• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech

new heads:new edelbrocks, AFR165 or Trick Flow?

  • Thread starter Thread starter homerojr
  • Start date Start date Mar 6, 2004
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last
H

homerojr

New Member
Dec 2, 2002
74
0
0
Mar 6, 2004
#1
  • Mar 6, 2004
  • #1
I´m considering new aluminum heads, and my nominees are the ones listed above. My first choice is the new Edelbrock (as soon as I get to know new flow and horsepower graph comparison), followed by the AFR165 (probably one of the best to my knowledge). I want to keep my previous mods (and the cam, the XE270HR specs 218 224 270 276 0512 0512 114). I want also keep my 1.6 FRPP rr (pedestal mount) and if possible the pushrods. Would like to know if my MAC specific "p" headers will fit with either the Edelbrock or the AFR. By the way my p heads are non emissions (I got no cats, EGR, etc) and want the new heads to be the same.
Which one would be the best bolt-on (stree use, good low and medium torque, power to 1500 to 6500).
Any comments or information would be greatly appreciated!
 

Rootus

Officially Addicted
Feb 8, 2003
6,659
1
0
Portland, Oregon
Mar 6, 2004
#2
  • Mar 6, 2004
  • #2
The AFR's are the best, but they are also the most expensive. The newest version of the Edelbrocks is pretty close to the AFR's. The TFS heads would probably have the least low-end torque, they're better suited for larger displacemen engines. You can get them in either stud or pedestal mount, so you can keep your rockers. Pushrods you can probably keep, but you should measure to be positive. The P headers should be just fine.

One other comment -- if you don't have to pass emissions, why not get a nice aggressive custom cam? You'd need a chip, but on a modified 94/95 you really should put a chip on it anyway, it helps a lot.

Dave
 
S

stangin it

Founding Member
Sep 25, 2002
554
0
0
Long Island, NY
Mar 6, 2004
#3
  • Mar 6, 2004
  • #3
Here we go again......
 

red94fiveo

New Member
Apr 12, 2003
1,269
0
0
Wichita, KS
Mar 6, 2004
#4
  • Mar 6, 2004
  • #4
Chalk another one up for the AFR's. Only with them you won't be able to keep your rockers and pushrods as the AFR's are only stud mount and will require hardened pushrods.
 
H

homerojr

New Member
Dec 2, 2002
74
0
0
Mar 6, 2004
#5
  • Mar 6, 2004
  • #5
Yeah, a new cam and a chip would shine on this combo, the problem is I´d have to spend maybe 300 for a custom cam and a similar amount for a chip..no money at all right now..anyway, by now I´m satisfied with my cam, has a sweet sound and offers a pretty decent performance for the street.
I thought the AFRs came with the pedestal mount option too?
Thanks
 

GTJake

Founding Member
Oct 28, 2002
3,049
0
56
Ann Arbor, MI
Mar 6, 2004
#6
  • Mar 6, 2004
  • #6
red94fiveo said:
Chalk another one up for the AFR's. Only with them you won't be able to keep your rockers and pushrods as the AFR's are only stud mount and will require hardened pushrods.
Click to expand...

You can get them in 60cc pedestal mount versions.

Jake
 
5

5.0hatch

New Member
Jan 24, 2003
150
0
0
Mar 6, 2004
#7
  • Mar 6, 2004
  • #7
homerojr said:
I´m considering new aluminum heads, and my nominees are the ones listed above. My first choice is the new Edelbrock (as soon as I get to know new flow and horsepower graph comparison), followed by the AFR165 (probably one of the best to my knowledge). I want to keep my previous mods (and the cam, the XE270HR specs 218 224 270 276 0512 0512 114). I want also keep my 1.6 FRPP rr (pedestal mount) and if possible the pushrods. Would like to know if my MAC specific "p" headers will fit with either the Edelbrock or the AFR. By the way my p heads are non emissions (I got no cats, EGR, etc) and want the new heads to be the same.
Which one would be the best bolt-on (stree use, good low and medium torque, power to 1500 to 6500).
Any comments or information would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

I'd say its a toss up between the edelbrocks and the afrs. I met up with a buddy of mine at the track with a similar combo to mine except afrs and I would trap 1mph higher than him. I'd say for the money edelbrocks are the way to go, but i'm a little biased.
 

GTJake

Founding Member
Oct 28, 2002
3,049
0
56
Ann Arbor, MI
Mar 6, 2004
#8
  • Mar 6, 2004
  • #8
The cam can have a lot to do with that. Different cams suite different heads. It's all about the combo.

Jake
 

Joes95GT

New Member
Jan 23, 2003
3,132
1
0
Delaware
Mar 6, 2004
#9
  • Mar 6, 2004
  • #9
We'll see how the new E-brocks do when my cam gets here. I think I'll install the stuff in about a month. I've got a pretty wild cam coming so it should put up decent numbers.

