Ha.... You got me on that one. Old heads have the extra bolts. But the late intake works on the early heads. No leak as long as the head isn't drilled all the way through for threads.
Not sure why ford changed that.
You'll want to use a late model head anyway. Gt40 or gt40p. Much better oem head than all the other sbf heads (excluding the Cleveland head that is)

 

GT40/P's are supposedly just as good as the '69 heads from what I have heard. But yeah for sure.

 

Now why wouldn't an aftermarket cam work with the EFI?

 

69 heads don't have hardened exhaust seats. That can get to be an issue with this unleaded fuel we have now if you tow or do long drives.
They do have same size valves as the 69 was the better head back in the day. It also has a bigger spark plug.
I have a decent head flow chart somewhere, but can't find the link on my phone.

 

Most aftermarket cams are too aggressive or have too much overlap for an efi engine to be happy. They make some very nice ones designed for our trucks. If you look for a cam with lobe separation of 112-114, that should be compatible. 112 will have a less smooth idle, where 114 is what the computer really prefers.

 

Correct. My dad and I run very highly worked over '69 heads that needed the seats hardened. They were milled, had 2.02/1.6 valves shoved in them and he says they were "triple ground" with a 3 angle valve job, full port job...everything. But when those were worked over, aftermarket wasn't what it is now.

I have seen flow chart results from most of the different year heads, and that alone tells you what years you want to find.

 

Sounds like what I'm getting ready to put on my 90 truck. Fully ported 69 heads with 202-160 stainless chevy valves, 3 angle valve job and head surface ground so I can use a multi layer steel head gasket.

 

Are there any blocks to stay away from?

 

Not really.
All 351s are 28oz balance. Older Van engines have more chance to have spot faced connecting rod bolt surfaces, but that's only a minor improvement. It's the same rod. I'd get a. 94+ (Definitely 95-96) because it has a roller cam, and with 1.7 ratio rockers, you can get away with that for a while if you didn't want to do a cam immediately. If you get one from a truck it will already have correct oil pan.

 

My dad says the exhaust side has the 2.02 valve to get the exhaust out since Fords exhaust side is garbage but I'm skeptical as I have no idea how the hell that is even possible. Compression sits at a nice 9.5:1 on this current engine.

 

Would it be:

Ford Mustang: Mustang Tech: Engine: Ford Head Information Center

 

Nope. But that one looks pretty good also. The one I saved was more of a spreadsheet. It's somewhere in the forum. Was comparing gt40 heads to older heads.
Guy was asking which head casting number was better I think.

 

Not really. 69-74 blocks are notably stronger than later blocks however none are "bad". Later 90s ones had roller rockers and roller cams so they already have holes drilled for them.

 

Roller lifters and roller cam. Only the cobra 5liter had roller rockers stock.
If you are going to stick with a 302 then I would suggest just getting a complete explorer motor. It has most all of the good parts that you're looking for but you just need to upgrade the valve springs if you were going to put an aftermarket camshaft in it. If you are going to do a 351 then I would suggest getting a 94 to 96 where it already has the roller camshaft in it. Older than 94 it was a flat Tappet camshaft

 

Yeah im holding out for a decent 351 block. If a good deal on a flat tappet comes, I'll take it, but I'm trying to wait for a roller block. But I did hear from a friend about there being two different types of roller lifters. And I'm clueless on the camshaft end of things.