New Heads

I appreciate the comments and opinions. Yes, I know there are bigger and better heads and that goes without saying for pretty much anything we buy. There is always something bigger and better.

I guess I should put out what I expect and what my plans are. I am on a tight budget and any deal I can get on parts I will take. I know by buying used heads they may require a lot of work. In fact, I know that with any used part I run the risk of it not running properly, needing to be rebuilt, or just being complete garbage and having to toss it. Even someone who has "completely rebuilt and gone through" used parts may have just cleaned the part up and put a fresh coat of paint on it to show it being new.

I bought these heads because I got them fairly cheap and they came complete with RR's. Yes I could put a few more hundred dollars into them but I am ok with that seeing how I could buy a set of used AFR's or TF's and still put the same or more into rebuilding those as well. I am just looking for a little more out of my motor as it has 167k on it and nothing too extreme. I planned on a set of gt40 irons but these are a step up from those and, again, are complete without having to buy new springs like I would for the irons. I plan on an entire HCI when I do the swap. Just trying to look at a good combo for the intake and cam. From what I can see the TFS1 will be a good cam for the heads and then maybe a typhoon or gt40 intake as well. This car is a daily driver so I don't want to ruin the drivability of the car as it is. I also have a set of 3.55 gears sitting the garage as well which I believe will give me the package I am looking for.

While I would just love to bolt these heads on, I plan on having these heads gone through to possibly include having them decked and valves checked. I don't plan to put money into the swap with heads that I haven't gone and the possibility of the valves being bent. Around here a valve job for both heads (regardless of brand) is about $150-160. So about $200-$250 in head work and they will be good as new.

Bryan83taco said:

Yup, but when it comes down to it I'd rather pay my machine shop to put new valves on a set of higher flowing heads than on a set of plain old GT40's. Why not do it right the first time around?

Just my opinion. There's nothing wrong with GT40's. I just didn't want to swap heads two times on my setup.

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While I respect your opinion, I also respectfully disagree.

These are the aluminum version and however minimal it maybe, are a slight step up from the irons, but even so. Irons run anywhere from $175-300 depending on where you are located and if valve springs were swapped or not. I have found used AFR's and Trickflows anywhere from $800-900 obviously depending on which version you are getting. About a $500 difference at best. All things being equal, I will rule out machine shop work because the same could be said for both used heads. Now, for someone like me, that $500 will well cover a intake and a brand new cam and some supporting hardware. I have a wide range of intakes to choose from because the heads are obviously on the low end of the market. If I were to get AFR's of Trickflows I would be looking at more expensive intakes as I don't want to limit the power the heads are capable of.

Just my opinion and I know there are many more like that. This is what works for me and if I had my say, Rick would have my engine at this moment building a stroker. But, until that time comes, I am happy with what I have for now.