What is a good reasonable priced set of heads to use on a '78 Ford 302". The stock ones suck and I'm not after a big amount of horsepower, just something that breaths better and matches up.
Check out RHS heads http://www.racingheadservice.com/ If your not looking to spend a lot, they make very good flowing iron heads that are reasonably priced. The cheaper route would be a set of Ford gt-40's or early 351w 1969-1970. They flow decent, pretty much the best you'll get for being OEM.
i would look for a set of newer explorer heads, they are gt40p heads and breath really good, they go for about 350 a pair on ebay, or a older set of 351w heads are good for power.
I had a set of C9TEs on mine they flow real good. these are truck 302 heads. C8OE-F heads would work well with the lower comp motor you have.
I have a 302 I am building and I am using the high compression 289 heads from 1967 . I am running about 9.5--1 on my 302 . 1.90 in & 1.60 ex with triple angle valves , guide plates , screw in studs , Crane roller rockers . A decent port & polish and I can get 400 hp flow in these heads ! If I ran some pop up pistons the compression would be 10 to 1 or higher . the heads will be a great street head with good torque . You can hit the salvage yards for some GT heads on the Excursions & Explorers with V8 in them . Or just spend less than a $1000 and get some good flowing alum heads . It's all on what you want out of your 302 . 1978 heads ain't really worth the time .That was in the early days of low compression and no flow . A nice set of 69--351w 4 bbl heads are a good score ! All depends on what you want your engine to do for you , how you are going to use your engine and most of all how deep are your pockets . Cra*gs L*st is a great place to find some really good parts right now . All the drag racers are thinning out their stock for newer items . I do have an extra pair of stock 289 heads ! RetroJim
I have a new set of GT40P bare heads for sale pm me for more information....................... Kelly R.
Go aftermarket!!! If you want some numbers, look at this article. Bang for the buck. Stock bottom end. 425HP. Compare what they did to the stock heads, and the aluminum heads. Just my $0.02. http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/116_0307_ford_302_v8_engine_buildup/index.html
4V and 2V 1969 351W heads are the same. The 4V engine had a different piston to raise the compression ratio.
Drive Em is right, they have a C9OE casting number. 2V pistons were dished, and the 4V piston was flat-top with valve eyebrows.
These are not much better, if any, than the '78 smogger-door stops the OP is inquiring about. Valves and ports are quite small and the required work is not worth it when compared to GT-40 or a budget set of aftermarket heads.
The pistons made the difference between the 2v and 4v 351W motors in '69 and '70. Everything else was the same (including the cam).
2V and 4V 351W heads are the same. The 1970 heads are nearly identical, with only a slight difference in stated chamber volume. The diff is inconsequential especially when you factor in casting and machining tolerances, which are pretty wide. I used D0OE heads on my 302. Just removed the exhaust pump bump from the exhaust port. Gotta use the right head bolts. I used a set from Motorsports which were a 7/16" bolt with a 1/2 shoulder. This was in 1994, I don't know who has them now.
The GT40P heads are all well and good and flow the best for OEM heads, but the exhaust manifold matchup sucks and I'm pretty sure the intake becomes an issue too. That being said. GT40 heads without the P are the better chioce. Thats what I'm keeping an eye out for my 302.
If dollars are the really important issue, factory GT40 or GT40P heads are a decent upgrade. If you have a few more bucks, go aftermarket. Good heads are available for about a thousand bucks; great ones for less than fifteen hundred. If the factory heads you get need to be rebuilt, it is likely you could have gotten better heads for the same money, unless the heads were free. In almost every case, the aftermarket heads will be a better horsepower per dollar deal.
There's a lot of info on the GT40Ps here: http://forums.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1014187 Not all headers will work with the P's, but this is usually because the spark plug angles are different than other heads. I hadn't hear about them being higher, before, as being a problem. You might want to ask Sanderson directly if your headers will fit the P heads. Most manufacturers know. Happy Healeydays,
In the machine shops around here, doing a 3 angle valve job on a set of heads, putting in 1.90/1.60 valves, and changing to screw in studs, will run enough $$ to make a set of complete aftermarket aluminum heads look more affordable...
the 69/70 heads are nearly identical, the comp ratio is in the block. the 69 block deck is .023 shorter than the 70 up. that is where the comp come from. o/t, a friend just installed a set of gt 40, not p ,heads on his carb mustang,he removed e-7 heads, said it is like night and day difference with the 40s. power you can feel in the seat of pants.
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