Any 216 head from 1941-53 will fit and function the same. As you mentioned the earlier heads used 10mm plugs.
The 1937-40 heads are designed to go with dome pistons, so they are not a good candidate. The 1937-40 head can easily be identified as it is straight down the manifold side, not scallop around the head bolts like the 1941-53 head.
