I have been trying to figure out which set of heads to keep, if I don't replace them with edelbrock RPM Performers. The heads it seams like have come from different places according to the information on Fordification.com page if I read it correctly. I realized the heads were not matching when I put them on my work bench and decided to check them out. Now I know why I was getting confused and could not understand why I had a C3 head and set it down and pick up the next head to clean it and got a C8 and they both came off a 1969 F100. Then the other two heads did not match either one is smog pump and the other is not. Thes cam off a 1975 F-150 4x4.
#1 head: C3AE This is a 1963 car engine head ?
#2 Head C8AE-H This is a 1968 car engine head ?
#3 Head D2TEA This is a 1972 Truck Engine ?
#4 Head D2TEAA This is a 1972 Truck Engine ? This is the only one that has plugs in the head where my guess smog pump tubing went ?

So from what I have figured out is my 1969 ford truck had the C3AE and the C8AE-H heads on it has more than likely had the heads replaced and some time.
The other two heads came off a 1975 4x4 and he also had to replace the heads.
The C3AE and C8AE-H both have been to a machine shop and a new valve job on them with new valves in the heads. They were like that when I got them and they have never been run on a engine at this time, so with all the different head dates and some are car and some are truck would you consider using them and will the be ok to run on the same engine even though two are car heads???

 

The C3 and C8 heads should have the same size valves. The combustion chamber size would be worth checking. And, do the ports match?

D2TE heads are pickup truck heads, and had hardened valve seats as OEM. I would bet they are identical other than the smog fittings. Once plugged, those are of no concern.

What are you considering with this motor?

Valve jobs were common prior to the hardened valve seat era, so that motor could have had a valve job where the owner just exchanged heads. Shops would lump all FE heads into the same pile in many cases.

 

The C8 and D2 heads are for all intents and purposes the same heads. The D2's HAD hardened seats when they left the factory, but after 40+ years, and doing another valve job, I wouldn't bet the seats are still hardened. The C3 heads had slightly larger chambers, and taller ports but they will flow no more air, because those port floors had a sharp jump upwards just inside the port opening. Trying to run the C8 and C3 heads is not the way to make power, they're completely two different heads, the static comp ratio will be different between cylinder banks, the flow rate through the intake and exhaust ports will be different too. If you're going to do anything, have one of the D2 heads rebuilt using the new valves from the C3 head. And unless that C8 head had hardened seats installed, you'll need to run a lead substitute in the engine.

 

This engine will be used for pulling a boat trailer and I hope to fix it up nice enough to show in old truck shows.