Which heads?
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More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: in the woods of Maine!
Which heads?
I have an 86' or so 302, and right now I've got a set of stock heads on it. I've also got a set of 77 351M heads. I plan on porting which ever head I use, and if I use the 351 head I do have access to machines to maek it work, but I will need to know what to machine.
I was wondering what would be the best choice?
I was wondering what would be the best choice?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Destin/Ft. Walton Beach,
The 351M head is pretty much an open chamber 351C head. You can use them, but you'll have low compression, and you'll need to buy an oddball intake manifold. A Boss style manifold. If you refuse to buy a set of aftermarket performance heads, then the 86 5.0 head would be my choice. I would much prefer the AFR 185 heads. You can do whatever to any stock heads, and they still won't do better then the AFR.
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More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: in the woods of Maine!
yea, well I know a 351M head will bolt onto a 302, and I know that if you want to use a 302 intake, U must make a plate to between the head, and intake.....I am a machinist of a sort, and I can make these spacers....I am just wondering which head has the highest flow potential,....I can dack the block, and mill the heads to boost compression a little
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
Just fill and grind down the smog bumps in the factory heads, then clean up the intake runners, then port match them. The next better flowing SBF head is a GT40P. What you have is an E7 head, they already flow pretty well from the factory, and with minor work flow extremely well.
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More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: in the woods of Maine!
no, Ford does not use a big block, and small block,.....they use engine families..a 351M/400, is a 335 series motor, and it is the next block size up from the smallest motors (260-351W)..I have a 351M head....from the 351M, that was in my 78' Bronco....but those motors were horrible, and I junked it, but I kept a few things like the heads.
what I wanna know is whether an E7 stock cast iron 302 head will flow better or worse than a D7 Stock Cast Iron 351M head
what I wanna know is whether an E7 stock cast iron 302 head will flow better or worse than a D7 Stock Cast Iron 351M head
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Bend,OR
the e7 will flow better then the D7. problem is i dont think the E7's showed up on the 302 till 87 so you might check the stamp on the heads. if they are E6 heads throwem away
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Destin/Ft. Walton Beach,
Are you sure you don't have a 351W head. I know that will bolt up but I thought the 351M and 400M were big block heads. If not, it is news to me and good to know.
Later, the 351M/400 gained the 460 transmission bolt pattern. Even though the 351C,M/400 style heads will bolt right on, it isn't a bolt in swap. With all the better aftermarket heads for a 302/351, I would never even consider using the Cleveland style head. Not unless I was building a fake Boss 302 Mustang.
A bone stock 93 Mustang GT engine can make big power. Add a set of AFR 165 heads, 1.7 ratio rockers, headers, and a good intake and carb. Still using the stock cam, it will dyno at just over 400 horsepower. Let me see you do that with a set of 351C/M heads? It won't happen on a stock engine, including the camshaft. The AFR 165's are pretty sweet.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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That is very interesting. I never knew that the bolt pattern was the same on the 351m and a 302. I guess i just never even thought about it knowing how the 351m and 400 motors were never that great of a motor. Have you ever tested a set of Canfield heads. My brother used a set on a 351w and dynoed out at 440hp.