What heads?

Dennis,

Before I can make a "good" recommendation, I need to have an idea of what your long term plans are regarding the uses of your Pantera and the power goals for your motor. The budget is also an important factor. Each time we exchange a part, the dollar amount keeps going up.

Another possible solution to your dilemma is to purchase a set of iron heads from an engine builder on the mainland that are ready to bolt on. If your power goal is under 400 bhp, the heads would not require any "serious" porting, which is what drives the price of iron heads up. Then there would be no need for new intake or exhaust manifolds.

With only one exception, any alloy head you select will require you to purchase a new intake manifold, some alloy heads will require new exhaust manifolds as well. The intake manifolds can run from $230 to $600! The exhaust manifolds will run in the neighborhood of $600 as well.

The one alloy cylinder head that does not require new intake or exhaust manifolds is the 4V alloy head from CHI, it will bolt up to your current manifolds as is. The 4V heads are not advertised on CHI's web site, but they are available. They are a very viable option for an owner wishing to retain the 4V intake & exhaust manifolds. They flow better out of the box than an iron head, and are ready to bolt on with all the right parts, you just need to make sure CHI installs valve springs compatible with your new cam before they ship the heads to you.

Outside of of that one recommendation, I would prefer more info before I go blabbing about any other cylinder heads.

Your friend on the DTBB, George

Thanks for the reply George! I'm not looking for any HUGE increase in HP. Under 400 HP would be fine with me. I'm just looking for some additional pep from stock and a reliable driver. I'm planning a cam swap that was discussed in a previous post as you already know. Since I have to swap out the stock 2 piece valves and have head work done, I figured I may as well change the heads. Since I have the late model heads with the 2v sized valves, I figured I may as well swap out for 2v heads to increase the bottom end power since this is where I operate. I already have headers, Blue Thunder intake, roller rockers, Crane rocker stud conversion kit, and MSD ignition system. I was thinking that If I go with a ready to go 2v setup, I'd buy the Edelbrock RPM air gap and sell the Blue Thunder and stud conversion kit to help finance the project. Another factor is that checking around, there are no good machine shops that specialize in Ford parts. Auto performance is a dying thing here. Only 2 speed shops remain here and one is Checkers Auto who has limited parts, the other shop hardly has anything looking at. I guess I'm looking more for "plug and play". Someone offered a set of used Aussie 2v heads. Any opinion on those?

BTW George, love your avatar!

Dennis,

the Aussie 2V heads are a respectable set of heads once the 4V valves are installed AND they've been ported. With that work they perform very well, on par with the 4V heads within limits, yet with better throttle response. They match your stated goals (pep & reliable driver) perfectly. They allow the motor to come on the cam at a lower rpm, and are very good performers to 6000 rpm. As a point of reference a company called Power Heads sells Aussie heads fully prepped as I described for $1525.

Without the valves & porting, I don't recommend them, a look at the head flow data explains why:

..............Aussie 2V..Aussie 2V
valve lift...as cast.....ported & 4V valves

0.100"......59/44.......79/75
0.200"......112/79.....154/109
0.300"......156/109....206/156
0.400"......178/130....231/180
0.500"......187/153....244/200
0.550"......188/164....250/207

the performance is significantly worse before porting. You would notice the power loss, compared to your 4V heads. With ported heads, you'll notice a gain in throttle response with no power loss.

However, if you're leaning towards purchasing a set of alloy 2V heads, both of the alloy 2V heads manufactured in Australia, by AFD & CHI, would be better choices. Either will out perform the Edelbrock heads, and are priced competitively.

Ported Aussie iron 2V heads, or alloy 2V heads from AFD or CHI; combined with the XE274 cam & the Edelbrock RPM air gap intake manifold would make a sweet combination, I know you would be pleased with the performance. I hope you have a dyno shop that can dial in the carb & ignition afterwards.

Your friend on the DTBB, George

Thanks George I appreciate the information.

As always, you are welcome my friend.

George

George,

If you don't mind, can you send me an Email so I can get your Email address to discuss something with you off line?

dyogi@hawaii.rr.com