A week ago I dropped my factory Ford heads off at the machine shop because a few studs starting pulling out. My original plan was to have scew-in studs installed and have them setup to be fully adjustable.

It was discovered today that at least one of the valve guides was shot, which messed up the seat pretty bad so now I need new guides and a valve job!
He said it was a matter of time before the valve head was broken off.
He was also amazed at how I managed to run positive stop rockers with an aftermarket cam without having troubles of some sort since lifter preload was never correct. Total parts and labor will be about $600!

On a positive note, he said it will have some more power once the heads are finally setup correctly.

 

Ouch. I think Id put the money up and save for some AFR's. You are gonna have a lot of money in stock heads that will never match the performance of good aftermarket ones. I know they arnt cheap, but the AFR's are pretty much a 100hp gain with a stock cam even.

 

+1. The stockers ain't worth throwing that much money in to. They're the most restrictive part of the 5.0.

 

At least pick up a set of Gt40 (3bar) or GT40P (4bar) heads. They give a better performance upgrade than dumping money into the stock heads, without the heavy cost of aluminum heads.

 

Yes sir. I picked up my gt40s for next to nothing, and am getting them WORKED for $325. I've heard good number cal outs. We'll see...

 

Built my engine 2 years ago using the GT40's, forged internals, decked and shaved (compression 9.5-1) Trick Flow intake, 24# injectors, CompCam, and am putting 295rwhp through a 5speed and catted H.

no complaints here...

 

Well, this is a 351w and not a 302 so they are a little bit better than 302 heads. I know AFR's would be nice (trust me) but I don't have over a grand to buy them now and I don't want my car setting around for months or years until I have the money.