Okay I know this has to have been covered I did some searching but no one ever has a acutal answer.

1995 351w

I got a crate motor from ATK there giving me a run around on a cracked head (heat tabs are still.intact) don't matter so I tow and pull gravity wagons with this truck. Already have headers and cold air intake (it acutally helped)

I see on eBay a guy sells heads that he claims adds 55hp over stock heads. I would get roller rockers but keep my intake and injectors ECT. Would performance heads and roller rockers even do anything with stock intake?

 

Any help guys or recommendations
Basically since i already have to replace the head, and its off of course.
What is some basic upgrades i can do, would heads and a cam help, would it be cheaper to just get another set of reman heads stock?

I would like to gain more power and the lower end is all rebuilt so anything i could do thats not WAY to expensive would be cool just not sure where to start. If i could gain 5-10% hp and torque with out spending thousands i would be happy

I built this truck to haul trailers and gravity wagons. I also have full 2.5" exhaust with hooker headers and Cold air intake

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post16754971

 

What heads are you looking at specifically?

For towing torque is king and the best upgrade for that is longtube headers and gears if the truck has anything less that 4.10 gears or tires larger than 31".

 

I have 4.10 and 285 tires
the heads are these but I'd even just go a cam swap and stock heads I'm not looking for 350hp but 240-260 would be nice if there is a simi cheap way to get there but since I need a new head again are they worth anything.
​​www.ebay.com/itm/142117659105

I don't want to spend thousands BUT if I need one head already at around 250-300 I would almost want to change both just Incase as the one is cracked....So 500-600 for heads or save double the money and get maybe better heads with roller rockers for around 1000. I don't NEED the truck for another 2-4 months so I have time to save up but I can't invest 1500-2000 I can swing 1000 long as I end up with fixed heads

So my thoughts -
new heads stock intake MAYBE a cam if i can swing it
New cam stock heads but roller rockers 1.7's
​​​​Stock heads and roller rockers 1.7's

What is the best "towing" cam for the money??
​​​​​​

 

I'm a little lost in regard to your budget. If you want to spend 1000 or less, scour Craigslist and junkyards for gt40p heads or used aftermarket aluminum. Keep stock roller cam with 1.7 rockers. With long tubes and good heads, the stock 351 intake will be the choke point but it will generate gobs of low end.

If, by going with used heads, you can swing a cam swap....crane 444211 is what I'd put in for torque.

 

My budget is not tight but its not just 2-3 thousand i can save money since i don' need the truck for 2-4 months. Just want it done right, and want to get the most gain for my buck.
The headers and exhaust where already a good investment just want a little more since i have to do something with the heads anyways

 

Well you don't need much to get that just add longtube headers and 1.7 rockers, the stock heads E7TE heads flow well enough to make 275hp. The only other thing I'd suggest is porting the lower intake.

 

I got long tube headers already. My biggest thing is i NEED a new head or reman. So what better time IF it was worth the money to go buy a set. But if i can just get the rockers and port the lower intake and get around 275 that's what 50-60 more than stock and probably another 30-50 than i have now w/ just my headers as it is.

I usually tow around 8K pounds thats it. Stock it was slow but did it. Headers and exhaust it made it better. If i could get another 30hp i bet for what "I" do i would be happy. It really would be nice to leave it in 5th gear and be able to go 75mph on the express way and not lose horrible speed trying to go up a small hill.
That is my goal, be able to set the cruise and not worry when im towing.
I know its a 351 not a big block not a diesel just want a "easier" time than i have now, dont need to win a race.

 

If you can find a set of GT40 heads(not the P version) for a few hundred dollars then grab them, otherwise just put a stock E7 head back on it. The free flowing exhaust and the added lift with the rockers will push the stock injectors to their rated limits at upper rpms so you really can't do much more without spending a ton more $$ upgrading the fuel and EFI systems. The biggest choke point with the stock intake are the port exits where they meet the heads so spend some time to port match these to the heads or get as close as you can.. you need to leave some surface area for gasket sealing.

Sorry but that is totally unrealistic... not gonna happen. The performance you're talking about is only possible with one of the new diesel superduty trucks and even then it would still downshift out of OD to maintain speed up any decent hill.

 

I don't do terrible believe it or not now. Michigan isn't a horrible state far as hills. Just be nice to be able to set the cruise and have it go back to 75 and not take 5 minutes while going back down the hill. There are times i know ill have to down shift that don't bother me. So far most of my trips i've done good, just be nice to do better.

So IF i go with the GT40 heads that is a direct bolt on with my intake long as i don't get the gt40P correct?

So these "should" bolt right on correct?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/351W-FORD-GT...3D262818081392

 

There is always room for improvement

 

​​​​​​​This makes your effective gear ratio 3.90, if you are going to keep the large size tires I would recommend regearing to a 4.56. With the increased height and width, the rolling resistance goes up. So a 4.56 would help offset that and put you a little above factory gearing.

 

A 460 cubic inch monster is your upgrade.

 

I just completed a step-by-step build on my newly acquired 97 reg cab 2wd 351, and I built it the way I wanted this time, vs times past, because I wasn't forced into a build (needing a rebuild at the wrong times) while I was deep into other huge projects. With a budget of 2-3k, it goes a looong way on these. My other build is a junkyard build in my sig, ported gt40p's and ported stock intake, long tubes, etc...it does great for what it is, crispy throttle with enough torque to move military 37's and 4.10's with ease. But...

I scoured craigslist for afr 165 or 185's, found a set of 165 with 1.72 scorpion rockers for 950. I wanted to keep the stock cam, because when this bottom end is no good, i'll go 408, and Ill go a little bigger than the crane 444211 that I would put into a 351. on they went, everything else bone stock, even exhaust mani's and cats. Used 0.030 mls gasket, with ~58cc chamber after milling for low-mid 10:1 C/R. it was night and day difference. Next went long tubes and hi-flow cat, 3" single...night and day difference again...super crispy throttle and gobs more power.

Then I was apprehensive about the intake, torn between the 351 lower/5.0 upper hybrid, a car intake, 302 to 351 intake adapters, or the eddy truck intake. I pulled the trigger on the eddy truck intake, which was a relatively hard $750 pill to swallow, but I wanted all power to be off idle anyway so it seemed like the best choice. It was worth every penny, gains across the board even sub 2,000 rpm super light pedal acceleration. no problem accelerating up a hill at 45 mph in od, barely touching the throttle.

moral of the story, there is mountain sized room for improvement on these things. its an absolute blast to drive, little truck with 4.10's and stock tires...might not be over 300hp but the way it makes power is very pleasing, wouldn't surprise me if it was 400lb/ft and it rips when I mash it.

I haven't gotten my wideband and fuel press gauges hooked up yet, its next on the list, i will have more work to do after that...i was leaning out in the upper rpm range with my gt40p build and other less-than-optimal parts. i have no tach either, so I'm not going to be able to really know how its running until i get one.

food for thought, you can go with gt40/gt40p with a torquey cam like crane 444211 and it will be a huge improvement for a modest budget, or you can open up the budget and every dollar will get you even more.