Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Topic: Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup? (Read 5662 times) previous topic - next topic

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

February 15, 2015, 10:07:11 PM

I've got P heads...took them off of a '99 Mountaineer a couple years ago. Paid 75 bucks for them at Pick n Pull in Kansas City.

Awhile back, took them to the shop to have them tanked, valve job, and the TFS spring kit installed.

The cleaning and work was 145 bucks, and that counts the removal of an intake bolt that I couldn't get out myself.

The spring kit cost me 170 bucks. I don't have the heads ported, and likely won't.

That puts me at 390 dollars into my heads.

Next time, I'm going to save my nickels and dimes and get some AFR185's or something...

So, what y'all have into your heads?

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #1 – February 15, 2015, 10:45:52 PM

I had purchased a set of twisted wedge 170s for $700 to put on a built 9.5:1 351w shortblock I've had around for a few years. I then had the heads drilled for 1/2" head bolts and resurfaced for $100. Then I purchased a set of used Crane Gold Race rocker arms for $250...

I had planned on using the comp XE274h cam, as I already have the right springs for it, and my block is not a roller block and I'm too cheap to run the link bar roller lifters.

So $1050 in heads and I'm yet to make my mind up on whether or not I'll put the engine in the car because I'm not sure if I will keep the AOD and buy a 2500 stall converter or swap in a t5.

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #2 – February 15, 2015, 11:18:14 PM

Going to order cylinder heads this spring and still not sure of which ones i want... right now. But was leaning toward the AFR SBF 195cc Competition Package, 58cc chambers ones, but have to go thru my data sheet on the motor to be sure.

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #3 – February 16, 2015, 07:39:39 AM

Edelbrock RPMs I got used for $750 with the pushrods, 1.7 rockers and arp head studs. Did replace the springs with some better com cams springs that I had laying around but cant remember what I had in those. Did the porting myself along with mild chamber work and chamferred oil drain return holes. Been running them about 2.5 years now and they work great.

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #4 – February 16, 2015, 08:01:49 AM

Had a brand new set of trick flow 170s but traded them for a vortech supercharger before I installed them. Ended up using a set of iron gt40s from an explorer. Will go with a trickflow set up down the road

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #5 – February 16, 2015, 06:13:49 PM

Well just for a perspective on how much better base aluminum heads (Edelbrock Performer, AFR 165, Twisted Wedge 170) than even GT40/GT40P heads:

The combo in my Thunderbird originally had factory stock GT40P heads. I got a great deal on a brand new in the box set of Edelbrock Performer heads. I swapped the Edelbrock heads (box stock) in place of the GT40P heads. No other changes. At the track the car went .5 seconds and 5mph faster than it's best run with the GT40P heads. The Edelbrock heads were worth some where around 40-50hp with no other changes. Edelbrock Performer/AFR 165/TW 170 heads flow out of the box about what fully ported GT40P heads flow.

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #6 – February 16, 2015, 08:14:14 PM

And I did ask my machine shop guy what he charged to port heads...he even told me it wasn't worth my time porting the GT40's, but he'd send them out to have it done if I wanted to. I just wanted his price, and got it, and decided not to. AFR's will be at some point in the future, along with a ported lower. Lots of other minor stuff first though. :)

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #7 – February 16, 2015, 09:59:25 PM

Really unless you're doing the work yourself porting GT40/GT40P heads isn't cost effective. By the time they are cleaned up and ported by a machine shop you're lokking at $800-1000 in iron factory heads. A couple hundred more dollars and you have some nice brand new made in the USA aluminum heads. Heck for around $800 you can get used aluminum heads.

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #8 – February 16, 2015, 10:13:00 PM

You guys know of anyone whose used twisted wedge heads on a non HO short block? Just curious as I know there is opportunity for PTV interference.... If I don't swap in the 351 I will stick a comp 268h in the 302 and may add the heads just for kicks.

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #9 – February 17, 2015, 03:34:37 PM

There really isn't. I run the TFS heads with a custom .565" lift Ed Curtis cam on true flat top forged pistons with about 230 degrees of duration at .050". Due to the canted valve design of the heads, there's a ton of room. The 268h would have even more room on the setup you mentioned. Always check for safety's sake (and your wallet), but barring anything weird like someone placing a voodoo curse on you so car stuff just doesn't work, it'll be fine.

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #10 – February 17, 2015, 04:46:52 PM

Quote from: V8Demon;444795

There really isn't. I run the TFS heads with a custom .565" lift Ed Curtis cam on true flat top forged pistons with about 230 degrees of duration at .050". Due to the canted valve design of the heads, there's a ton of room. The 268h would have even more room on the setup you mentioned. Always check for safety's sake (and your wallet), but barring anything weird like someone placing a voodoo curse on you so car stuff just doesn't work, it'll be fine.

With a 230* duration at .050 and .565 lift get a Holley Systemax intake on that thing. I bet it picks up everywhere over the Trick Flow Street Heat intake you're running.

Heck the cam I'm running has 215* duration at .050 and .533 lift and I'm going to be swapping a Performer RPM in place of the GT40 intake.

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #11 – February 17, 2015, 05:09:42 PM

I've thought about it actually. From what I remember they were real close to one another in one of those intake shootouts. The price keeps me from doing it. $700? I don't think the cost is worth the 5 hp or so gain. Besides, from what I remember, the Trick Flow has more average torque.

I have to look at the comparo again.

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #12 – February 17, 2015, 05:38:58 PM

Quote from: V8Demon;444802

I've thought about it actually. From what I remember they were real close to one another in one of those intake shootouts. The price keeps me from doing it. $700? I don't think the cost is worth the 5 hp or so gain. Besides, from what I remember, the Trick Flow has more average torque.

I have to look at the comparo again.

It depends. Do you have the Street Heat or Track Heat intake? If you have the Street Heat intake it's more in line with a GT40. The Track Heat is more inline with the Systemax. So if you have the Street Heat you could just buy a Track Heat upper for ~$300 and get virtually the same performance as a Systemax intake.

In my case I looked at a dyno curve for the Explorer GT40 vs the Performer RPM. Yes the performer RPM gave up ~10ft/lbs of torque to the GT40 below 4500rpm but it made ~20hp, 20ft/lbs more at 5600rpm. You know where you upshift when drag racing. With a 2800 stall and 3.73 gears I doubt I'll feel the loss of 10ft/lbs of torque below 4500rpm but I'll sure feel the 20hp above 5000rpm. I'll be swapping to a Performer RPM intake at some point over the summer.

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #13 – February 17, 2015, 09:28:42 PM

The voodoo curse already struck, right in the wiring harness... But that has been taken care of. I guess I have little excuse to look into sticking the heads on my tastic stock shortblock!

Heads. What do have, $-wise, in your setup?

Reply #14 – February 17, 2015, 09:45:08 PM

Lou, when you do the change, I'm looking forward to your results. :)