I run those heads...I pd 500.00 for just the heads, added a Steeda 19 and I run 93 Cobra Fox set-up...i'm 302 FWHP with all my mods....For about the same amount of money spent I picked up 80 FWHP...not to shabby...If your on a budget, they work...I run 373s and can still hit 19-20 around town if I drive it nice...but mostly I dont....Mines not a DD so I enjoy it when its out...
I have run my Neices 95 Z28 at the drags, its got exhaust and its chipped...it'll hang right with her....Depends on who gets outta the hole first..she takes me, I take her...So it runs ok, you shouldn't get spanked to hard... Although those Z's do screw up top...come 3rd gear they really start to pour it on...
I know you can get alot of parts for 895.00...I would go the heads alone from Mike, then hit the Corral classifieds rounding up stuff...Timing sets can be had cheap...B cams are all over the place...that'll leave you a few bucks for a AFPR, gasket sets and other minor BS stuff...
I know this is years and years old but when you added the "thumper heads you gained 80 hp? I'm looking at getting a set for my '95. I was looking at doing aftermarket like afr but since I have flat-top pistons I think I'll have a tough time finding a set that will bolt right up. Plus the "bang for the buck" for the thumpers doesn't appear too bad.
I had purchased a set of thumper heads, turned out the were warped and blew HG's all day long. Plenty of people have had great luck with thumper heads.
Go to the junkyard find 99 explorer (GT40p), take the heads off, go to a shop and getting them milled flat, upgrade springs. Should still cost less and make more power. This is what I did, bumps your compression up to 9.0 too. (im running a SC as well)
Sounds like those E7's you got were run hot a few times and got warped from the previous owner, after he blew a Head Gasket he decided to update to Aluminum heads and recouped some money by selling you the E7's.
Ya that's what I got.... stock is 220 FWHP and I dyno'd at 302 FWHP. Not even sure Mike is still at it?? If I was gonna go that route I'd see if he had any GT40's done up. Add 100.00 and he do up a spring upgrade while he's at it then your good to go.