I know the 351 build topic has been discussed a lot. I've done a lot of reading but want to try to get all the info in one place to compare options.

I've got a 351 block with a rotating assembly and heads out of a '74 that needs one of everything else. I'm looking for a sporty street truck that will be good on the highway and around town. Maybe in the 350-400 horses and similar torque numbers with good low end torque to get away from a light and make a pass on the highway.

I understand that heads make the largest impact on what numbers will be attainable. But also are largest cost. I see the AFR heads recommended a lot and for good reason. However they are quite pricey.

If I stick with stock heads what kind of performance would I realistically be looking at? Or what would be some good alternative options? I see the gt40 thrown around a lot as well.

I think I'm looking for something in the ballpark of a 513 lift cam with 218/224 duration and would likely stay with a 1.6 rocker arm and something like an edlebrock performer intake and holley 650 carb. I'll likely end up with somewhere around a 315/50/17 or 275/55/17 rear tire. Currently running a 235/75/15

Will be bolted to a c4 transmission for now. Need to determine what rear gear I currently have and what would be best for this application

 

check these, same price as the china aluminum heads

185cc SBF Enforcer Cylinder Head - Air Flow Research

 

The stock heads don't offer much past 4500 RPM's, and GT's aren't that much better.

How much are you willing to spend to achieve your goals?

 

Agreed. If you want performance out of these engines start looking at Aluminium heads. Here is a place to start to look at flow numbers... If you get serious about buying aluminium heads make sure you exhaust port is in the stock location and not raised and it's a single drilled exhaust port flange. The double drilled ones need a adapter plate to fit manifolds/headers.

​​​​​​https://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/...ads/index1.php

​​​​​​Stan Weiss' - Cylinder Head Flow Data at 28 Inches of Water -- DFW / FLW Flow Files for use with Engine Simulation Software

 

For that price, I could cancel my Edelbrock 60399 head order, and get the AFR, almost half the price!

If buying aluminum, make sure they are in stock, and available. I just received my 20th backorder email, stating "may ship Dec. 28th".

 

Now they just trying my patients, with yours, of all the low down dirty doing's, could have saved enough aluminum cans to melt and make your own, and matching intake, for that matter.

 

Yeah, step up to an aluminum aftermarket head. GT40 would work, but it's going to be a used head likely needing rebuilt. Any of the entry level heads from Edelbrock, AFR, Trick Flow, etc. Would get you where you want to go.

The price on those AFR heads make aftermarket a no-brainer really.

 

The stock heads won't make more than 270hp, GT40s will break 300 but not by a lot. 350-400hp requires AFR Enforcer level heads and 5500-6000rpm... or more displacement or forced induction.