Mild 88GT. Which heads for $1k?

LarsD · Dec 21, 2010

Cutter1024 said:
Maybe I will just get a new set of TW's. Just do it right and be done with it. Best place to get them?

Man you just missed out. Summit had them on sale for $1K, now they are back up to $1300.

90lxcoupe · Dec 21, 2010

1993SSP said:
Unless you're buying the heads from someone you know you can trust 100% I would never buy a used set of heads again. I got burned once on a set, people will look you right in the eye and lie about them all day long. I bought a set used my first and last time, took them by the machine shop to let the guy who was doing my block look em over, after a few more hundred dollars and bent valves replaced they were in the condition that the guy I bought em from swore they were in to begin with!

You cant really fault the previous owner for that, for all he knows the car could have been running fine. If a valve is slightly bent it can be hard to tell. I sold a set of twisted wedge heads that i sold and thought were good to go. I then got a call from the buyer and he told me they needed like 400 dollars worth of work. Said they needed valve seals, needed to be resurfaced and some other bogus thing. We agreed to a number that was fair, but i talked to the guy and let him know that with used aluminum heads your going to have to at least have them decked... Its always something.

Cutter1024 said:
Maybe I will just get a new set of TW's. Just do it right and be done with it. Best place to get them?

Smart move, do it once, do it right. Summit is the best place to buy em. They also own trick flow

25thmustang · Dec 21, 2010

The Explorer engine is not a bad way to go. Did this with my sisters GT. Although not a 12 second car, it is much faster than before and was done on the cheap.

Cutter1024 · Dec 21, 2010

I think im going to wait untill they go on sale, or maybe if I can find a new set someone is selling for a few bucks off. But yes, going to go with trick flows brand new.

Few Questions.... I already have mac headers, flowmasters, K&N intake, 3.73's, upgraded T5, MSD wires, MSD cap, MAF conversion, GT40 upper/lower, king cobra clutch, and a FPR set at 40psi.

When I get the trick flow heads, and pick a cam... do i need RR's? I am just getting into V8's as I have been into the import scene and made good numbers on turbos.... What do the RR's do, and what would be good to go with, with those heads? I keep hearing about 1.6's and 1.7's. In the import world, there are no heads to upgarde... everyone ports and polishes.

Next... Will I need to upgrade injectors, throttle body, or fuel pump? All 3 of those are stock....

Last but not least.... will there be anything else I should upgrade before or during the head/cam install to keep the car as reliable as possable?

Thanks guys, you been a big help!!

Cutter1024 · Dec 21, 2010

Oh also forgot, my car has weld in fame connectors, and an H pipe.

1bad67sbf · Dec 21, 2010

one upgrade is that you may need an aluminum rad to help keep it cool and roller rockers are always highly recommended because they reduce wear on the system and free some power at the same time

NIKwoaC · Dec 22, 2010

Cutter1024 said:
When I get the trick flow heads, and pick a cam... do i need RR's? I am just getting into V8's as I have been into the import scene and made good numbers on turbos.... What do the RR's do, and what would be good to go with, with those heads? I keep hearing about 1.6's and 1.7's. In the import world, there are no heads to upgarde... everyone ports and polishes.

Next... Will I need to upgrade injectors, throttle body, or fuel pump? All 3 of those are stock....

Last but not least.... will there be anything else I should upgrade before or during the head/cam install to keep the car as reliable as possable?

Thanks guys, you been a big help!!

Yes, you'll want to upgrade all those things. Rockers take the lobe lift of the cam and multiply it through lever action to actuate the valves. Stock rockers are not roller and are 1.6 ratio. Roller arms reduce friction and heat.

Example of rocker ratio: If your cam has .350" lobe lift, a 1.6 rocker will have .560" valve lift and a 1.7 will have .595" valve lift. Cams are often advertised in terms of valve lift, so you have to be aware of what rocker ratio they are basing it on. 1.7 rockers have the advantage in terms of lift, but are harder on lifters and cam lobes because of the extra loading. Not usually enough to be a concern, though.

