Best Heads For Stock 5.0?

Vondy

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Nov 28, 2021
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Hey, I'm doing a head gasket replacement so I figured while I'm in the guts that I minus well put some power in now before it's all closed up.

I'm completely stock right now besides headers so I wanted to know what would be best in terms of weight and power gains. I might upgrade some other stuff in the future so if anyone can recommend a good combo I would also consider waiting and doing everything all at once. Thanks yall.
 
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Hey, I'm doing a head gasket replacement so I figured while I'm in the guts that I minus well put some power in now before it's all closed up.

I'm completely stock right now besides headers so I wanted to know what would be best in terms of weight and power gains. I might upgrade some other stuff in the future so if anyone can recommend a good combo I would also consider waiting and doing everything all at once. Thanks yall.
What are you driving?

Bill
 
Since you have headers and are looking at heads, I could not put the stock intake back on a nice set of heads. I have a Explorer intake (lower ported by tmoss, upper TB hole opened and the throat straightened by me) ready to go on as soon as I get a good reason to tear apart what’s working.

AFR and TFS have great options for a street car and Edelbrock has some good heads, but I predict what is on the shelf is going to make a big difference for you with supply chain issues.
 
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Since you have headers and are looking at heads, I could not put the stock intake back on a nice set of heads. I have a Explorer intake (lower ported by tmoss, upper TB hole opened and the throat straightened by me) ready to go on as soon as I get a good reason to tear apart what’s working.

AFR and TFS have great options for a street car and Edelbrock has some good heads, but I predict what is on the shelf is going to make a big difference for you with supply chain issues.
Thanks for the recommendations!

The only reason I'm a bit apprehensive to go all out and replace everything is because I have a relatively low milage motor (50,000) and I'm not sure if it's in my best interest to buy new parts or wait and see what happens later down the line. Any thoughts on that?
 
Thanks for the recommendations!

The only reason I'm a bit apprehensive to go all out and replace everything is because I have a relatively low milage motor (50,000) and I'm not sure if it's in my best interest to buy new parts or wait and see what happens later down the line. Any thoughts on that?
If you are going to keep it, cost per mile and smile is lower now than if you wait 50k miles then have to start wondering if it’s worth it then.
 
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He's doing a head gasket, i'm not so sure in this case the answer is a supercharger.
Twisted wedges or afr 165's would be optimal, but not a must.
Any other aluminum head valve jobbed by a reputable machine shop should be fine too.
I certainly would not remove an iron head and put another iron head back on.

With that said, i have not seen too many stock headed non supercharged cars that have needed head gaskets.
I'd be more worried about damage done by water in the oil and why it happened in the first place.
My biggest concern would be acidic coolant.
 
There are a lot of opinions on this, anywhere from 10 to 25 hp per pound of boost, a lot of things can effect out come.
The Engine Masters show gives some of the best variations of what can effect hp numbers in most applications.
 
What are you wanting to do with your ride? Spirited cruising, track racing, drag racing, grocery getter,...? How far you go with upgrades should be a function of what you want to do.
 
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Hey, I'm doing a head gasket replacement so I figured while I'm in the guts that I minus well put some power in now before it's all closed up.

I'm completely stock right now besides headers so I wanted to know what would be best in terms of weight and power gains. I might upgrade some other stuff in the future so if anyone can recommend a good combo I would also consider waiting and doing everything all at once. Thanks yall.

I have become a fan of the Ford Performance X303 heads. They perform in the ballpark of all the aftermarket heads, but because they are made by Ford, everything bolts up just like stock stuff. They work with a variety of cams, stock pistons due to the valve angle, etc. Sure, you are going to get an extra 5hp with the Trick Flow heads with aggressive valve angles, but the Ford heads are more affordable, and so hassle free.

Kurt
 
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its a slippery slope you are about to embark on. Slapping on a set of aftermarket heads with no supporting mods will leave you with a lighter wallet and dissapointed. Unless you plan on doing a heads, cam, intake, Throttle body,. MAF, headers, and THEN a good balancer, address the cooling, exhaust,,,,, get the idea?

The other option is to go to a junkyard and pull the top end off- a 93 to 96 5.0 Explorer or Mountaineer- intake, heads, Throttle body- change the springs on the heads and have a machine shop check them out. Get a cam like an N41 or TFS 1. Still need the headers, MAF, cooling, Balancer, gaskets, ARP intake, head, exhaust bolts , etc.. That is a low buck option

The last option is to button it back up as is and throw a V3 on it. that would be my choice.
 
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