anybody running AFR 185cc cylinder heads on a 289?

I was wondering the same thing. I was thinking AFR 185 with 331 or without stroker. And I would get 185 for future. . .dreams.

Just remember that with late model heads you will get lower compression than on a 302. My Shelby has 1.94 valves in it and it revs quick and strong for a 289 (it does have 11:1 CR though) but I really don't know about a 2.02 on a 289, seems like a bit much to me. You are porbably going to lose some low end torque on an engine that doesn't have much to begin with. I think it also would depend a lot on which intake/carb combo you are running and how low a gear the car would be running.

I would consider holding off on the heads until you can wrap a whole new larger engine around them, but that is only me. Maybe there are some people here with some experience with the late model heads on the early 289 engine.

I dont think you want the street heats or 185's for your combo. not that a 289 cant handle them just that your gonna need alot more converter and alot of cam to make good use of them. You'd be suprised how well the small/ big valve heads work with a 289. I eaisly made over 400hp with simple off the shelf basic parts on three differnt 289's with stock out the box windsor Jr's.

with a street 289 I would go with the 165s great little cyl heads for a great little motor.