Since joining this forum, I have asked for 5.0 top end recommendations and received a lot of ideas from you. I have notice that a lot of you seem to prefer the AFR 165 & 185 heads. What are your reasons for picking these particular heads? How do they compare to the Ford GT40 Turbo-Swirl heads and the Gt40x Xtra performance Turbo-swirl heads? Thank you all for your input to my previous inquiries.

 

I read alot of mustang mags, and in almost every mag that I read that has something to do with testing heads AFR comes out on top almost every time. I dont know from personal experience but I heard that they are excellent. I cant wait until I can afford to get a pair

 

Well, from what I have read, the AFR's are an excellent head (if not the best). But cost is usually a factor in building a combination. By the time you get a custom cam, and roller rockers, and hardened push rods, and a new intake (upper & lower) and all gaskets, bolts, and any supporting parts (larger injectors, new MAF, fuel pump, plugs, etc.) and things you might as well change while you are at it (water pump, timing chain, fluids) you are looking at a considerable figure (and that does not even include installation, which hopefully you end up doing yourself).

Anyways, for those trying to save a buck, you can get "similar" performance gains from a set of new or even used Edelbrock, Twisted Wedge, or even FMS heads.

You need to decide on what you want, just a nice mannered street/strip car pushing close to 300hp at the wheels - then any of the latest style heads will work with the right supporting parts. But, if you are racing for $, or want to squeeze out every last hp possible (and willing to pay for it) the AFR's may be the way to go.

All IMO. B)

 

or you can just get a set of used afr 165 street heads or if your building something serious than u can get a pair of used 185's.

 

The AFR's come already CNC ported. this is a major advantage for most folks. ie.not having to find a good (expensive) person to do the porting on the heads. TFS and Edelbrock are good heads too, but you get the most out of them once they've had some port work done on them, which usually brings thier price up a little past the AFR's

 

Not sure what you mean - both Edelbrock and Trickflow cylinder heads have their intake and exhaust ports "CNC ported" right out of the box...

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/index.html

http://www.trickflow.com/

 

I couldnt find whatever you found that said they are ported out of the box. Even if they are, you can use a higher lift cam with TFS heads because of the twisted design of the intake valve. The pistons dont need to be flycut. The AFR's are pretty bad hiney heads though. If I didn't already have a set of stage 2 twisted wedge heads I prob get me a set.

 

A note on 185cc AFR's, they have sort of an oval port shape?? I had to get my 185's port matched to my Vic 5.0 manifold. If your building a high RPM engine consider the bigger 205 or 225cc AFR heads, they may come with a more conventional port config.