For throttle body, I recommend a minimum of 70mm. A 70 will require very little, if any, port matching on a GT40-style intake. If you step up to a 75mm unit, you will have to do some grinding on the intake opening to get it to match the throttle body bore. Installing a big throttle body on a intake without port matching is a waste of money performance-wise. Keep in mind you'll also need a 70mm EGR spacer.

Also make sure you have a MAF meter that is as big or bigger than your TB.

Cutter1024 · Dec 22, 2010

What size injectors should i go with? Are most injectors drop in/stock replacements? Will 24lb be enough? I see alot for sale for cheap, and can buy a set and send them off for cleaning and flow testing to make sure everything is fine.... unless I can get a new set at a good price.

stykthyn · Dec 22, 2010

You've already blown way past your 1k dollar budget. At this point I would just save for a complete trick flow set up. Heads/cam/rockers/intake, everything.

LarsD · Dec 22, 2010

stykthyn said:
You've already blown way past your 1k dollar budget. At this point I would just save for a complete trick flow set up. Heads/cam/rockers/intake, everything.

+1

Cutter1024 · Dec 22, 2010

But... I dont have all of it right now.... I want to get things as I get the money.

LarsD · Dec 22, 2010

Cutter1024 said:
But... I dont have all of it right now.... I want to get things as I get the money.

Well, unless you get the heads when they are on sale, you will spend more then the price of the kit if you buy it separately (iirc).

NIKwoaC · Dec 22, 2010

LarsD said:
Well, unless you get the heads when they are on sale, you will spend more then the price of the kit if you buy it separately (iirc).

True, but if you piece it together yourself, and you do it right, you can have something more unique and something faster.

stykthyn · Dec 23, 2010

True, but getting what he is wanting is going to require saving some scratch. I personally like the TF hci because for the money it is the most complete kit out there and comes with all the fasteners and gaskets needed for the install which if bought seperately can add another couple of hundred dollars to a build. Plus its the quickest way to bolt on 300 n/a hp.

90lxcoupe · Dec 23, 2010

NikwoaC said:
True, but if you piece it together yourself, and you do it right, you can have something more unique and something faster.

true that, id piece it together, buy the heads new, maybe a new cam, and buy most everything else used. I also dont think TFS offers the FAC heads in a kit either

Cutter1024 · Dec 23, 2010

The kits I looked at online, are about $2400 and include the trick flow intake manifold upper/lower. Is that alot better then my GT40 one? I would like to get the kit without the manifold if its not worth the extra cash. How much different is this manifold to mine?

Cutter1024 · Dec 25, 2010

I just won $500 on a $10 scratch off ticket yesterday and adding that to my $1k. So now my budget is $1500 as of right now. I might just add money and get the top end kit package..... should I replace my GT40 upper/lower with the trick flow? Or save the money and try and get a kit witout the trick flow upper/lower and use my GT40? Maybe port and polish the GT40 one I have?

87AODGT · Dec 25, 2010

get a set of afr 165 heads and keep the GT-40 manifold or you can get a set of twisted wedges. as long as you aren't trying to make much power over 6000 the manifold you have will work for ya

Cutter1024 · Dec 25, 2010

I will probably stick with the trick flow heads, as all the reviews I have been reading say they are just as good as the AFR heads, just a few hundred $$ cheaper. Now... if I had like $10k to play with I would go for the best and get the AFR's, but money is tight and need to get whats best within a persons budget.

Plus the money i save I could get a good cam for that.

I would like to get the top end kit, but wouldnt need the manifold. Anyone want to buy the manifold from me when i get it? How much could I get back for selling that?

Shaolin Crane · Dec 25, 2010

Who said AFR's are the best?

Mild 88GT. Which heads for $1k?

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