Best Heads For A 302

[BradleyMustang3]

Ok guys ive heard a bit about this topic but im looking for the best heads i can get for my 5.0 or a good set of heads at a decent price right now i have edelbrock performer heads on the car and i was told theyre not really all that great i was thinking trickflow twisted wedge? or maybe ported gt40p heads what do you guys think?

 

[Gearbanger 101]

I guess it all depends on what else you're doing to the car and what you're using it for. With your current mods quite frankly, I'd keep the Edelbrocks and replace the stock intake with something better.

Heads alone aren't going to set the world on fire. A set of Trick Flow Twist Wedge, or AFR 185's would be good for another 15-20hp over your current Edelbrocks the way the car sits right now, but could be good for over twice that if you upgrade the intake manifold from the stock one to go along with it.

Your Edelbrocks are better than any out of the box iron GT40 heads (ported or not) and they're about equivalent to a set of GT40X aluminum castings.

 

[BradleyMustang3]

Hey Brian is it true that the GT40 intake on the 96 and early 97 5.0 explorer is the same as the Tubular GT40 you can buy from ford in just a cast version? if thats the case i actually grabbed one off an explorer at a u pullit last week im cleaning it up and getting ready to powder coat it now

 

[Gearbanger 101]

They're virtually the same. The lower intakes between the GT40/Cobra and Explorer are identical. The smooth tubular runners of the GT40 upper intake may prove a slight advantage, but they're all within a handful of horsepower of one and other on back to back dyno comparisons.

If I had the choice between a $400 GT40 and a $100 Explorer intake, it would be a no brainer for me...

 

[BradleyMustang3]

Thanks Brother

 

[VibrantRedGT]

There is nothing better looking that the original tubular GT40 intake. It's my next intake when I buy my project car.

Also, I'm moving this thread to tech instead of being in the tuning section.

 

[9646gt]

i noticed much better pickup in the mid and high range by swapping on a explorer intake manifold. I HIGHLY suggest adding it with the heads. Could really wake it up and they are cheap cheap cheap.