I have a 1996 Bronco Eddie Bauer, with the 351W. I am only 19 years old, and working on learning more about my truck, and hopefully getting my hands dirty, while improving it.

I am asking for some help with head replacements. (there is nothing wrong with mine, I'm only at 93k miles) But i am interested in improving. I have been looking on summit racing for heads and i found these: Edelbrock 2091 - Edelbrock Power Package Top-End Kits - Overview - SummitRacing.com
But i notice a few issues, First it says Carbureted. Does that matter? are there simple ways to swap it into my EFI? Second, how do i figure out if it will fit into my truck? Which numbers do i have to match up? exhaust ports?
And third, is it worth $1600, how do i judge if this is an improvement? or am i just putting new heads in? How do i judge what is bigger and better then what i have?

First i need to know what i have stock, i am having a hard time finding a newbies section for heads. What numbers matter, and how to i find them or measure them on my truck?

Thanks for all the help guys, I've recently bought a few books like "How to rebuild your Ford small block" and i am trying to learn, But if anyone has any information on my particular motor, i would appreciate it.

Thanks again,

Alex

 

Your 1996 351W has both a roller cam block and a roller cam. The cam's specs are 256/266* advertised duration (not the @.050 lift figure) Lift is .422/.473 with 1.6 rockers. The heads will be E7TE castings with 1.78/1.45 valves and 64 cc chambers. These are decent heads, but need port work on the exhaust sides. Those Edelbrock heads will lack the exhaust crossover passages, which isn't a big deal as the 351W sources the EGR gases from the passenger side exhaust manifold. As such they can be used with your EFI system. And you should have Mass Air, so the computer will beable to compenstate for the extra air flow (might need bigger injectors though, I'm no expert on EFI stuff) The cam with that kit is likely a flat tappet grind, not something you want to down grade to from your roller cam setup. I would just do the heads and if you want to upgrade the cam, choose one better suited to your needs. The stock cam is pretty good for bottomend and midrange, even better if run with 1.7 full roller rockers, these will incrase the lift at the valves to .445/.473 and will still provide enough lift and duration when combined with better heads to allow the powerband to pull to 5500-6000 rpms. You will definately need to upgrade to at least shorty headers to take advantage of the extra flow those heads offer, the rest of the exhaust should as well be upgraded too, although this work can be done at a later time, if money is a problem.

 

It was probably just a typo on your part since you have the same exhaust lift number listed later for 1.7 rockers, but just to clarify for the OP the stock valvetrain specs a 0.422" intake/0.445" exhaust lift with 1.6 ratio rockers.

The topend kit shown above isn't suitable for your truck, I agree with Baddad that heads alone would be a better option although.. the stock truck intake also really needs to be upgraded to see full benefit from these higher flowing heads, and as with all these trucks the complete exhaust system has to be replaced with aftermarket components to see any gains at all.
Depending upon your budget you may want to start with the exhaust system and add 1.7 rockers with the stock heads and intake(this will produce noticable gains), and then if you are still feeling the need for more swap out the heads and intake.

 

Thank you baddad457 for all that information, i am starting to make sense of it.
I should have mentioned i do have K&N cold air intake, and flow master super 40 series muffler.. Next on my list was headman elite headers, but i was told it would be a good idea to do heads, then headers.

I do like your idea of doing it in bits and pieces Conanski. Would these rockers be appropriate?: Crane Cams 36757-16 - Crane Gold Race Extruded Rocker Arms - Overview - SummitRacing.com
And before i go any further, just how deep into this am i getting? Is this something i can accomplish with little knowledge?

Thanks again for all the help.

 

Yep, I got the exhaust lift specs wrong for 1.6's
Best bang for the buck are the Crane Energizer 1.7 pedestal rockers these are essentially the same 1.7 full roller rockers they made for Ford for the 90's Cobra 5.0's. Used Cobra rockers are also an option, if you can still find some. I've got a set I bought with 100K miles on em, then ran em another 7-8 years in my V8 Ranger. I pulled em off the motor before selling the truck. They show no signs of ever wearing out. Buy new pushrods too, the roller pushrods don't rotate in service like flat tap-pet pushrods do and end up wearing to a somewhat wedge shape on the rocker ends.