hello to all! 1st post on this Blue site,always been an orange kindda guy.It takes a while to come around sometimes ,anyway...I'm building a 73 302(for a 48 ford) short block is built,I have the original heads but was wondering about a later head swap,to handle unleaded gas.What will work on this flat tappet motor?I'm not looking for some race car setup.E7TE's i need special arp bolts(55$),push rod length?manifold? Does anyone else have a suggestion.Thanks for any help.

 

the original heads will handle unleaded gas no problem, but if you want to swap out, get some AFRs or GT-40 heads, the GT-40 heads can be found on late model explorers

 

E7TE's are pretty much the normal ol' standard 5.0 head. if you already have them and your not going ***** out they will work ok, but even if your not looking at spending alot of cash you can pick up a set of GT40 heads from 95-97.5 explorers for pretty cheap. they have larger intake ports, and larger valves. another route to go are 69-70 351w heads, they are very similar to the GT40 heads but would need hardened exhaust seats installed. btw, your 73's *may* have flame hardened seats from the factory, 73-75 was right when they were changing things, so its hit or miss from manufacturer to manufacturer and engine model to engine model in those years.

the pushrod length should be the same as the old heads, that only changes if you had a roller cam (taller lifters = shorter pushrod). lastly, with either the E7TE, or the GT40 heads you do not need "special" head bolts - your old head bolts are just fine. any 289/302 manifold will work with any of the above mentioned heads, but if you get the GT40's or early 351w heads you'll have to get early 351w intake gaskets due to the slightly larger intake port size.

welcome to the dark side

 

thanks i've heard of this swap also..but the same questions still stand for any of these swapsE7TE,GT40,what ever they are.Push rod length ,what manifold,if anyone can pass along ,from experience or knows of a site with this info, it would sure help.THANKS

 

read my post above[8D]

 

THANKS MY77STANG....that was the kind of info I was looking for!!

 

what kinda 48 ford is it a car or truck any photos

 

andrewmp6 it's a 48 ford coupe. 73-302,c-4 or maybe c6,have both, heidts mustang2. thats why the head swap question on the mustang site. also have 06gt so 2 reasons sign up.I'll post pics if noone minds.

 

I want pics! And here's a decent set of low cost/good heads on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GT-40...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/302-F...QQcmdZViewItem

 

watch craigslist around you and ebay or hit the junkyards youll find some ok heads cheap for it