Help with choosing heads

[blue66tang]

I am building a 332 stroker motor right now and need help choosing a set of heads. I was leaning towards the AFR 185 heads, but that was when i was redoing my 302. Now I think i could use some larger heads. It is going to have a big solid roller cam in it. I havnt decided on it yet, but something with over .600 of lift. I have a 750 mighty demon carb, Hooker super comp headers, vict jr intake, all msd ignition, and manual tranny. I want about 11-1 compression so i would like 58cc heads. So what do you think, what would be a good set of heads.

 

[jerry S]

I am building a 332 stroker motor right now and need help choosing a set of heads. I was leaning towards the AFR 185 heads, but that was when i was redoing my 302. Now I think i could use some larger heads. It is going to have a big solid roller cam in it. I havnt decided on it yet, but something with over .600 of lift. I have a 750 mighty demon carb, Hooker super comp headers, vict jr intake, all msd ignition, and manual tranny. I want about 11-1 compression so i would like 58cc heads. So what do you think, what would be a good set of heads.

What kind of RPMs are you going to spin? Unless you will be routinely be over 6500 RPM and want most of your power up high, I would stick with the 185s. With the 205s, you will make great power at the top end but your car might be a dog down low.

BTW, these are the ramblings of a self-confessed idiot.

 

[steel1212]

I agree with Jerry, I think the 205s would be overkill. Heuy Pilot has them on his engine but he has a monster 427 stroker. I would stick with the 185s personally.

 

[1966conv]

I have a 331 stroker, solid lifters (don't go comp) XR268R cam and use the AFR 185's. I had AFR do the valve and spring upgrade though.

More than enough head for the job.

 

[blue66tang]

I want my shift point to be around 7200 rpm. I dont care about drivability. I am sick of tech people telling me its not going to be drivable. I have started telling them that it will be used for the drag strip only. Ill decide what i can and cant drive on the street. Besided i drive the thing like maybe once a month.
Anway, what about other brands like TF's or Edelbrock or some of the other top brands. I just dont want to fork out a bunch of money for heads and have them limit my engine down the road, when I realy start building power. My goal with this engine is about 400hp with 1/4 mile times in the mid to low 12s with street tires. I think it is do-able.

 

[jerry S]

I want my shift point to be around 7200 rpm. I dont care about drivability. .

After the AFR, the TF is the next best flowing head. Since you don't care about streetability, get some 4:11s and a 3500-4500 TC and you will be good to go.

 

[blue66tang]

I have 4.30 gears and manual tranny already, along with a detroit locker too.

 

[steel1212]

You want to spin to 7200 rpms and only run 12s? You may want the 205s then...more air = more hp in higher rpms right? I think you'll blow 12s out of the water though if you hook.

 

[jerry S]

I have 4.30 gears and manual tranny already, along with a detroit locker too.

Then you might be able to get away with the 205s. Your car will be a real screamer at the strip. Just make sure whatever head you get has the right springs and such to accomodate that big roller cam to you don't get into valve float at higher rpms.

 

[1966conv]

You're outta my league with those types of numbers, but my hp numbers are flywheel 416 @6150 rpm and rearwheel 331. The numbers are still climbing, but I don't think I have another 1100 rpm in there.
I was only using about 500cfm of carb (outta 650).

I don't have enough knowlegde in this area, but unless you blow the motor, I don't think you can utilize the 750 and the 205's. Mid to high 12's are available on my car with the setup I have.

If you're not going to street it why use street tires. That much power and you'll never hook up on launch unless you launch at 2500-3000. You're limiting yourself from the beginning.

 

[blue66tang]

o im ganna street the car. I just tell all the tech people that it will be used for the strip. Seems like every stinking time i mention its going to be driven on the street they always shy away from the larger parts. It ticks me off. None of them recomended the detroit locker, none recomended the 4.30 gears, none recomended the solid roller flat cam i had last, none recomended the victor jr intake, and so on and so forth.

So it seems like everybody like the AFR heads. NObody has mentioned any others yet. I am leaning more towards the 205s now. For one i have room to grow, and another its only like 300 more bucks than a set of 185 with upgraded springs. I will call them and see what they say.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Go with a set of Victor Jr.'s best bang for the buck head. You will be able to scream it and not be limited. It may be too big, they are kinda big for my combo but give me room to grow later with a new cam and intake. You are going to have to build a rock solid bottom end if you want to spin it that high and drive it on the street. Just yank the sucker and throw in a 351 you will have even bigger doors open to you.

 

[10secgoal]

I would go 205's for sure. I have 185's on a 308 and the bottom end is fine for me. 60 ft's are there, and better than everyone told me they would be. Add 32 cubes ? And a solid cam ?! Yes, 205's. Although for the money, you could look into a used set of TW or victors cause you can get them pretty cheap, and send them to a company like Fox Lake or TEA for porting. They can port, tell you the cam to match and everything after that. Define streetable anyways.....My car has 4.11's and a 3500 stall. It footbrakes to 3400, and drives great. My car moves at 12-1300 as opposed to 800 for a stocker.


My disclaimer...don't expect a long life shooting for 500 hp N/A spinning it to 7200. Stress on parts and the BLOCK are exponential.

 

[jasonn]

Go with a set of Victor Jr.'s best bang for the buck head. You will be able to scream it and not be limited. It may be too big, they are kinda big for my combo but give me room to grow later with a new cam and intake. You are going to have to build a rock solid bottom end if you want to spin it that high and drive it on the street. Just yank the sucker and throw in a 351 you will have even bigger doors open to you.

I second the victor junior's. I have a set on my mild 10.5-1 408. Mild street hyd roller, 1 5/8 headers, rpm intake, proformed 750 holley. Dyno'd at 519 h.p. and ran a best of 11.39@119 with e.t. streets in a 3400lb 70 mach. jr's=1299.00 AFR's=1699.00 I just did a small cleanup with the die grinder to take the sharp edges out. Should flow real close to the afr205's. Just my .02

 

[94CobraPace]

Edelbrock Victor JR's or the AFR 205's. Both would work good, it would depend on which brand you prefer.

 

[blue66tang]

Well i called AFR and they recomended the 185 with spring upgrades and rocker stud upgrade. I must admit i was a little dissapointed. Anybody know where i can get good comparisons between the heads.

 

[gzminiz]

this page has a ton of info on flows. Not only for ford but just a ton of heads for all different makes and sizes:

http://users.erols.com/srweiss/tablehdc.htm

 

[1966conv]

Mustangs and Fords or Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords did an excellent 5 or 6 part series a little over a year ago. They tried all the major players on 2 or 3 engine platforms. I've seen a link to it, but can't find it at the moment.

AFR was almost always the clear winner.