Best Cast Iron Heads

Grabbin' Asphalt · Aug 23, 2013

I have GT40p milled/ported heads currently. I chose them because of my durability needs for a DD and because of very long roads trips. Any where from 1000-1500 mile trips, where if anything were to happen they would have a better chance to survive with a major catastrophe.
So other than the GT40p's I currently have,

"Is there any other iron heads in past production vehicles of any sorts that are bad ass heads or that are made by any of the current leading companies??"

mikestang63 · Aug 23, 2013

World Products Windsor Sr.
RHS
Roush 200's

RangerJoe · Aug 24, 2013

+1 on the RHS.

Joe

f8tlfiveo · Aug 24, 2013

Grabbin' Asphalt said:
I have GT40p milled/ported heads currently. I chose them because of my durability needs for a DD and because of very long roads trips. Any where from 1000-1500 mile trips, where if anything were to happen they would have a better chance to survive with a major catastrophe.
So other than the GT40p's I currently have,

"Is there any other iron heads in past production vehicles of any sorts that are bad ass heads or that are made by any of the current leading companies??"

I think my car is pretty reliable, but 1500 mile trips, no way. You actually drive yours that far?

stykthyn · Aug 24, 2013

TFS high ports

NIKwoaC · Aug 24, 2013

Just curious, why do you think iron would be any more reliable than aluminum? OEMs have been putting aluminum heads on production cars for a long time.

srtthis · Aug 24, 2013

Thi

stykthyn said:
TFS high ports

This one right here! The heads I just picked up from Rick one of the first sets of aluminum heads trick flow made off the iron head design

TOOLOW91 · Aug 24, 2013

f8tlfiveo said:
I think my car is pretty reliable, but 1500 mile trips, no way. You actually drive yours that far?

I don't see an issue I mean I used to DD. mine and would put 500-1000 on it a week and had no issue , also planning on driving down to mustang week from NY this year

Gearbanger 101 · Aug 24, 2013

Don't use durability as a standard. Chances are, if you have a catastrophic failure bad enough to ruin your head, it's probably going to ruin the rest of your engine as well. And as stated by NIK, the OEM has been using aluminum heads on vehicle for years now. As the matter of fact....I don't even think you can buy a car today without them?

If you want it to really perform, you need to upgrade to decent aluminum heads. Otherwise, be content with the power your GT40's are putting out and stick with what ya got.

Grabbin' Asphalt · Aug 24, 2013

f8tlfiveo said:
I think my car is pretty reliable, but 1500 mile trips, no way. You actually drive yours that far?

Yes, I'm talking as soon as your gas tank gets close to "E' fill up keep driving 1500 miles. Drove across Texas to El Paso from Georgia, in Texas 150-200 miles between exits before any life forms, kinda scary. Drove to Winnipeg from Georgia and lots of other places. If a hose bursts or stat goes out, I'd rather replace small cheap stuff than a warped head on the road. And I can carry those parts. In todays world yes aluminum is everywhere but when they over heat it's not a cheap fix.
In my car everything is pretty solid, it's just my piece of mind on the open road.

stykthyn · Aug 24, 2013

I can't see how aluminum will diminish that type of service but if you are sold on iron I would stick with your P heads.

Grabbin' Asphalt · Aug 24, 2013

Yeah, I don't think I'll mess with adding more iron with more $$$. Gt40p's are on now anyways, just use that $$$ later for a good deal somewhere for aluminum set. Which now leads me to a great poll question .......hahahaha.

f8tlfiveo · Aug 24, 2013

TOOLOW91 said:
I don't see an issue I mean I used to DD. mine and would put 500-1000 on it a week and had no issue , also planning on driving down to mustang week from NY this year

I used to daily my 88 lx, no issues. What I mean is driving long distances away from home, like for me to drive to Florida 850 miles away. I trust my car to go in a 200 mile radius but not a 850 mile one way, that's a long tow if something goes wrong

jAEded · Aug 24, 2013

IMO, if you're stuck on iron I think you probably already have the best head. With a good port and polish you can outflow some of the untouched aluminum heads and at least come close to some of the better alum ones.

I went with the gt40x for similar reasons as you have. Not saying they're the best if youre building a all out race motor but I trust Fords' engineering well enough for a DD.

jAEded · Aug 24, 2013

Here is a couple good references.

http://www.carbdford.com/tech/headflow.htm
http://www.carbdford.com/tech/flowdata.htm

mikestang63 · Aug 24, 2013

Well, I've been looking to replace my GT40's I pulled off an explorer last year with some used alum heads. People want 700-900 for used heads, and after you factor in the 200-300 to get them cleaned and checked out, you are almost at the same price as new. I've called about 5 different sets of heads on CL and every one had bent valves or other problems. For 1000 to 1100 you can get a set of new TFS 170's.

Gearbanger 101 · Aug 24, 2013

mikestang63 said:
Well, I've been looking to replace my GT40's I pulled off an explorer last year with some used alum heads. People want 700-900 for used heads, and after you factor in the 200-300 to get them cleaned and checked out, you are almost at the same price as new. I've called about 5 different sets of heads on CL and every one had bent valves or other problems. For 1000 to 1100 you can get a set of new TFS 170's.

Where are you finding TFS 170's for $1,000-$1,100 a pair?

Lets also keep in mind that the TFS are known to need a little work on the valve train right out of the box. I wouldn't be surprised if you were into them $1,500-$1,600 by the time you were done.

revhead347 · Aug 24, 2013

Actually, almost all the aluminum heads have a 3/4" deck, so they are actually stronger and more durable.

Kurt

NIKwoaC · Aug 24, 2013

Gearbanger 101 said:
Where are you finding TFS 170's for $1,000-$1,100 a pair?

Lets also keep in mind that the TFS are known to need a little work on the valve train right out of the box. I wouldn't be surprised if you were into them $1,500-$1,600 by the time you were done.

What needs done to the valvetrain?

revhead347 · Aug 24, 2013

Just a valve job. TFS heads actually come with good quality valves. Should run you around $200 to get a 5 angle valve job done on them.

Kurt

Best Cast Iron Heads

Grabbin' Asphalt

mikestang63

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving

f8tlfiveo

My wife likes my spool and blow-off valve.

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

NIKwoaC

中國製造

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash

Grabbin' Asphalt

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

Grabbin' Asphalt

f8tlfiveo

My wife likes my spool and blow-off valve.

jAEded

Active Member

jAEded

Active Member

mikestang63

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

NIKwoaC

中國製造

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

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Best Cast Iron Heads

I leave the horn on while driving

My wife likes my spool and blow-off valve.

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

中國製造

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?

Straight Outta Locash

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

My wife likes my spool and blow-off valve.

Active Member

Active Member

Straight Outta Locash

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

中國製造

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

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