Howdy all!

My 390 build is starting to come together. I plan on building the 390 for my 73 F100 4WD and get the tired 360 out of there. In picking up various FE parts I have found I have extra sets of heads. The set that is on the 360 are D2TE-AA and totally rebuilt with less than 1000 miles. I plan on putting these on the 390. That leaves me with the following besides the ones on my truck.

D2TE-AA (Pair)
C6AE & C6AE-R (From a 352)
C8AE-H (On a 76 F250 parts rig with a verified 390)

Of the heads listed, what ones would be the best for a 390 being built for torque? The set I keep, I would probably try a port and polish job and a full rebuild. Then put them on the 390 down the road.

What do you all think?

 

Well, I like to keep heads matched on a motor, otherwise I'd say the C6AE heads. I think you'll be best served by the D2TE-AA heads, as they've got the induction hardened exhaust valve seats. Dont get too carried away on the valve seat job though. Any of the others, you'd have to get hardened exhaust valve seat inserts installed.

I definately agree on the porting and polishing.

 

Thank you. I was not sure if there were any flow chacteristics that would that would make one pair better than another pair or if one set had more potential than the others.

 

Well, the C6 heads should have bigger ports, and thus flow better. Take a good hard look at them and make sure they're identical other than the casting numbers. If so, then use them. Otherwise, use the D2's.

 

Awesome... The D2TE-AA heads that are currently on the 360 have been totally worked over, including hardened seat inserts. I am keeping these for the 390.

All the other heads are spares a gathered in my quest for a 390 core. Went through a 352 that was totally seized and a junk yard 390. The C6 heads were on the 352 and the D2s were on a junk yard 390. The C8s are on a 76 f250 with a 390 I just picked up for about $180.00. Yes, the decimal place is in the right place.

So it sounds like the heads in order of desirability are

C6AE
D2TE
C8AE

Is there any difference between the C6AE and the C6AE-R? Also, is there a book that talks about the different port sizes and head specs for these? I looked in Steve's book and did not see anything...

 

The C6AE-R's have the bigger lowriser ports. These were the last C6 heads to get them. All the other C6 heads were the smaller velocity port design. C6-J, L, U or Y are pretty much the same as the C7AE-A's. So measure the ports and see what you have there. Also the D2-AA and C8-H head casting are identical except the D2's have the hardened seats. The C6-R's were dubbed the "poor mans CJ heads" as they were cheap to find back in the day. They do have slightly smaller chambers than the C80E CJ heads tho and many installed the CJ size valves.

G.