I have long tube headers installed on my 86' 460 which is rated at 380 lb-ft in stock form. I'm wondering how much torque I can expect to gain. It also has a Flowmaster dual exhaust system. Also have a hotter coil and some e3 spark plugs on the way. Thanks for any in put.

 

Not much for just the headers alone. Maybe 10-15. Headers are great for getting the spent gases out of the engine (along with a free-flowing exhaust), but you also need to get the fuel in. Headers work in combination with increases in cam, intake, and carb. It's a start. I bet it sounds better.

 

Exhaust ports are the real problem with these engines.
Short side radius and thermactor bumps cause a lot more restriction than the stock manifolds do.

You can pee into the biggest river you want, it's not going change *your* flow.
(edited for clarity)

 

Good point.
There is a nice "porting guide" here Re in"Car"nation High Performance - BBF Technical Index log on here to access porting instructions. or get some aftermarket or early heads (c9VE or D0VE castings) with the smaller combustion chambers to bump up compression.

 

Hotter coil on the stock ignition system? Keep an eye on it, you ignition box may fail and leave you stranded.

 

Thanks, I'll definitely pick up a spare before I do anything then

 

What would I find these heads on?

 

If you mean the C9Ve and D0Ve, then any early model (1968 - 1970) Ford with a 429 or 460. This includes:
68 to 71 thunderbird
68 to 71 lincoln
69 to 71 mark series lincoln
69 to 71 ford and mercury full size, LTD, galaxie, marquis, monterey, etc...
70 to 71 mid size torino, montego, cobra and cyclone
71 mustang and cougar

Just be aware that the later models (72 up) had larger combustion chambers so you don't get the free bump in compression unless you replace your stock dished pistons.

As you know, there are a lot of cylinder heads to choice from. The casting numbers (the "C8VE, C9VE, D0VE. etc.) are the ones to get as they are pre-emissions (but there are some later heads that have potential (like the Police Interceptor heads) - here is a link to what those castings are (the one's to get). casting-numbers-descriptions-1-index

EDIT - really the best hting to do (if you can afford it) is to get the aftermarket aluminum heads. You can get them with the small combustion chambers to raise compression, they have the larger SS valves, and are setup with the proper springs and adjustable valve train. By the time you do all the work, and the porting, valves, etc. on the older cast iron heads, you have about the same amount of money tied up. And the aluminum heads dissipate heat better and save a bunch of weight. But just bolting on a set of early cast heads with no other work will still bump compression a healthy amount.

 

Thanks for all the info, I'm going to go see what I can get my hands on.

 

You may want to check here STUFF FOR SALE - B.F. EVANS RACE PARTS
and The Auction Block - 460 Ford Forum
if your looking for used.

 

Thanks, I'll check it out.

 

Another cost to the older heads is having to have hardened seats put in or the unleaded gas is gonna eat them alive. Unless someone has already had it done.




I used my stock heads and knocked the smog bump off the exhaust side as mentioned above and that made a huge difference. I did the work myself so I didn't have the cost of having it done but I'm an old guy who had to do this in the old days before all this aftermarket stuff hit the scene.

 

Thanks I'll give that a try