What HEADS to use

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

May 29, 2002 | 07:36 PM

66ford428

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

From: Brandon USA

What HEADS to use

I am putting a 428 together for my 66 ford truck.
I would like to know what heads to use. I am not going to do a lot of hauling with it. I am looking for it to put out around 400+ hp. looking for a good stock heads. I found some 390 GTA heads. Does any one know about these. any sugestions I would be glad to hear THANKS!!

May 29, 2002 | 07:45 PM

FE427TP

Posting Guru

Joined: Oct 1999

Posts: 1,188

Likes: 0

From: yes

What HEADS to use

Cobra Jet heads would work, but every factory head is good to 400hp just depends on how streetable the cam will be

May 29, 2002 | 08:39 PM

proeliator

Post Fiend

Joined: Sep 2000

Posts: 8,238

Likes: 3

From: Oregon

What HEADS to use

Those are fine heads. Just have your machine guy do some minor work on them and put in the CJ valves and you are good to go.

May 30, 2002 | 12:22 AM

karlsd

Elder User

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 962

Likes: 2

From: Collierville, TN

What HEADS to use

Uh, what are "390 GTA" heads? What is the casting number?

I have two sets of C8AE-H heads, one of which has just been freshly rebuilt for my 428. I've often seen them referred to as "390GT" heads, but I know they were used on lots of FEs.

May 30, 2002 | 06:58 AM

hotrodford_88

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2000

Posts: 1,504

Likes: 1

From: Texas

What HEADS to use

Look at the exhaust ports on your heads, if you see two different sets of bolt holes, then they are the GT heads. Example, the factory 390 holes are above & below the ports, the GT heads have them diagonally as well.

I believe that's right anyway, look at a set of the Edelbrock FE heads, and you'll see what I'm talking about.....

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displayimage.php?&photoid=5199&width=0

If the link doesn't work, there's a picture of a set of the Edelbrock FE Heads in my gallery....

May 30, 2002 | 11:18 AM

karlsd

Elder User

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 962

Likes: 2

From: Collierville, TN

What HEADS to use

Ford made FE heads with at least three different exhaust manifold bolt patterns. The heads for trucks and large cars use eight bolts at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions in relation to the exhaust ports. There are also 14 and 16 bolt heads. I am not aware that the heads were significantly different internally, however -- the bolt configuration was simply a matter of packaging in smaller cars.

Are you saying that the 14 and 16 bolt heads are better performance heads than 8 bolt heads?

May 30, 2002 | 11:26 AM

Post Fiend

Joined: Feb 2000

Posts: 5,130

Likes: 8

From: Brea CA

What HEADS to use

The only 16 bolt heads I am aware of are the CJ’s. The 14 bolt heads were used in the 390GT (or GTA) or just plain 390 engines used in the intermediates. Nothing special about the GT heads except for the stiffer valve springs like the CJ's.

Barry