Ok so I blew up my 99. Snapped a rod on a stock motor with only intake and exhaust. I need to replace the bottom end and the head, the piston came up and smacked the head. The thing is I don't want to add VVT to it but I don't see 99-00 heads out there. I can get my hands on 01 and up heads. Now the question is can I retro fit my cams, the front intake cam cap, and valve cover? Or is there any other differences? I can't find any info on the differences between the two heads other than the addition of VVT, and from pics of the newer head it looks like the head itself is the same. Any known info is appreciated.

 

Send me a VVT head.

 

No. The #1 cap is oiled via the VVT system. You cannot easily convert it back. It's been done, but you have to machine a custom adapter to take the place of the VVT actuator, drill holes in the head to feed the #1 intake cam journal, and fabricate a block-off plate for the VVT valve cover (you cannot use a '99 valve cover unless you do a significant amount of custom machine work to the underside).

The short answer is that if you don't have both heads in front of you, and a machine shop at your disposal, then you can't do it.

Your 99 head is probably fine, BTW - just replace the bent valves/guides, have it surfaced, clean up any other imperfections, and you're good to go. It takes a lot to destroy a head. (.010+ warped, cracked, valve embedded in the aluminum, etc.)