Joe
 
D

dirtyo2000

New Member
Feb 6, 2004
31
0
0
Mar 6, 2004
#10
  • Mar 6, 2004
  • #10
hey just want to throw in a mokey wrench lol friend of mine is running pro line. a lot cheaper than all but ranked with the afr's on flow.
 

Grn92LX

Fidanza Man!
Founding Member
Jan 14, 2001
6,819
64
129
New York
Mar 7, 2004
#11
  • Mar 7, 2004
  • #11
HairyCanary said:
The AFR's are the best, but they are also the most expensive. The newest version of the Edelbrocks is pretty close to the AFR's. The TFS heads would probably have the least low-end torque, they're better suited for larger displacemen engines.

Dave
Click to expand...


Ehh, dude, no offense for your wayyyy wrong. Afr's are NOT the best and TFS would NOT make the least low end tq. Do a search for my sn and I posted my dyno with my tfs/fti set up. Its not 100% tuned, but its much better with the chip. Makes about 300ft/lbs @ 3k and about 280ft/lbs @ 2700. Post your graph, lets compare low end. I'm not posting to say tfs is the best, im saying its all about the entire combo and how well thought out it is. All 3 heads mentioned are great and will work just as good and you wouldnt notice much if any differenc ebetween the 3 if you switched out the heads on your car for each of them. I'm just tired of reading all these afr dick-licking threads like their the ONLY way to go fast.

"Here we go again......"
Well said MIke
 

Joes95GT

New Member
Jan 23, 2003
3,132
1
0
Delaware
Mar 7, 2004
#12
  • Mar 7, 2004
  • #12
Grn92LX said:
Ehh, dude, no offense for your wayyyy wrong. Afr's are NOT the best and TFS would NOT make the least low end tq. Do a search for my sn and I posted my dyno with my tfs/fti set up. Its not 100% tuned, but its much better with the chip. Makes about 300ft/lbs @ 3k and about 280ft/lbs @ 2700. Post your graph, lets compare low end. I'm not posting to say tfs is the best, im saying its all about the entire combo and how well thought out it is. All 3 heads mentioned are great and will work just as good and you wouldnt notice much if any differenc ebetween the 3 if you switched out the heads on your car for each of them. I'm just tired of reading all these afr dick-licking threads like their the ONLY way to go fast.

"Here we go again......"
Well said MIke
Click to expand...
I don't think he said that AFR's are the ONLY way to go fast. How long did you talk to Ed Curtis? He didn't tell you that AFR's are the best 302-based head on the market? I guess not . We aren't dyno racing here. People use what is proven to work, and AFRs are proven time and time again to be one of the best, and most of the time, the best head on the market. Look at the tests in MM&FF. I too, would agree with Dave that the TFS heads would have the least low-end torque. The port volumes are much larger and the intake valves are larger which would theoretically kill velocity. The air would be moving lazily into the cylinders. When air does that, torque is lost. Cylinder fill equals torque. Sure your car probably puts out pretty good numbers, but you have to remember that the cams that you Fox guys run, we cannot because of our picky processors. For the sake of comparison, you should always use the same cams when comparing two cylinder heads. Dave could have had Ed grind up a mild cam because he still wanted to drive his car everyday with no problems. Compare flow data, compare cross section, don't compare dyno numbers.

Joe
 

Rootus

Officially Addicted
Feb 8, 2003
6,659
1
0
Portland, Oregon
Mar 7, 2004
#13
  • Mar 7, 2004
  • #13
Grn92LX said:
Ehh, dude, no offense for your wayyyy wrong. Afr's are NOT the best and TFS would NOT make the least low end tq. Do a search for my sn and I posted my dyno with my tfs/fti set up. Its not 100% tuned, but its much better with the chip. Makes about 300ft/lbs @ 3k and about 280ft/lbs @ 2700.
Click to expand...
I'm talking about objective tests -- every one I've seen that compares heads to each other with all other variables remaining equal shows the AFR's with an advantage both in peak power (but not by much) and in under-the-curve power (much more significant). By that measure, they are the best. If you figure price into the equation, as many people must, then perhaps they are no longer the "best", because they are one of the most expensive aftermarket 302 heads.

And it's absolutely true that the Twisted Wedge heads are not as ideally suited to a 302 setup, they don't have as much velocity as the smaller AFR 165's. This is not my opinion, this is objective fact. Put them up side by side *with all else being equal* and see which one makes more torque down low.

And it's worth mentioning that there are other explanations for good low-end torque that have nothing to do with the heads -- before I fixed my headers, which it turns out were restricting exhaust flow, my setup (AFR 165's, FTI cam) made silly amounts of low-end torque -- I'm talking 250 ft-lbs at less than 1500 RPM and my first torque peak (320 ft-lbs) occured at 3000 RPM. Amazing what a little extra backpressure does for torque .

