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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Heads?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 91ghp5.0
  • Start date Start date Jan 20, 2007

91ghp5.0

Active Member
May 25, 2005
42
0
28
Somewhere
Jan 20, 2007
#1
  • Jan 20, 2007
  • #1
Hey guys. As you all know, I'm a college guy on a college budget. The B cam is great, but I really need a littttlllleee more power. Full out aluminum H/C/I is a bit out there on pricing. Blower is even more expensive, and turbo is just a pipe dream at the moment.

Sooooooo.....

What does it cost (on average, I know this is a little broad) to have a set of old heads re-done? I'm thinking about getting a pair of GT 40's (iron), and having new valves/springs put on. What should it cost to get them all freshened up?

This way, I won't need new pushrods, I can get new R.R.'s if I want, and can still afford a new intake (either an original GT 40 or a Trick Flow...I love the black powdercoating), new valve covers (again, if I want), a new TB, and a new MAF.

On the other hand, I WON'T have to get 24 lb'rs (I realize is isn't necessary on a H/C/I motor, but strongly recommended), spend the extra cash on aluminum heads (can be done down the road).

Should I look for Exploder heads, or Cobra heads? Any differences in the couple cars they came off of (I've read that the Cobra ones are the only smog legal ones, is this true?).

Thanks guys.

Danny
 

RYC CUKR

Founding Member
May 19, 2002
1,437
1
38
Orlando
Jan 20, 2007
#2
  • Jan 20, 2007
  • #2
Cobra heads are the only ones that are smog legal unless you have the holes drilled in the back of the heads for the smog pump connections.

If you get heads off an explorer you will definitely want to swap the valve springs out. I didn't have mine looked at by a machine shop, I just swapped the valve springs out and popped them on the car. I have around $350-$400 in the heads with springs and cost of the heads themselves. I would imagine that it would be between $200-$300 to have a 3 angle valve job done and such. I would call around to some machine shops in your area and find out though.

Don't forget to include all the other stuff that you will need to get when you swap the heads into the equation, gaskets, coolant, oil and filter and I would use a set of ARP headbolts instead of the stockers.
 

91ghp5.0

Active Member
May 25, 2005
42
0
28
Somewhere
Jan 20, 2007
#3
  • Jan 20, 2007
  • #3
ARP hardware is a must. I dunno if I should have a valve job done or not. We'll see I guess.
 

vikingpower

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
656
0
0
CWU Ellensburg, WA
Jan 20, 2007
#4
  • Jan 20, 2007
  • #4
I bought my car when I was in junior college, and now I'm in my senior year at CWU and I've done all the mods to mine you see in my sig. The secret is carefull budgeting and work as much as possible. I work all summer, winter break and even spring break. Of course you have to do all the work yourself to afford good mods; I even swapped cams and put in a new clutch in the gravel lot next to my old campus apartment. Two years ago I spent the summer with my parents in New Mexico and worked in the oil fields and made enough to dump $4000 on my car. Student loans and grants dont hurt either...
 

Foxfan88

My Grandpa has great wood.
Sep 13, 2004
2,487
4
0
Miami, Ok
Jan 21, 2007
#5
  • Jan 21, 2007
  • #5
www.thumperoforangepark.com

give thumper a pm and talk to him. his heads outflow stock gt-40s and a good price all ready to go. i got a used set had them cleaned up, got a b-cam and had tmoss port my lower and its running great!
 

91ghp5.0

Active Member
May 25, 2005
42
0
28
Somewhere
Jan 21, 2007
#6
  • Jan 21, 2007
  • #6
For the price you'd pay for Thumper's stuff, why not save 200 more and get aluminum GT 40's?
 

Tonys96Cobra

professional deer "mounter"
Oct 28, 2005
19
9
29
Syracuse
Jan 21, 2007
#7
  • Jan 21, 2007
  • #7
91ghp5.0 said:
For the price you'd pay for Thumper's stuff, why not save 200 more and get aluminum GT 40's?
Click to expand...

Or for less than tat just buy my NIB Holleys
 

91ghp5.0

Active Member
May 25, 2005
42
0
28
Somewhere
Jan 21, 2007
#8
  • Jan 21, 2007
  • #8
PM me with price and info on both the heads and intake please.
 
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