Performance from Cast Iron Heads
 

I have a very clean '68 convertible with a 289. The car was a bone stock V2. I changed it to a V4 using the Edelbrock Performer carb/intake/cam kit. It now has 93,000 miles and is starting to burn a little oil.

I'm getting serious about rebuilding it and would also like to get some extra HP in the process. From what I've read, the biggest drawback to modifying the stock engine is the stock heads.

I'd like to keep the basic stock look, so I don't really want to go with aluminum heads. Are there any aftermarket cast iron heads out there that perform as well as say the Edelbrock Performer RPM heads? Or, will porting and new valves on my stock heads get me close?

If you really want the best performance from iron heads, get World Products Sr's and get them pocket ported and gasket matched. This will cost you some. Another alternative for iron heads is '69-74 351W's pocket ported, gasket matched, decked, anhd a 3 angle valve job. These work well in 6000 and under RPM situations. Might cost almost as much as after market. Then you could get after market Al. heads from Trick Flow, Edelbrock, AFR, etc. and just paint them to resemble iron heads. How original do we really want it?


Rev

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'66 Coupe, 306, 300 HP, C-4, 13.97 e.t., 100.3 mph
1/4 mi.

Ok... don't go to 351 heads; bigger combustion chambers and therefore, less power than if you just pocket ported and put larger valves on your original heads... trust me, these work well. Since you went with the performer stuff, i would recommend this for the best mid range performance. I'm sorta an expert in 289 edelbrock performer stuff... my engine pulls farther than 5500rpm as described in the performer kit, but i'm using a holley and shelby intake. Look into it, bigger isn't always better


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'63 Merc Meteor hardtop, warm 302, C4 auto, 2.25" Flowmaster Exhaust,
'65 289 heads - ported/chevy valves, performer cam, edelbrock f4a intake, full length hookers, 600 holley, roller rockers, k'n, 10.5:1 hyperutetic pistons... mid 13's hoping to reach into 12's

For a little more insight into the questions concerning 289 vs. 351W heads, go to FORDMUSCLE.com and read the "Head to Head" article. Especially the section on stock heads. These "experts" seem to think the 351W heads out flow the 289 heads hands down. That's ported and unported comparisons on the flow bench.

Rev

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'66 Coupe, 306, 300 HP, C-4, 13.97 e.t., 100.3 mph
1/4 mi.

If you are going to go with 351w heads get them milled down to 58cc chambers or smaller, maybe even 54cc. I believe the 289 heads had small chambers for the most part. Instead of that route you may want to go with the GT-40 iron heads off of a Cobra, you can find them around for about $500, and they look stock once painted. Other than that you are looking at after market heads. For the 289 I'd consider the Windsor Jr.'s in iron and paint them blue. But, the AFR's, Brodix and TW's aluminums can't be beat performance wise.

Thanks for all the info. I wondering if anyone has gone with porting and bigger valves in the 289 heads? I have the 63cc combustion chamber with 1.67/1.45 valves. Is it worth it or does is make more sense to go with one of the above suggestions?

Also, does anyone have any suggestions on headers? I'd like them to look as close to stock as possible, but breath better than the stock manifolds.

I know I am jumping in here a little late but I have to agree with Rev I am running the 351 heads with 202 164 chevy valves on a 4-v 289 Ede Perf, RPM in take and a llightning pickup cam and have run a best of 13.2 armed with that info you can make your own fdecisions but I think they are a great street head for the money assuming you do the port work your self.

Ok... i have '65 4v 289 heads that are ported with 1.84i 1.50e valves... i'm running a shelby replica intake full length headers and a holley... i'm running mid 13's... and my car is a little heavier than a falcon http://www.mustangworks.com/interact...oard/smile.gif Anyways, my heads cost about $600 complete and assembled after porting with larger valves... you CAN go to 1.94I but you loose power because your chamber has to be opened up... the only benefit you get from keeping the 289 heads is the quenched chamber. A little port work and valves and you have heads that flow pretty damn well. but in the end it's all opinion... actually, MF just did a article on this and they seem to think that you can get very aggresive numbers from those stock heads with port work... just a thought. good luck.

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'63 Merc Meteor hardtop, warm 302, C4 auto, 2.25" Flowmaster Exhaust,
'65 289 heads - ported/chevy valves, performer cam, edelbrock f4a intake, full length hookers, 600 holley, roller rockers, k'n, 10.5:1 hyperutetic pistons... mid 13's hoping to reach into 12's