Ok, here goes: I have a set of '78 (D8OE) heads. ('78 Torino) Ported and polished. My question is this. What do I have to do to install adjustable valve train? The '78 heads does not have adjustable valve train. I also want to put screw in studs and guide plates. The only thing I'm not sure about is if the surface where the rocker stud screw into needs to be milled or just drilled and tapped for the studs.(by a machine shop of course) I know that the older style heads have steps that need to be milled flat, but do the newer heads need to be milled also? They are already flat there. Thanks in advance.
Steve, I had mine milled to get the proper height. I am soooo close to ordering my RPM heads, still interested in my '65 289's? with the larger valves? Scotty P
You'll have to mill the pedestals .230", drill them and tap the holes to 7/16"-14. then install the studs with the guideplates sandwiched under them. Another "cheapie" way to upgrade is to get the conversion kit, which has 5/16 threads on bottom, 3/8" or 7/16" on top and comes with makeshift guideplates. I had one on a 460...and yes, it worked. Allows you to set lifter preload correctly....but in the instructions, it says not to be used for performance applications....or something like that. Mine worked, and I wasn't easy on it. Later on I upgraded to D0VE-C heads on a 472 so all that went out the window.
With RPM heads, will the 302 Hooker or Hedman Headers still fit? I have been holding off buying the headers for fear that they wouldn't fit the new heads.
heads Check ebay for the heads you want. By the time you buy parts and machine work you might be able to just get them off ebay. Just a option.
Steve, I know it isn't what you wanna hear, but 78 heads are among the absolute worst SBF heads to sink any effort into. They are a lo-po head that cannot be made more than marginally better just by the inherent limitations in their design. Dave
These have already been ported and modified. The only thing missing is the screw in studs. I can tell you this............they must've been done right. 'Cause the car they were on did pretty good at the track. The guy just decided to go aluminum. But what I'm really waiting for is Scotty to do the same thing so I can buy his heads.
i'm using th4e edelbrock performer heads and the 6208 hooker headers on my 302. i assume the performer rpm heads are the same for fitting.
So I guess I should scrap the heads that came on my rebuilt 79 long block, are these as wimpy as the 78 heads or did something drastically change in a year?
We had a set of '68 302 4V heads "done up" by a machinest years ago. All the goodies...adjustable valvetrain, milled to 58cc I believe, 1.94/1.60 valves porting, etc. Ran well...just well enough to win 2 races that season. Took the winnings and bought a pair of RPM heads (old style #6025) and picked up .7 and 10 mph....with absolutely no other changes. Later on, added roller cam, played with timing, 830 carb,etc...and bested a 1 second improvement in ET...all in the 1000' and 11 mph increase. full second and over 10 mph....that speaks for itself. IMO, there ain't a factory Ford head out there that can run with even the mildest aftermarket stuff....and the RPM heads are pretty mild. Great for all-purpose driving, whether you're looking for 7.20's in the 1/8 (I think mine ran 7.09 best with the 302 and RPM heads) or just cruising the streets, I don't think you'll be able to beat the value of the RPMs. AFRs are great (165's) but they cost more $$$$ and they're already nearly maxed out as far as potential. If you decide later on you want more HP, you buy another set of heads. It's possible to port the RPMs to flow nearly as good as the out-of-the-box victor jrs later on if you want to up the HP.
the tecnology of the aftermarket heads is way better than you can make a factory ford head flow,they are affordable for what you are going to spend at the machine shop.and they are going to weigh less .i need to purchase some myself but still hanging in ther with what ive got $$$$$$ inv.pocket porting and bigger valvs, so im done when its time im going aftermarket and get more bang for my$$$$$$$$$$$$$ sell them to someone that wants them and go buy some good ones. just my two cents. thanks
Not only do the Edelbrock heads have bolt holes in all the stock locations, all the threads have steel inserts. I will never go back.
