Help me map out my 351W!

[DuceAnAHalf]

You mangs are sure the girdle wouldn't be necessary? I've just heard they crack so easily... I'll trust you.

So, stock bottom end will be safe with 10:1 pistons and fun stuff on the top end?
What heads would you mangs recommend?

a 351W will hold 600-700HP depending on year. A local guy is running an early 70s 351W (they tend to be the stronger ones) he is putting nearly 600 to the rear wheels, and he is going to hit it with a 200 shot.

[Fordman75]

At 4500 rpms it's definately not needed. Hell I spin my stock motor that high in my 90 F150 and it has almost 190,000 miles on it!!

The people that run into problems with the caps walking are spinning a lot more rpms then 4500. And usually running a lot of boost or laughing gas.

What kind of budget are you going with on the heads? If you want decent power without spending much $$ pick up a pair of stock 69-70 351W heads and spent some time doing a little port work and swap in some larger valves. If you are going aftermarket I like AFR's and the smallest I'd go with on the Windsor would be their 185's.

[DuceAnAHalf]

If you are building a low-RPM torque motor you want to go with a lesser flowing head. Something like a AFR 185 would be a good choice. It keeps the velocity up at lower RPMS, you will loose power up high, but you want the power down low

[Fordman75]

With the stock 69-70 Windsor heads they already have larger valves and larger ports then the 88 heads. With just a little clean up in the ports and some bowl work you can get decent power and save the cash.

[Mercracer]

69-74 Windsor heads suck hind tit compared to a GT-40 head, and it will cost more money to get them to flow anywhere near as well. For a 4500RPM motor, it doesn't pay to spend any more money than a set of Roush heads costs, and a set of GT-40 heads probably will work just as well with the small lift cam you will be using.

[Fordman75]

Yes and how do they flow compared to the stock 88 windsor head?

[DuceAnAHalf]

Yes and how do they flow compared to the stock 88 windsor head?

all numbers are at .500" lift.
D0 351W heads. 183/115 with stock size valves.
GT-40s 192/128 stock heads and valves
Cannot find flow info for the Roush 200 heads, but they are a modified Windsor Sr. head.
Windsor Sr. 224/147 stock, 246/150 with undercut valve stems

AFRs start at about $1300.
AFR 185's 282/191

Roush 200 heads are about $900 through Speedway Motors. Im getting a set of Roush heads. For the $400 difference in heads, i can buy forged pistions and spray a 200 shot.

Source

[Mercracer]

Yes and how do they flow compared to the stock 88 windsor head?

88 Windsor heads are E7 heads......like breathing through a straw.

[Freshmeat]

I'm not going aftermarket heads if I can avoid it. I'd like to use stock ford cylinder heads and have them worked at the machine shop (port/polish/etc and larger valves is $500 and they do one hell of a job) if possible. would I still be looking for the 69/70 heads or what?

I'd like to use as many stock major parts as possible, to keep costs down. It'll have aftermarket pistons (should I go forged? I think hypers would do fine, considering it won't be sprayed or forced...), cam, intake, and carb, but I do want to keep the majors stock if I can.

Thanks for all the info so far... keep it coming.

[Fordman75]

For stock windsor heads I like the 69-70 351W heads. They have 1.84" Intake valve stock and the intake ports are quite a bit larger then your stock 88 ports. And you can pick up a pair of these for $50.00-$75.00 if you keep your eyes open.

71-74 351W heads are the same except they'll have the air injection bumps in the exhuast ports. But if you are going to port them this isn't any big issue the bumps can be removed while porting and you can pick up these year heads even cheaper.

[DuceAnAHalf]

For stock windsor heads I like the 69-70 351W heads. They have 1.84" Intake valve stock and the intake ports are quite a bit larger then your stock 88 ports. And you can pick up a pair of these for $50.00-$75.00 if you keep your eyes open.

71-74 351W heads are the same except they'll have the air injection bumps in the exhuast ports. But if you are going to port them this isn't any big issue the bumps can be removed while porting and you can pick up these year heads even cheaper.

We have a set of E8JE heads that came with those valves stock. we believe the exhaust valve is swirl polished stainless.

[Mercracer]

71-74 351W heads are the same except they'll have the air injection bumps in the exhuast ports. But if you are going to port them this isn't any big issue the bumps can be removed while porting and you can pick up these year heads even cheaper.

All 351W heads have bumps in the exhaust. They may not be drilled, but even the C9 heads have bumps. A 289 head will outflow a C9 Windsor head on the exhaust side.

[Mercracer]

I'm not going aftermarket heads if I can avoid it. I'd like to use stock ford cylinder heads and have them worked at the machine shop (port/polish/etc and larger valves is $500 and they do one hell of a job) if possible. would I still be looking for the 69/70 heads or what?.

You should be looking for GT-40 heads.

[Mercracer]

We have a set of E8JE heads that came with those valves stock. we believe the exhaust valve is swirl polished stainless.

Do those heads have 2 vertical bars cast on the ends? I thought it started in 89, but those E8JE Marine heads may be the first version of the Modern GT-40 heads used by Ford.

[DuceAnAHalf]

We have a set of E8JE heads that came with those valves stock. we believe the exhaust valve is swirl polished stainless.

Do those heads have 2 vertical bars cast on the ends? I thought it started in 89, but those E8JE Marine heads may be the first version of the Modern GT-40 heads used by Ford.

not sure but i can check tomorrow. Right now they are on my brothers T-bird. If he ever upgrades i will be sure to save those, since i have never seen or heard of another pair.