Notices

head question

Old Nov 7, 2007 | 07:04 PM
  #1  
2classics's Avatar
2classics
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
20 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 620
Likes: 1
From: NE Wisconsin
head question

I have an 85 truck 302 block. (roller ready?)
Would it be better to go with early 90s explorer gt-40 heads or 74 heads with smaller chambers? Obviously, the 74s would need hardened seats. I have the 74 heads, but are not easilt conv. to roller. Looking to maybe go thruogh some heads.
 
Reply
Old Nov 8, 2007 | 03:27 AM
  #2  
HemiEater's Avatar
HemiEater
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,656
Likes: 1
GT40 all day long.........
 
Reply
Old Nov 8, 2007 | 07:53 AM
  #3  
s1120's Avatar
s1120
More Turbo
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 520
Likes: 70
Exploder heads!!!
What more compression you have with the early ones will not make up for worse flow.
 
Reply
Old Nov 8, 2007 | 05:08 PM
  #4  
2classics's Avatar
2classics
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
20 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 620
Likes: 1
From: NE Wisconsin
thanks for the opinions. Might have to check some j yards around here. What problems might I run into matching heads to block? To make things more interesting, I have the 74 induction setup on top the 85 block/lowerend.
 
Reply
Old Nov 9, 2007 | 06:21 AM
  #5  
baddad457's Avatar
baddad457
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Liked
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
The 74 heads also have hardened seats, same process the 90's heads get them. All are induction hardened.
 
Reply
Old Nov 9, 2007 | 12:59 PM
  #6  
2classics's Avatar
2classics
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
20 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 620
Likes: 1
From: NE Wisconsin
Good to know. I was under the impression they were not.
 
Reply
Old Nov 9, 2007 | 05:20 PM
  #7  
baddad457's Avatar
baddad457
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Liked
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
Be aware too, that the induction hardening only extends a few thousandths in depth. If you have the seats done too many times or ground too much, the hardened part disappears. This is true for both heads. I did a set of E7's a few years ago and this was the first rebuild for them, so far so good with the seats, they've been in service now for about 50,000 miles. Hopefully they'll go for twice that amount, they showed no signs of valve wear after a year's service when I pulled them off the first motor they were on.
 
Reply
Old Nov 9, 2007 | 05:59 PM
  #8  
flareside_thunder's Avatar
flareside_thunder
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 2
From: Florida
You'll need some ARP bolts to get the windsor heads to bolt down to the 302......they're bout 40 bucks for the set and I'll be seeing how well they work tomorrow......GT-40's all day long just like Hemi said....might wanna port the exhaust ports a bit too to give you better flow...I gasket matched mine...check out my gallery to see the difference in the one that's been ported and the one that ain't....Luck

JR
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-5

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-9

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Nov 10, 2007 | 04:46 AM
  #9  
HemiEater's Avatar
HemiEater
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,656
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by baddad457
Be aware too, that the induction hardening only extends a few thousandths in depth. If you have the seats done too many times or ground too much, the hardened part disappears. This is true for both heads. I did a set of E7's a few years ago and this was the first rebuild for them, so far so good with the seats, they've been in service now for about 50,000 miles. Hopefully they'll go for twice that amount, they showed no signs of valve wear after a year's service when I pulled them off the first motor they were on.

I opened up my E7 heads to 1.60 on the exhaust side....4 years ago...no hardened seats installed. The machinist that did them said he was still into the induction hardening when he was done.............so far so good. I'm running a solid cam and everytime I adjust the valves they are good, no signs of exhaust valves sinking into the heads.......

I would have installed hardened seats but that time I said ...why not just cut the seats. I thought I would have seen one or rockers start getting tight on me but the gap stays good.

No seats.......

 
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2007 | 05:04 AM
  #10  
NumberDummy's Avatar
NumberDummy
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by 2classics
I have an 85 truck 302 block. (roller ready?)
Would it be better to go with early 90s explorer
Explorers didn't offer a 302 till 1996, it was an option.

All 1991/95's are 4.0 Liter V6's.
 
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2007 | 05:50 AM
  #11  
s1120's Avatar
s1120
More Turbo
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 520
Likes: 70
Originally Posted by flareside_thunder
You'll need some ARP bolts to get the windsor heads to bolt down to the 302......they're bout 40 bucks for the set and I'll be seeing how well they work tomorrow......GT-40's all day long just like Hemi said....might wanna port the exhaust ports a bit too to give you better flow...I gasket matched mine...check out my gallery to see the difference in the one that's been ported and the one that ain't....Luck

JR
I just put 351 heads on my 5.0, and I could not find conversion head bolts for less then a hundred bucks!! I ended up using some trickflow conversion step washers that ran about $35
 
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2007 | 06:26 AM
  #12  
baddad457's Avatar
baddad457
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Liked
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
Originally Posted by s1120
I just put 351 heads on my 5.0, and I could not find conversion head bolts for less then a hundred bucks!! I ended up using some trickflow conversion step washers that ran about $35
Ditto, all you need is the aluminum head step washers(ARP, Edelbrock, Ford Racing,etc sell these), and then there are some who forego these as well and just use hardened washers. They're relying on the head bushings to locate the head.
 
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2007 | 10:12 AM
  #13  
flareside_thunder's Avatar
flareside_thunder
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Not me I found these ARP bolts for UNDER 40 bucks....just gotta look a little harder...I didn't go with step washers because I was told by more than one machinist NOT to......here's the link. http://store.summitracing.com/partde...w=1&N=700+150+

On a softer note...how much better did your truck perform after the 351 heads were put on?

JR
 
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2007 | 10:27 AM
  #14  
baddad457's Avatar
baddad457
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Liked
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
I've been using the step washers on my Canfields and a set of 351W E7's for years now with no ill effects.
 
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2007 | 11:14 AM
  #15  
s1120's Avatar
s1120
More Turbo
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 520
Likes: 70
Originally Posted by flareside_thunder
On a softer note...how much better did your truck perform after the 351 heads were put on?

JR
Not sure. Its still sitting on the stand waiting to go in.

Probaly not the best choise but I had them on the shelf from another project. They are CNC ported, and Chevy size valves [1.94x1.60]
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:15 PM.

story-0
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-4
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-8
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE