I would look for any pre 73 heads first they can be had cheap as all will have equivalent cc chambers and will flow more than the E7's or scratch up a pair D9 heads they have the same CC chamber as the E7's but flow better. Really the E7 heads are just about the worst ones in terms of flow you can start with. The only reason they became popular was to due to availability and the 64CC chamber they made for an cheap head for home porting.

 

Info I have seen on the D9 heads show the larger CC combustion chamber. Is this incorrect?

 

Yes, all '77-85 smog era small block heads had 69cc chambers and no they don't flow better than E7. Pre smog heads don't have hardened valve seats either so the best options are late model heads. E7 heads are restrictive compared to what is available aftermarket but they will still make 275-280hp with sufficient cam.

 

No that's not true by a long shot. Here is how I'd rank them.
1. E6SE Worst SBF ever, badly shrowded valves and massive thermactor bumps that nearly block the whole exhaust ports.
2. 77-85 smog era. Hugh chambers and small valves and ports.
3. 69-75 351 heads. Pressed in rocker studs and lack of hardened valve seats. These do come with larger valves and bigger ports but you have to fix the other 2 issues before you can use them.
4. E7TE heads. Smaller chambers and thermactor bumps than smog era heads so they will perform better than those with little or no work. These can be worked to flow as well as GT40s but that takes professional flow benching and larger valves, you're not doing this in your back yard with a dremmel.
5. GT40 heads. Same size ports and valves as the early 351 heads but with hardened valve seats and pedestal rockers. This makes them an easy bolt on for a late model engine that will provide a 25-30% airflow boost as cast!

 

Not true at .500' Lift
E7 heads flow about 155 CFM intake and about 111 CFM exhaust
The Gt 40's flow 185 CFM Intake 130 CFM exhaust
The D8 (small valve) stock flow about 167 CFM 122 CFM exhaust
The old (non hi po) small block C7-C8 heads flow about 168 CFM intake and 123 CFM exhaust
The Old D0OE windsor heads were 185 CFM intake and about 128 CFM exhaust (Basically the same as the GT40's)Any of the C7OE C8AE CE, C8OE All have 58CC chambers
The D1TZ, D5OE heads are 64CC All flow the same as the early non hi po SBF heads 168 CFM intake and 123 CFM exhaust.
The C9OE, D0OE, or D5TE Windsor heads all flow the same 185 CFM intake 128 CFM exhaust.

So just about any pre 77 Small block head is going to be better better than the E7 heads. The Only advantage the E7's have over the earlier heads is clearance to remove roller lifters.

Any of the heads listed ported will out flow ported E7's. E7's became popular back in the late 80's and early nineties not be cause they are a good head cause they really are not, but because they were easy to find cheapo to buy and offered a quick way to boost compression on smog era SBF's that usually were in need of valve job any way. Somehow the E7 head reached some sort of mythical status when in reality it is a rather crappy head.

Additionally needing hardened seats is a myth for Ford's. Ford used a much harder cast iron alloy than what GM used. Unleaded valve recession is a GM issue not a Ford one .
Try to find an instance where an SBF Ford's ended up with recessed valve seats due to unleaded fuel. The only Ford engines that are prone to it are the early FE's and even then it is not a common occurrence..

 

There were a couple shops professionally preparing these that got 220cfm intake, 175cfm exhaust.

Matthew nobody but you suggested E7 heads were mythical, the OP was looking for an easy bolt-on that will provide some benefits and that is what these are, GT40 heads are better all around but they are not "common as dirt" like E7s are.

 

My "Thumper" ported E7 heads with stock valves have better flow numbers (218.9 CFM intake/164 CFM exhaust @ 500") than all of the heads you listed above.

 

The E7 are easy to find but so are the GT40's.
They still turn up in the U pull it yards fairly frequently if you know where to look you can find them quite easily the GT40 casting numbers F1ZE-AA, F3ZE-AA, F4ZE, F0JE (2 bar heads, no thermatic) F3JE (2 bar heads, no thermatic)

Applications
1991 -1999 Marine and industrial
1993-1995 Mustang Cobra
1996 -1997 Ford Explorer & Mountaineer
1993-1995 Ford F-150 Lightning

Rebuilt J heads can be found for less than 300 a piece.

 

Thank you all for the information and opinions. Much appreciated!