427 heads

[cobrabritt83]

i have a 427 side oiler that i need to get a set of heads for. my question is are the old heads like the c5ae-f with the 2.19 intake and 1.73 exhaust better then a set of new edelbrock aluminum heads with 2.09 it. 1.60 ex. i see some of the old (f) heads on ebay still go for a lot of money and it seems like there pretty collectible. i know the new heads are a lot lighter then the old ones but are the differences in valve sizes that important.

[blykins]

Unless it's a rules class engine, something that needs to be original, or you just have heads laying around that you can use, I would opt for the Edelbrocks.

An older set of heads are really a toss up as far as wear & tear goes. You may pay $ for the heads, then you have to pay to have them magnafluxed and pressure tested, milled, valve jobs, guide work, possible seat work, new springs, etc.

It's really more cost effective and probably cheaper in the long run to go with the new cylinder heads.

The good thing about the Edelbrocks is that they will save some weight and they have a pretty good capability when it comes to a fully ported head.

[FWB]

if i had to buy heads right now i would be buying a set of Robert Pond heads.
very nice parts, IMO better quality than Edelbrock

[Dimis]

To be frank, I'm totally confused with heads.

What make one head better than another?
Not limited to just Edel vs RPs.

Is it purely a flow rate thing or is there more to it than that?
Vale size - Is bigger always better? Intake vs Exhaust sizes?


I'd have thought that there are 4 or 5 main choices in aftermarket heads for a cobra.

* Edelborck's - the almost standard default option (and seemingly in several guises, I can't work 'em out ).
* Robert Pond's
* Shelby's
* Others

As far as my limited research goes, the above, all have standard exit ports.

* Blue Thunders - which are meant to be the top dog.
But have raised exit ports which require extra work for headers & clearance.

* Then there is Barry Rs yet to be produced/released new heads (as reported on the FEFORUM). Preliminary data and all reports suggest that they also are meant to be pretty handy...
332-428 Ford FE Engine Forum: More info on the Survival FE cylinder head

* And the Kirkham billet version... also not yet finalized or available.


I'd love it if someone could map out the hierarchical law of the jungle that ranks heads.

[blykins]

There's a lot more to it than flow. Velocity plays a huge role. A head that flows 400cfm may be the biggest turd you've ever seen on a smaller engine meant for street rpms.

I have yet to hold a set of Pond heads in my hand and I think the only testimony I've heard about them was from Blair Patrick.

Barry's heads have not been tested on a running engine yet.

[FWB]

i've held a set of pond heads in my hand, actually two hands...
the castings look a bunch better cosmetically to begin with, they have thread inserts in ALL the holes, Edel. doesn't. they are machined correctly which i have now seen dozens of examples where edel. seems to make up their own tolerances and put holes wherever they feel like it......

like i said if i had to buy heads now, it would be the Pond over the edel.
i would pass over the shelby heads, i like to pay for value added features not a name....but i don't even really have a cobra .....so to replicate anything is not where i'm going with my car anyway.

if someone is going to build your motor for you....then get all of the different manufacturers info and let them steer you to what you should get

[blykins]

I wouldn't hold any particular manufacturer in absolute high regard. I had to return an aluminum block of the same manufacturer that you're speaking about because it was shooting water out of the lifter bores after a pressure test.

As for Edelbrocks, I never use them out of the box. They are ordered bare, ported, Serdi valve job, new Ferrea valves, Comp springs, Comp retainers, etc, etc.