7-X in his 49 super-6 ,he would always leave me sitting on the starting line and i never outran him in all of the past drag years.

He took the 7-X block to a local mach. shop in the late 60s for an over-bore on the cylinders and never saw the block after that. ( while he was on vacation the shop closed down and the X-block along with the x-cam was in with the scrap pile ) All that was left was the Big ex-in valves and pistons that he installed in a 1956 308 engine last year.

I think that his hudson was the only Hudson that ever beat Jack Cloffords 1954 on the Strip in Calf. in the early 60s.

Hudsonly Rudy.

SuperDave

Park W wrote:

I believe the standard 7X head WAS a regular 232 head, but with 1/2" stud holes. For whatever reason, often the number marked on a head or other engine part was one digit away from the number in the parts book. In some cases it was the difference between the "bare part" and an "assembly," having at least one other part included. Dave, what's the number for a '52 or later 232 head ? (I don't have my reference books with me). Maybe Rudy has a standard 232 head that's been drilled out for 1/2" studs or bolts.

Park,

I agree , I have seen several parts that the casting number was one digit or so away from the finished part number. Intake manifolds come to mind. The only 7X head number in the book is 309390. A stock iron 232 head number for a 51-52 is 304618. 53&54 was 309112. I wonder what the differecnce in those two were? I don't think the 51-52 232 was a narrow block was it? Nahhh..;) Maybe the temperarure sensor mounting hole?

Dave W.

Park_W

Dave, based on those numbers I'd guess maybe in '54 they decided to assign that 309390 (or 309391) number to the standard 232 head drilled out for 1/2" studs for the 7X engines. I doubt they'd have made any other changes in it, except maybe shaving a little of the bottom for a little extra compression (I understand they did bore all the 7X engines to .040 over and ground/polished the crank journals down to .010 under).

Unknown

A 232 iron head was on my 308 when i bought the car, serial number 304619 (one greater than the number listed above for the 51-52 years). the head has two tapped holes on the side of the head, one each side, port and starboard.



Hal

SuperDave

About the only thing I can say for certain..is that i ain't certain!..LOL. It appears to me that the actual part number rarely appears on the part.

dwardo99

I'm curious to know what times you and your friend were running back then.

super651

The times in the 1/4 mile track was 17.50 on the 7-x that was at 5000 ft. and a 4-door 49 std trans. w. od. 4.10 diff. stock ex manifold with twn H.

In California 16.05 running with Jack Clifford ( home made headers)

The 49 was loaded and no weight removed.

Thanks to all. Rudy

[Deleted User]

On the 7X-309390 HEAD, it is ALUMINUM, whereas, the 232 HEAD is apparently IRON; one major difference.

In addition, the 7X-309390 severe duty is a 'girdled head' design, based upon its appearance, and is designed for 1/2" studs; I suspect that the 232 iron head is NOT girdled due to its being composed of iron (vs. aluminum), and that it is the same thickness as the stock 232 head.

note: a non-girdled head will put stress on the cylinders which can lead to failure

Also, I have seen the 7X-309390 HEAD, and the next time I see it I will measure the thickness of it and will photo it for presentation herein and discussion; have to make an appointment to do this.

Hudsonly, Bob

oldhudsons

Park - that is correct, they just used a "shelf" 232 head on the 7X to boost compression.

schillaz

On my 7x barn find it has the part number 304619 on 232 head aswell, the block it was on has a year 1953 casting number.

I also checked two other 1951 232 engines i have they also have 304619 head on them.

** dumb question: wouldn't you have to grind the area for the intake valves on the standard 232 head to compensate for the 2 inch valves on the 7x engine, or was their enough clearance?

oldhudsons

that is correct, in the terminology of the time, the interior chambers of the 232 were "ported & polished" to allow for the larger dia. heads of the 7X valves.