performance heads
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 49
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From: Maine
performance heads
I am looking into purchasing a new set of heads and cam for my 95 250 5.8. The truck already has a set of shorty headers, and cat back duel 3" exhaust. For the most part the truck goes to work and back, but I do work and play with it as much as possible. I would like to keep the power down in the rpm band. What combinations of cam and heads has given you good eresults? thanks for the help!
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 196
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From: pennsylvania
If you're not going to run in an all out max rpm race, your stock heads are FINE, in fact they were engineered to produce their power at the bottom end, a.k.a.-torquers. Any aftermarket heads that boast torque are meaning you won't lose as much down low in the rpm band as compared to others. + the $ you'll save...at least a $1000!!! That could go along way towards other up grades... cam...LONG TUBE headers( designed to produce torque!)performance chip, etc! not to mention you're over half way there to buying a supercharger! ( which is actually much more streetable than a radical set of aluminum racing heads) Check out POWERDYNE, & PAXTON. Gearing is also a much better upgrade for a truck, and will do just about as much for your 0-60 as big$ heads. As for a cam I LOVE my COMP extreme 4x4 cca35231-3/ 206/214=.448/.483 & cloyes t.set, but if you do get heads stay with cast iron, trust me they are far less trouble!
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 71
From: Calhoun GA
Out of the box, Trick Flow and AFR's are probably your best options. You can use either one of those heads with a cam and it will be very streetable. If the only other upgrades you plan on doing is a cam and exhaust then you can save some $$$ and get one of those DIY porting kits from Summit and port your stock heads; It's not that hard, just time comsuming. Whatever you do to the stock heads will be a plus because they are restrictive, especially the exhaust port.
Since you have a 95, your block is probably drilled to accept a spider for a roller cam conversion. Just look at the casting number next to starter. If it's starts with an F4TE then you have one. A spider, dog bones, lifters and hardware from a 87-93 5.0 Mustang will fit on a 5.8. Some have actually used all that and the 5.0 roller Mustang cam and not spend more than $150 for everything. That cam will idle well and will also work with Speed Density.
Since you have a 95, your block is probably drilled to accept a spider for a roller cam conversion. Just look at the casting number next to starter. If it's starts with an F4TE then you have one. A spider, dog bones, lifters and hardware from a 87-93 5.0 Mustang will fit on a 5.8. Some have actually used all that and the 5.0 roller Mustang cam and not spend more than $150 for everything. That cam will idle well and will also work with Speed Density.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 71
From: Calhoun GA
Porting the stock heads would be better than not doing anything at all. However, if your build is going to get aggressive later on down the road (blower, turbo, and/or nitrous) then you might want to consider a set of the above mentioned heads, it'll be worth it in the long run.
