302 ? 306 ? ported heads ? stock heads ?

importkiller90 said:

at a local junk yard i can get a pair of gt40 heads from a 97 mountneer for 200 bucks would that be a good head to start with ? but they have 235,000 miles on them

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By the time you clean them up, upgrade the springs, valve job, etc, you'll be spending too much money on those old irons. Look for some worked over heads or save for some used aluminum. Also, be aware that the gt40p heads may require specific headers because of the spark plug angle.

I think some people make too big of a deal about "freshening up" heads. Sure, you can't expect to get 100k out of junkyard heads before you need new to do something about it, but if you're on a budget just put new springs on'em and throw them on.

Unless the vehicle is in the junkyard because they heads were jacked up, that vehicle would still be on the road and driving with those heads. We've had guys take junkyard Explorer engines out, put new springs and a cam in them and drop them in and run 12s all day long.

$200 for a pair of GT40s isnt bad at all. Like said clean them, new springs and such, rockers and your in business. Seen stock GT40P headed cars go deep deep 12s. Aftermarket aluminums are better, and if you can snag some used for $500-600 then definately go for it... but the GT40s seem to be out there, and can run strong.

i think thats pretty pricey. especially for so many miles. I got my GT40p's for $72 complete. If theres any other junkyard, try looking around for some better prices. But personally, if i were you, i would go on ebay and search for heads. you might find a deal. or possibly craigslist. Shoot, i sold my cobra intake and gt40p heads for 80 flat. Had no use for them. The heads were rusting. So w/e theres always someone that will be selling something u need for super cheap. Just do ur research

The local pull and pay charges $69 per head for any heads....it's just a matter of being the lucky one there when they pull in a 302 Explorer/Mountaineer because they go pretty quick.

To add to my comment about not freshening up the heads....don't waste the extra money on them. Like everyone's said it's real easy to get in deep and before you know it you've spent enough to buy used aluminums. I've got almost $900 in my C90E's but the port work justifies it in my opinion, and with my budget it was easier to put $900 into these heads a little at a time than to chunk down $900 all at once.

Basically, before i spent the money on a valve job on GT40s, i'd call up Thumper and get a set of his heads for what, $600 or so? I spent $450 for the valves and valve job on my heads and that was getting a deal on the valves. If you spend $200 on the heads and get a valve job, you've already spent what you'll pay for Thumper's heads and his will probably out perform stock GT40/Ps.