I've been looking into aluminum heads to get for my 302. Ive seen pretty good results out of them, does anyone here have any experience with them? For a stock 302 would it benefit more from 165 or 185's? And are they really worth ~$1500?
Stock??? Unless you modify with a better cam, intake, carb, headers & exhaust, you won't see anywhere nearly the potential of the alu heads no matter who the mfgr is...
Are they worth it? Absolutely Stock-mild build 165 are plenty. You have to build the whole package to support it though, intake,cam carb, etc...
Oops, Ive also got a performer rpm intake and a 650 edelbrock carb. But heads are what I'm looking at next, I plan to cam after the heads with something along the lines of an afm n-41 or similar. Reason I asked why the 185s may be an option I because I've heard they offer all of the numbers of the 165s but a little better top end power.
May as well swap out the cam if you have it all apart for a head swap. Cams are cheap, relatively, compared to AFR heads.
That N-41 is going to have some rumpty-rump, I wouldn't consider it unless you have approx a 2800-3000 stall and 3.50 gears... AFM N-41 - 222*/232* - 278*/286* - .512"/.512" - .320"/.320" - 110* - 106*/114* Overlap: 62 degrees. 1.6 Rocker Ratio Intake Opening: 1* BTDC Intake Closing: 41* ABDC Exhaust Opening: 45* BBDC Exhaust Closing: 5* BTDC
Already have the gears, and may as well order a converter once I get the rest of the money for the heads/cam. My main concern with that cam is ptv clearance, but I've looked into it and it should work.
Every engine is different, always check ptv clearance. Also if ptv clearance is a concern, with tfs twisted wedge heads you can usually get away with up to .560 lift without issue.
Looked into those too, but they had mixed results, whereas the AFRs have had nothing but good as far as I've seen.
I love my Twisted Wedges, have run them since '99 on a zero deck(actually about .003 out of the holes)no valve relief, flat top piston 5.0... Just freshened, they are about to find their way on my new 331 short block... I used the Stage-1 TF cam with them, now have upgraded springs and will use same cam with 1.7 rockers...
Shoot for closer to 380 with those heads. I am running GT40 iron heads, and pushing 360-ish with a nice flat torque curve.
you should be able to hit those numbers without afr heads. a good cam heavy springs a good intake and carb setup along with a good distributor setup should bring you close to where you want to be. as long as your lower end is in decent shape. I was told I should be producing 350 with my set up. I have a 302 .040 over an extreme energy comp cam kit (came with springs and lifters) headman headers a typhoon intake and edelbrock 4brl along with a hei distributor and 8mm wires and a double roller timing chain
Mine is 5.0 roller, .040 over, with decent cam, getting about 360. Specs in my signature. Fun little ride, 20 mpg if I keep my foot out of it. or 1 mpg if I stomp it.
