Need good advice on heads

it will all come down to cost factor. even if you spend 1100 on heads, it will cost at least 2000 before you have everything for the install. then, if you have someone install it, you have to pay labor on top of that. are you willing or able to spend closer to 2000?

If you have the $$$ get some AFR heads (Air Flow Research). They are arguabley the best there is. You can easily have a 400 HP 5.0 with stock cam and bottom end. As for cams go to Comp Cams web sight. Theres a form with 20+ questions to answer and they will pick the perfect cam for you.

if you are budget minded, think about going with the thumper heads, or if you want room to grow, the Trickflow and AFR heads are about the best as far as having room to grow. I paid 1235 for my track heat heads, but those might be a little overkill for your stock engine. i would say the AFR's or the Trickflow street heats. If you go with the trickflows, you can save a little more and get the entire kit. (see summitracing.com part number: TFS-K514-350-370)

with a 306 flat top motor, they made 350 horse, and 370 torque, and the entire kit (you could sell the cobra you just bought) is $2149.95. i know you didnt want to spend that much, but it would take care of alot of upgrades at one time to where you wouldnt be doing double work when you add future parts

Eddy heads..999$ from summit, excellent heads in my experience. The AFR and TW heads though a little more money do make a touch more power, but at an increased cost.

I had AFR 165's on my 5.0 with a Cobra intake. That combo with a TFS1 cam & the other usual bolt-ons got me 292/318 to the wheels. I had GT-40's (with a 5-angle valve job & descent port work) before the AFR's with EVERYTHING else being the same and the AFR's were 3 mph faster in the 1/8... would be more in the 1/4, but I never ran the GT-40's in the 1/4.

btw I am selling my AFR's because I bought an 06 GT. I don't want to turn this into a classified ad, so if you are interested just PM me.