Best heads for the money

Which cylinder heads are the best for the money?

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D

Dropd94Ranger

Forum Member
I've got a 5.0 shortblock lined up, basically stock stuff and bored 0.030 over. With a good size Lunati cam (218* @ 0.050 w/ 0.500 and 0.510").

I'm looking to have it running this summer so I want to set a budget on the top end. What, in your opinion, is the best pair of cylinder heads for the money? I'm looking for some heads that will allow around 400hp to the wheels.

And what is the diff. between the GT40X's and P's? Are P's just cast iron?

If you choose "other..." list which heads.
 
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Its gonna take a bit more than 302 inches and that very mild cam to come up with 400 RWHP Naturally aspirated. Realistically, with what you meantioned, you would likely end up around 400 at the flywheel (~340 RWHP)

Now a 331 or 347 with AFR 185's, and either a decent solid roller or a nasty hydraulic roller, you would have a chance. There are a couple shelf comp cams that will get you to the HP you are looking for but they are solid rollers with ~.625 lift and 250* @ .050" duration.

If you are going to use nitrous, a supercharger, or a turbo, your goal of 400 RWHP will be much easier to reach.

Is this engine fuel injected or carb'd?

What intake are you planning on using?
 
I just checked out the specs on the X-cam and I figure that I may as well just build the motor the way I wanted to in the first place instead of using this mild stock shortblock with a cam.

How does this sound:
-Ford Racing X-cam
-AFR 185cc w/ 58 or 65cc chambers?
-Victor Jr. intake w/ 650 Demon

Then later this summer I'll swap the carb setup to some 24# injectors, Track Heat upper and lower, 75mm throttle body and MAF, and a small shot of nitrous.
 
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Dropd94Ranger said:
I just checked out the specs on the X-cam and I figure that I may as well just build the motor the way I wanted to in the first place instead of using this mild stock shortblock with a cam.

How does this sound:
-Ford Racing X-cam
-AFR 185cc w/ 58 or 65cc chambers?
-Victor Jr. intake w/ 650 Demon

Then later this summer I'll swap the carb setup to some 24# injectors, Track Heat upper and lower, 75mm throttle body and MAF, and a small shot of nitrous.
Click to expand...

What ever you do, do not waste your money on any of the alphabet cams. The technology that was used to develope those cams in equivelant to the wooden wheel. The new lobe profiles that are available will make to shit-pile more power.

Call a custom cam guy and have them set one up for you. It somewhat sounds like you are restricted by lift a bit, and if this is the case, a custom cam is really the only way to go if you are looking to make good average power. Hell, anderson Ford Motorsport has some killer Hydraulic Rollers that have continuously made great power for a given application.

As for switching from a carb to injection, why bother? Unless you plan on switching to big stuff, or some other tuneable fuel injection with data logging capability, I think you'll be wasting your money in long run.
 
Since your rebuilding the shortblock dont mess around, solid roller with a good set of highports. Highports dollar for dollar best convential head ever made for the smallblock ford.
 
Buy my 351 windsor. It is all ready to go from intake to oil pan. All you need is a carb, distributor, & acessories. It has been bored, stroked, cammed, & roller rockers.
 
Go with the Twisted wedge heads. gt40's are a waste of time unless your on a budget and can get them cheap. i had some tw's and they were awesome.
 
I'm going to go with the Twisted Wedge heads and this cam. I'll keep it carb'd/nitrous for a lil while and then go EFI later when I get more money and parts.

Are there better pistons then the Trickflow pistons that they offer specifically for the TW heads?
 
Cam looks Ok for the combo but if its what they recomend I would stick with it. They put alot of r&d money into those combos.

As for pistons are they a good value ? good part ? good quality ? if so run them unless there is something better for the same money ?


Being as your running Carb I highly suggest calling trickflow as a sinlge plane intake or dual plane is very different runner then a trackheat.

Sean

Dropd94Ranger said:
I'm going to go with the Twisted Wedge heads and this cam. I'll keep it carb'd/nitrous for a lil while and then go EFI later when I get more money and parts.

Are there better pistons then the Trickflow pistons that they offer specifically for the TW heads?
Click to expand...
 
Dropd94Ranger said:
Are there better pistons then the Trickflow pistons that they offer specifically for the TW heads?
Click to expand...


what would be better than a $500 set of pistons? im pretty sure Arias makes those pistons and sells them to summit to sell under there trickflow brand name. Arias make some nice stuff.
 
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