Dave
 
S

stangin it

Founding Member
Sep 25, 2002
554
0
0
Long Island, NY
Mar 7, 2004
#14
  • Mar 7, 2004
  • #14
Its all in the combo. It seems like the majority of people who buy AFR heads get an FTI cam. Ive searched around for a while looking #'s and track times from Edelbrock and TFS users and theres definately alot more AFR users with custom cams then Edelbrock and TFS. Id like to see a test done where you take 3 cars of the same year one with TFS/FTI/Rpm intake one with AFR/FTI/RPM and the last Edelbrock/FTI/RPM. Have the cars tuned and hit the dyno. Il put money on it that they will all be very similar with #'s.
 

FordStang

Founding Member
Sep 19, 2002
862
1
0
Orange Park, FL
Mar 7, 2004
#15
  • Mar 7, 2004
  • #15
i got the new eldebrocks there Awesome
 

hillie16

Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
6,003
9
108
Mar 7, 2004
#16
  • Mar 7, 2004
  • #16
Joes95GT said:
Sure your car probably puts out pretty good numbers, but you have to remember that the cams that you Fox guys run, we cannot because of our picky processors. For the sake of comparison, you should always use the same cams when comparing two cylinder heads. Dave could have had Ed grind up a mild cam because he still wanted to drive his car everyday with no problems. Compare flow data, compare cross section, don't compare dyno numbers.
Click to expand...

That's the thing is a lot of people think numbers will be the same for a Fox as for our cars and they aren't. AFR's have consistently proven to be the better head, at least from what I've read. My original plan was Edelbrocks, but I'm thinking of sticking with the other sheep in the herd LOL and getting the AFRs and a custom grind FTI cam.
 

Rootus

Officially Addicted
Feb 8, 2003
6,659
1
0
Portland, Oregon
Mar 7, 2004
#17
  • Mar 7, 2004
  • #17
hillie16 said:
My original plan was Edelbrocks, but I'm thinking of sticking with the other sheep in the herd LOL and getting the AFRs and a custom grind FTI cam.
Click to expand...
It's okay to be a sheep, do what works. Being different just to be different has no benefit .

Dave
 

mo_dingo

20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 26, 2003
3,031
2
58
Tucson, AZ
Mar 7, 2004
#18
  • Mar 7, 2004
  • #18
Intake Flow Chart from FordMuscle.com


Exhaust Flow Chart from FordMuscle.com


You can pick up a set of TW heads for under $1000 & AFR's run $1300, usually. My money will go to trickflow.
Scott
 

Attachments

  • intake_flow.gif
    12.3 KB · Views: 143
  • exhaust_flow.gif
    11.1 KB · Views: 139

Rootus

Officially Addicted
Feb 8, 2003
6,659
1
0
Portland, Oregon
Mar 7, 2004
#19
  • Mar 7, 2004
  • #19
mo_dingo said:
You can pick up a set of TW heads for under $1000 & AFR's run $1300, usually. My money will go to trickflow.
Scott
Click to expand...
Heck, if all you want is a lot of flow, then you can get heads that flow a *lot* more than any of the ones on that chart. Why not pick up a set of blue thunder heads and put them on your 302?

Flowbenches and dynos don't make very good times at the track... not aerodynamic enough...

Dave
 

final5-0

Mustang Master
Apr 6, 2003
6,817
12
79
DFW Texas
Mar 7, 2004
#20
  • Mar 7, 2004
  • #20
homerojr said:
I´m considering new aluminum heads, and my nominees are the ones listed above. My first choice is the new Edelbrock (as soon as I get to know new flow and horsepower graph comparison), followed by the AFR165 (probably one of the best to my knowledge). I want to keep my previous mods (and the cam, the XE270HR specs 218 224 270 276 0512 0512 114). I want also keep my 1.6 FRPP rr (pedestal mount) and if possible the pushrods. Would like to know if my MAC specific "p" headers will fit with either the Edelbrock or the AFR. By the way my p heads are non emissions (I got no cats, EGR, etc) and want the new heads to be the same.
Which one would be the best bolt-on (stree use, good low and medium torque, power to 1500 to 6500).
Any comments or information would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

You asked for comments!

Will making the choice of heads based upon parts from the existing combo compromise the potential of the new combo?

Later
Grady
 
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Old guy new to Forum.
  • 08shelby GT500
  • Jun 15, 2026
  • The Welcome Wagon
Replies
3
Views
149
The Welcome Wagon Jun 15, 2026
LILCBRA
SOLD Trick Flow R-Series Upper Manifold - 75mm, Black, New in Box
  • AeroCoupe
  • Feb 18, 2025
  • Engine and Power Adder
Replies
1
Views
359
Engine and Power Adder Jun 28, 2025
AeroCoupe
S
Requesting Guidance for 306 motor swap - Fuel? - SD? MAF?
  • So_Flo
  • Jul 26, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
32
Views
2K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jan 4, 2026
Mcmahst
SOLD Trick Flow Intake Plate
  • Habu135
  • May 20, 2024
  • Engine and Power Adder
Replies
0
Views
592
Engine and Power Adder May 20, 2024
Habu135
Which one of these 3 intakes make the most sense for my 331 combo
  • from6to8
  • Jul 25, 2024
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
7
Views
2K
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Jul 26, 2024
AeroCoupe
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?