Svo or procomp heads?

[JBfab]

Bin lookin to get a set of aftermarket heads for awile now and have it narrowed down to these two. One set is used svo x302 and the other procomp setup for hydro roller. I will be putting these on my stock block for now untill i get a 408w shortblock probably by end of summer for a winter build. Here they are and which would you go for.
Procomps-

Svo-

[BigWheelz]

Are the Pro-Comps Chinese castings?

[JBfab]

Originally Posted by BigWheelz

Are the Pro-Comps Chinese castings?

All i know is its a newer casting. Ive heard they had problems with the old castings and redid them. Im sure they are from overseas, let me look into that. Yup china

[Caddylackn]

If you do a search on pro-comp head reviews on other forums you'll see nothing but either mediocre or bad reviews. Machining and clearances assembled are all over the place. Once they are re-machined they are okay.

The new castings might be better, but the problem with the old castings was mostly quality control.

Figure either head you choose you'll be taking them to the machine shop. I'd do the SVO heads, at least they will have resale value if you don't like them.

[cobra2411]

There are at times great bargains to be had and at other times... Well you get what you pay for. I find it hard to believe that they can under cut a long time manufacturer by 1/3 and still offer a quality product.

I've been looking for heads and $600 sounds a lot better than $1,000 but not if I need $400 in parts and labor to make them work. If I worked at a machine shop and could work on my own stuff after hours I'd get them in a heart beat.

Right now I'm casually looking for a used set, probably an SVO (FRPP) set.

[88bronc91stang]

Just my opinion...but if you are eventually upgrading to a 408W, i wouldn't purchase either set. Instead, look for a set of Trick Flow, AFR or Canfield heads. If price is a concern, add Edelbrock Performer heads to the list. I have Trick Flow's on my car and they are excellent quality and great performance heads.

As for the quality questions about the Pro-Comps....the one set I have seen were junk. They were on a SBC and it took almost .030" of milling to get the deck surfaces flat enough to seal against the block.

[JBfab]

I spotted a set of twisted wedge heads on my local craigs list. Would those require differant pistons to run. Im uncertain of there valve size at the moment.

[88bronc91stang]

Twisted Wedges have 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust valves. With a stock .444 lift cam, they fit the Mustang 5.0 with no valve-to-piston interference but I'm not sure if the truck pistons have valve reliefs like the factory HO TRW pistons do. One reason the Trick flows have the canted valve design is to allow clearance on stock pistons. I would think that the canted valves and relatively low lift of the factory cam would allow you to run the Wedges with no problems. Just to be safe though, check the clearance with modeling clay if you do buy them.

Just out of curiosity, what is the asking price on that set of heads? If they are anywhere under $1000, it's a bargain.

[JBfab]

He didnt list a price. I called him and he hasn't called back. I also spotted a set of trickflow assembled high port heads new for around $1,100. Which is better the high ports or twisted. Also found some brodix bare heads for about the same cost. Im kind of shy about buying used heads because i dont want to have to put money into them. Who knows what the po did or knew. Could have warped the head cracked the head etc. etc. now that everyone sugests staying away from procomps ive opened up my search and my budget.

[BRONCONUT]

What is wrong with Eddlebrock performer's?

[88bronc91stang]

It's a great price, but do NOT get the Trick Flow high ports! That is a race only head and requires special headers. I doubt that anyone even makes a header for those heads in a truck application. By reputation, Brodix heads are good but I've never known anyone that used them. we've always had good results with Trick Flow, AFR, Edelbrock and Canfield.

[JBfab]

Originally Posted by BRONCONUT

What is wrong with Eddlebrock performer's?

Well the price is up there @ about $1,300 a set. And from what I have read they only support about 400hp in stock form. With the 408 thats going in im hoping for alittle more then that and not have the heads needing extra work.

[BigWheelz]

Procomp heads are risky in my opinion. Too many issues floating around the internet for me to be interested. Let just say they come from "the land of not quite right".

The GT40X heads require a unique intake gasket due to large, raised port...but otherwise are a perfect fit. At $1K for a pair they are the best deal going for aluminum heads.

The Trick Flow heads work well....but they require new pushrods and rockers, along with a conversion to an adjustable valvetrain. Add $500 to the cost for these parts. Piston to valve interference can be an issue with large cams too, but these cams are not well suited for a bronco.

Edelbrock Performer 5.0 and AFR 165 both come in pedestal mount....but are $$$$

GT40 iron heads can be had in the bone yard on 1996 and early 1997 explorers. I recently picked up a pair of these for $75 at a pick-n-pull. Add $300 for a valve job and these are by far the cheapest option.

[TS 90F150]

I agree if you are going larger (408) I would buy AFR or TW heads. But the X heads are good heads too. I found my two sets on the corral.net classifieds. There is a set of X heads on there right now for $650.00.

hth
tim

[JBfab]

Just looked and the guy selling them has no feedback and only 35 posts. While looking around there found a set of windsor sr. lite heads for $900.

[TS 90F150]

Originally Posted by JBfab

Just looked and the guy selling them has no feedback and only 35 posts. While looking around there found a set of windsor sr. lite heads for $900.

Didn't pay attention to that, I just happened to cruise the classifieds for a few minutes.

There is one tech thread where the guy upgraded to AFRs, he may be selling his heads too. Another guy posted in same thread about upgrading his and he may be gonna sale his.

There are deals out there, especially in this economy. But you are correct, you don't want to get taken or buy some heads that neeed lots of work.

tim

[toysforme1]

Elderbrock E-Street heads. That with Preformer cam is clamied to make 321 Hp. Thats under 5500 rpm. Heads are a little over $900

[JBfab]

Originally Posted by toysforme1

Elderbrock E-Street heads. That with Preformer cam is clamied to make 321 Hp. Thats under 5500 rpm. Heads are a little over $900

But as stated earlier they dont support over 400 Hp. My guess is the 408 will be making more then that but not with those heads.

[cobra2411]

Car Craft just tested a bunch of heads on a 302. The e-streets were among them and did pretty good for the price, they came in 2nd in HP and tied for 3rd in TQ and all for $935.

Motor was Ford's Boss 302 with the B303 cam. The e-streets came in at 371hp@6,200 & 346tq@4,400.

They've got 2.02/1.60 valves, 170cc intakes and 60cc chambers and come with a 1.250 single spring good for .550 lift. CC suggested adding a 30* back cut to the valves to help out a little weakness in the midrange but said they looked like the best bang for the buck.

And they're made in the USA.

They also tested the FRPP X307 heads which were very close in performance and priced at $1,119.90. The ford heads use the fulcrum based rockers, so if you already have a set for your heads you can factor that into the total cost.

[CrazyBRONCOguy]

have read that the e-street do not like roller cams and you have to be careful what you run with them. Its why I sent my set back and got AFR's for my 351W.
http://forums.corral.net/forums/5-0-...eet-heads.html just one example