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Ok guys here I am again. I am going to take out my 351w from my 72f100. I need to replace rear seal along with just about every other seal. Since it was out I was thinking of relacing 2barrel carb and manifold to 4 barrel. I found some one selling a set of heads from a 96 351w. I have the stok heads from a 79 351w. is it worth the purchase? Could there really be a difference in performance? I am not looking for a speed monster. Just a smooth daily with enough to stomp in it when the situation is right.
The '96 head will be the E7TE casting with 64cc combustion chambers, while your '79 heads will have 69cc chambers, it's worth the swap for the increase in compression.
a buddy told me that they are completely differnt heads and will not work in my 79 block. Is it true? Something about manifolds and the efi set up for the 96.
There will be very little visual difference in the heads at all, and they will bolt up just fine to the block and intake. Compression ratio will go from about 8.3 to 8.8. The early 70's heads had different shaped water passages and lacked hardened valve seats because they were designed for leaded gas, but even these can be utilized on a later block with the proper gaskets and upgrades.
You mention proper gaskets. Is there a diffence in the gaskets? I am getting a set of gaskets for the whole engine from a buddy at NAPA. I don't need a different gasket, do I?
No special gaskets needed. As mentioned.. the early '70s heads(pre '75) had different shaped water passages and would require the early gaskets. All your parts are later than this so there is no issue.