There was a 302 build up with 185s... they worked great. Ended up with way over 400 hp and the curves were pretty flat. The peaks were a little high but it was totally streetable. The 185s arent too big for a small inch ford if you have a healthy cam and intake.
Well, I called AFR today and spoke to Jeremy. Super nice guy. Seems the 165's will work fine on an early 289. Water passages line up, no flycutting pistons, and as long as you keep the lift below .540, the springs are fine. I know they advertise .550 lift with the springs, but he said over .540 is kinda pushing it and to step up to the heavier springs. The only "custom" ,if you will, part will be the push rods since I'll be going to a stud mount rockers. Anyways, anyone that's been following this post, I heard it from the horse's mouth, they'll work fine on the 289/302. Like I said the guy was cool, just his willingness to talk to me and answer my list of questions, he is certain to get my business!
These are the only two problems I've had with AFR. They don't heli-coil. That's kinda sad for the amount of money you spend. I had to take of both heads less then a month after starting the car. I went to change a header gasket and it grabbed aluminum and stripped the hole all the way out. I went to gasket match and couldn't. I had to have my intake decked on both sides .055 to get the damn thing to drop down enough. But the motor wasn't zero decked or anything. I called AFR and they said they had had a few problems with intakes not lining up, but not with the one I had. But EVEN AFTER ALL THAT!!!! I still love these heads.
Are you saying the Twisted Wedge Heads don't need any maching and the AFR's do on an early 289?
I'm not dead set on AFR's, but I haven't heard anything bad about them, and I've read a lot. Twisted Wedge, I haven't read much about, other than you don't need to fly cut the pistons, although, with AFR 165's I don't think the pistons need fly cut either?
Just so you know, from the bench numbers that I have seen TFTWs typically outflow the AFR slightly on the intakes, but the AFRs outflow the TFTWs on the exhaust. They both make good (great) power, but it could be something to keep in mind when selecting a cam... i.e. more exhaust bias for the TF or more square for the AFR. Just my .02 (both are great heads)
DD
Oh and Summit or Jegs or most good speed shops can get TFTW for about 1100 a set complete. A little less for "street heat", a little more for "track heat". (they are the EXACT same head, but the track heat comes with better valve springs)
MM&FF if im not mistaken was the mag that head shoot out and the 165's and 185s took the win for their class, so if you a good head go with afr. Another thing though you may run into clearance issues depending on which afr head you get as well as most other heads.
I belive afr and well basiclly all aftermarket heads are based off the 351 head. 289 block do have a slight differnce in cooling passages, somtimes refferd to as steem holes between the clinders. I dont know if it a big deal or not but there is a differnce.
And just my opinion and experiance, dont trust the quality of any pre-assembled aftermarket head, go with a custom build head for basiclly the same price.