Hi guys, i'm new to the engine building world, but am currently taking classes on machining and engine building. I'll actually have the chance to build an engine later on this year. I've gotten some advice as far as what engine I want to build and its come down to this. I would like to put a 351 windsor head in spec to a gt40 head onto a 302. Can anyone give me advice on what I should expect and possibly how to go about it? I will have all the tools and machines at my disposal to machine it. I attempted to first find some 351 windsor heads online but to no avail. I've been told i want heads from around 69-74 because somewhere around that era, they changed due to running unleaded fuel.

If I posted in the wrong section please refer me to the right one =x

THANKS!

 

well a GT40 head came on the 93-95 Cobra(302), First gen Lightnings(351) and on 96-97.5 Explorers(302) and a GT40P came on 97.5-2001 Explorers(302)

all you need to do to use the 302 gt40s is bolt them on then get the right pushrods for your application.....if you use the gt40 from a 351 youll need head bolt step washers to put them on a 302

the 351w gt40s dont flow any better than the gt40s off of the 302's


as for finding early 351w heads dont bother(unless youre trying to build a date code matching restoration) youll have to spend money on putting in hardened valve seats when you can just use the gt40s(they flow better than the 69-74 351w heads

 

Now I heard, after a certain year for those heads, new ports were added to the back for smog purposes. If smog is not an issue for me, will those ports cause any other issues? Also, I'm not sure where I can get my hands on a set of gt40 heads so i ebayed it and came across another issue. What difference will it make between an iron, steel, or aluminum. I'm mostly interested in how aluminum will perform against iron. It seems its easier to get my hands on a aluminum one.

 

iron gt40 heads are easy to find on the 96-97 explorers and gt40p on 98-2001...you can get a complete explorer motor for about 200$ in a pick and pull junkyard....if you get the whole motor you can sell the efi intake(unless you plan to go efi yourself) you can get around 150$ for it from a 5.0 mustang guy because they flow well




heres a lot of info on the GT40 heads http://webpages.charter.net/darrell1/mustang_gt40p.html