[unruhjonny]

fair enough.

I wanted to touch on something you said earlier - I waited to see if somone more knowledgable might speak up:

Originally Posted by Brewster G

My early 73 T/A 455 has 4X heads dated H182. ...
the block is also H182 dated....
I have just found the secondary stamping on the heads to be "3", which I believe to be early 73 400 application with 98cc chambers. ...
The identical casting date is making me doubt my findings. ...

I was hoping someone more versed in casting dates of components might speak up, but with no one saying anything, I just want to say it so that it has been said;

I have my doubts these are the original heads to your cars engine.

Since you've only had the car a year, I would guess that odds are a previous owner bought those heads because:
1) more compression
2) date matched to block

Now I don't want to seem to undermine anything previously stated;
I still think it's possible that those are original heads, but considering the following, I think it's rather improbable:

1) I have understood that once a drive train was certified, that if manufacturers are caught building cars/drivetrains that are incongruent with epa certification they were subject to heavy fines ect.
Just look at the 1973 Pontiac EGR fiasco - in that instance they were not breaking any rules, but they were more bending the rules, because of how the testing to gain certification was done.

1b) If a casting (1/1H) was already created specifically for ALL 1973-455's;
And those heads were a component of the EPA certification;
odds are those were the only castings intended to be used on 455.
...but I've learned to never say never.

2) casting dates;
I have understood that blocks, heads, and intakes (the three parts everyone looks at for casting dates) were all created in batches, and often the block preceded the heads by weeks, if not much more;
I have also understood that more often than not supplies of blocks and intakes exceeded that of heads - maybe because the heads required more time to complete finishing work(?), so shortblocks, and intakes were awating heads.
I have understood that often the intake will be closely dated to the block.

3) The history (or lack there of) on your car which you have shared with us.

So although possible, I believe it to be improbable.

... and none of this takes away from your intentions of your build, or the stock appearance of the engine components.

That's probably a VERY fun car.