Need Some topend motor advice

[Dean85GT]

I've been trying to price out a nice new top end for my motor. The shortblock is all beefed up and built with only like 3000km on it. I was just wondering if there are any little things that I am missing in my list of parts. I want (for the first time) to try and get a good accurate final cost before I dive into this deal.

Here is the list of what I think I need. If Im missing anything important let me know.

Trickflow Twisted Wedge heads
Ford Racing Roller Rockers
Ford Racing Head Gaskets (not sure which I should get at all)
ARP head bolt kit
Stage 8 locking header bolts
Intake manifold gaskets (whichever ones)?
pushrods...which ones?

Now I have a couple questions as well. I dont know if I should be opting for 1.7 ratio roller rockers over the 1.6s. The engine has wiseco forged pistons (big reliefs) and a TFS stage 1 cam. Would it even be worth stepping up to the 1.7s or is it going to hurt my car considerably down low. Another question with the roller rockers is will the 1.7s fit underneath my stock 85 valve covers. I dont want to get rid of them as I just got them powdercoating and they are pretty .

Question 2 is head gaskets. Which should I be looking at. The car will be high winding and NA for probably at least another year. There is a chance for blower next summer so I dont want to have to do the head gaskets twice.

I want to plan this out as best as possible because after I bolt on the topend I dont want to have to removing it again to change anything. I really want it done right the first time.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Busted07]

Trickflow Twisted Wedge heads

Might as well get the Track Heat version with the upgraded valve springs.

Ford Racing Roller Rockers

Ever looked in Scorpion rockers?

Ford Racing Head Gaskets (not sure which I should get at all)

My engine builder recommended Fel-Pro 1011-2's

ARP head bolt kit

Or stud kit

Stage 8 locking header bolts

I was told these will loosen over time as well

Intake manifold gaskets (whichever ones)?

Intake Gaskets: Fel-Pro 1250 Exhaust Gaskets: Fel-Pro 1415

pushrods...which ones?

I dont know as far as length for yours, but i bought the hardened ones from Trickflow since everything else i had was Trickflow

 

[Dean85GT]

So what kind of benefits will the head studs offer and what is the price difference? Also are the scorpion rockers reputable or are they basically a knock off of the FMS ones?

 

[GT_Rich]

You might want to consider the o-ringed version of the TW heads and then fel-pro's loc-wire head gaskets if you are thinking about juice or boost later on.

Also, FWIW - I'm running the B-cam with 1.72's and low end is not a problem

 

[2000xp8]

The practice of o ring'ing heads for a street car is long gone.

People don't blow head gaskets because they are too weak, they blow them because someone screwed up on the install, or there is something wrong with your car.
I'd consider a better cam, use the TFS track heats as suggested above, then use a 1.6 rocker.
My buddy uses HG's 9333pt1 on almost every car he does.

 

[mattsclean90]

I would also recommend the track heats over the standard twisted wedge. You get a better spring package capable of supporting cams up to .600 lift. That leaves you room for a bigger cam down the road without having to buy springs. Also to save you some money buy the Trick Flow gasket kit as well. It comes with all Felpro gaskets like 1011-2 head gaskets, 1250 intake gaskets, 1415 exhaust gaskets, Felpro valve cover gaskets, distributor o-ring, and thermostat housing gasket. Summit told me that it only came with the head gaskets and intake gaskets but it is indeed the whole kit. Here is the part number of the kit:
TFS-51400904

To save you some more money I would just buy harland sharp 1.6 rockers. You can get them for around $215 from Summit. I have used harland sharp rockers for years and never had any problems from them. Also Trick Flow sells a set of hardened pushrods in the right length for the stage 1 cam you have so that's a good option as well. ARP head bolts are a must when doing aftermarket heads I think. They give you more clamping power and are reusable where as most people throw away stock head bolts after one use. I don't see the need for ARP head studs on a mild H/C/I engine. The ARP head bolts and felpro 1011-2 head gaskets will be more than enough for what you are intending on.

The list of things I would intend on buying would go like this:

Heads
ARP head bolts
Roller rockers
Hardened pushrods
Aftermarket upper and lower intake
Adjustable fuel pressure regulator
24-30lb injectors
Mass air meter calibrated for what size injectors you plan on using
Gasket set
190-255lph fuel pump

If you don't have a good set of headers with an h or x pipe that would be on the top of my list as well.

 

[Dean85GT]

The list of things I would intend on buying would go like this:

Heads
ARP head bolts
Roller rockers
Hardened pushrods
Aftermarket upper and lower intake
Adjustable fuel pressure regulator
24-30lb injectors
Mass air meter calibrated for what size injectors you plan on using
Gasket set
190-255lph fuel pump

If you don't have a good set of headers with an h or x pipe that would be on the top of my list as well.

Thanks for the info but the car is carbed so that list is a bit different lol. And yes, the car already has every single bolt on so heads are literally the last mod I can do while staying N/A

 

[Aliate X]

stick with 1.6 rockers and just get a TFS2 cam.

 

[mattsclean90]

Ok I saw that it was an 85 but just assumed it was efi. I thought maybe you had swapped it to efi. Well I guess the list is a lot shorter now...lol

Track Heat heads
Harland Sharp 1.6 RR'S
ARP Head Bolts
Hardened Pushrods
Trick flow Gasket Set

Possibly a holley blue pump with regulator if you don't already have a decent fuel pump. My coupe is a carbed car and I have always loved both efi and carbs but it's something about a carbed fox body that just does it for me.....lol

 

[Dean85GT]

Im currently running a Holley mechanical pump and Im going to be stubborn and stay with a mechanical pump for as long as I can. I like how it is simple and quite. And as for the cam.....the TFS1 stays! Im not touching the bottom end ever again.

 

[vikingpower]

Dont get 1011-2 gaskets, check out my thread for a pic of the first one that failed. Port your heads too, it takes a little time but its well worth the effort!

 

[Aliate X]

Im currently running a Holley mechanical pump and Im going to be stubborn and stay with a mechanical pump for as long as I can. I like how it is simple and quite. And as for the cam.....the TFS1 stays! Im not touching the bottom end ever again.

I have the TFS1, its nice but it doesnt pull high enough.

 

[Busted07]

So what kind of benefits will the head studs offer and what is the price difference? Also are the scorpion rockers reputable or are they basically a knock off of the FMS ones?

No, they are not knock offs, they are extrude honed rockers, and a better quality than the FMS. To me they rank right up there with the Harland sharp rockers, and are in the same price range. Remeber, whatever rockers you go with, Trickflow states you must use extrude honed rockers so there are no issues. And i know i said that i went with everything trickflow, so why not the trickflow rockers? they are actually crane rockers, anodized black with the TFS logo on them. I learned this when i bought my TFS 10:1 pistons only to find out later that they are made by Arias. Which im fine with, because i wanted to make sure i never had any issues (clearance wise) with my heads, came, pushrods, cam etc...