Can anyone identify this head?

[jpm123]

They are supposed to be 1928 LaSalle HC heads, but they don't look like anything in the Authenticity Manual.  Could they be Cadillac heads?
Does anyone know if I can use 328 HC heads on a 1927 LaSalle 303?

[Owen Nacker]

 It does look familiar. Like it could be from a 328/353. But I'm far from being the expert on this.

 Mike

[Classic]

My WAG is Cadillac/LaSalle from 1925-35.  What say you experts?

[Otto Skorzeny]

The mid 20s Cadillac heads are smooth without fins/ribs. They also have "ears" around the edge of the head through which the headbolts pass. These clearly do not.

[warren rauch]

  What type of spark plugs were in the head?. Your car should have 7/8 ". Cadillac switched to 18 mm about 1930, I'll look up the year. Warren

[Warren Rauch]

 You are going to need 303 or 328 heads. The cylinder head gasket only fits those models.During the period there were 6 different pairs of heads. The 303 's (1927) , 328'S BEFORE SERIAL 4-14348 when the spark plugs were changed from SAE 7/8"(appox: Jan 1929) and 328's after serial 4-14348 with metric plugs. Each group had low compression and high compression. Since the parts book never says that 303 and 328 will interchange even that might not be possible.
 I can't get the picture to enlarge to see if they look like the heads my 31 355A(which they shouldn't). Warren
 
 

[jpm123]

Warren, thank you for your reply.  I really appreciate the help.  When you say serial number, do you mean the serial number of the motor?  I have also seen references made to a casting number on the heads.  Is that what you mean?  I have not been able to find a casting number on any of the heads I have. I purchased the car recently, and am trying to right a lot of wrongs. I live in New York.  Right now my motor is in Michigan to be rebuilt.  The machinist called and said that the car had two different heads on it.  One high compression and one low compression.  He said the low compression head was no good.  crecked and milled too many times.  I purchased a set of what are supposed to be 1928 HC heads from Dick Shappy, but they don't look like any of the heads in the LaSalle Authenticity manual which is why I posted the photo on the CLC forum.  I have no idea what car these heads came from so I can't answer some of the questions you raise.  My mechanic here says that the heads I bought from Shappy ( for a rediculous amount) are garbage.  They are pitted deeply between two of the cylinders and the hole where the freeze out plugs is supposed to go is corroded away.  Other people tell me that they can be repaired.  The correct 1927 303 heads seem to be impossible to find.  The 328 heads seem to be more readily available which is why I'm tryiing to find out if they will work, even though they are not "authentic."

So far no one has been able to say YES the 328 heads will work on your 303 (which by the way is being bored out to a large size during the rebuild).

Any other thought or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

You are going to need 303 or 328 heads. The cylinder head gasket only fits those models.During the period there were 6 different pairs of heads. The 303 's (1927) , 328'S BEFORE SERIAL 4-14348 when the spark plugs were changed from SAE 7/8"(appox: Jan 1929) and 328's after serial 4-14348 with metric plugs. Each group had low compression and high compression. Since the parts book never says that 303 and 328 will interchange even that might not be possible.
 I can't get the picture to enlarge to see if they look like the heads my 31 355A(which they shouldn't). Warren
 
 

[Warren Rauch]

 The serial numbers are engine numbers. They should still be able to tell what threads are in the the heads for the spark plugs.
  I also found a little more in two issues of the Service Man . April 15 ,1929  another set of heads were used on the cars between 4-14348 and 4-17364 (the early metric heads) these had a slightly higher compression than the standard HC head of 5.3. This head was never avalible for replacement.The later HC heads  had an"X" below the HC to distingush them and were 5.3 heads.
  All this probably doesn't matter. In the Sept 1,1928 issue, where the 328 is introduced they say " THe 328 cylinder heads,blocks,pistons and pins  are,therefore ,not interchandeable with 303 parts." It is refering back to a statement that the bore was increased to 3 1/4" . It also shows a picture of  a section of the head. Near the bottom directyly below the 53 , they have 328H cast into the head. Warren

[jpm123]

Warren, again thanks for your help!  Your comments are clear, concise and supported by documentation.  I couldn’t possibly ask for more.  However, this info raises another question in my mind.  If the 328 heads are inappropriate for the 303 because of the increase in the bore from 3 1/8 to 3 1/4, what does that mean relative to the fact that my motor is going to be bored out to something in between those two values in the rebuild process?

Please forgive me if this is a dumb question, but I am not a mechanic and this is my first experience restoring an old car.  I’m finding that information, especially reliable information and parts, especially usable parts, can be very hard to come by.

Thanks again,
John Micciche

The serial numbers are engine numbers. They should still be able to tell what threads are in the the heads for the spark plugs.
  I also found a little more in two issues of the Service Man . April 15 ,1929  another set of heads were used on the cars between 4-14348 and 4-17364 (the early metric heads) these had a slightly higher compression than the standard HC head of 5.3. This head was never avalible for replacement.The later HC heads  had an"X" below the HC to distingush them and were 5.3 heads.
  All this probably doesn't matter. In the Sept 1,1928 issue, where the 328 is introduced they say " THe 328 cylinder heads,blocks,pistons and pins  are,therefore ,not interchandeable with 303 parts." It is refering back to a statement that the bore was increased to 3 1/4" . It also shows a picture of  a section of the head. Near the bottom directyly below the 53 , they have 328H cast into the head. Warren

[Otto Skorzeny]

jpm,

Click on the link in my signature and look up Flat Caddy. They sell brand new heads, valves, tappets, valley pans, etc. for flathead Cadillacs just in case you can't find old ones or don't want to hassle with them.