ding56

I have a 68 coupe with a 289 in it that I am looking to upgrade the top end. So far I have installed a Edelbrock Performer intake and a Holley 600cfm carb and im looking at doing the cam and heads next and this is where I could use some advice. For the cam I am looking at the Comp XE268H cam kit but am not sure what to do about heads. I am thinking about just going with the E-street EDL-5023 heads as I don’t want to break the bank. I just use her as a weekend fun driver car but want some more get up and go off the line. I also have Headman shorty headers that are going to go on with a flowmaster American thunder exhaust. Other than that I still have the stock c4 tranny and 8in rear end which I might eventually change the gears in but not right now.

Does anyone have any recommendations for heads or would the E-street work fine for what im looking to do?

Thanks,
Tim

69mach1377

Just try and match the heads and cam so one does not diminish the other. Both are well respected names.

groho

Just installed 268H and AFR 165 heads on my SBF (66 coupe). Do your homework when you bust your engine down. Checking bearing clearances to determine if you need to add the extra $ for a rebuild. Need to check deck height at TDC, and validate the deck doesn't need milled. The compression calculator at Summitracing was critical to selecting the head gaskets to achieve the comp ratio. You'll also need a valve spring compressor tool to remove the inner valve spring to break in the new cam. Once youre done, put the cam is broken in, put the inner springs back in. Haven't ran mine yet, stang is still in paint. The AFR 185 heads will need piston to valve clearance checked cuz its using a 2.02 valve. I used 58cc heads, and ended with 9.7:1 CR using my existing bottom end.

Starfury

Make sure you get the proper Comp Cams valve springs for that cam. Do not rely on the valve springs that come with the heads.

barnett468

hello . are you rebuilding the eng? . we need to know if yor pistons are stock cast style and if they are dished or not . . you must change your gearing . if you drive 65 or less on the fwy 3.40 is a good all around option that will accelerate you well. . you need a 2000 stall with that cam and it is pretty big . you might be better off with an xe262h . otherwise advance this one 4 degrees or you will hate it . . the eddy heads have a small andbig valve option . . the small valves will work on stock pistons . . the heads must be milled until you have around 10.3 compression

ding56

I am not doing a full rebuild, just the top end, and pistons are stock. Why "must' i change the gearing?When im on the freeway i do over 65 so 3.40 gears wont work for me. I was looking at AFR heads but i think they are just way out of my price range. I am hoping to stay at or below a grand for the heads. I have heard mixed opinions about Aluminum GT40 heads, are they better or worse than the e-streets? I would get the full Kit with the Comp cam, with the rollers, springs and timing chain.

Thanks,

Tim

barnett468

ok, they make two tyoes of stock pistons. i asked you if they are dished or not. if it is an orig unrebuilt 2 barrel eng, they are dished low compression. if it is an irig 4v, they are flat top. if it has ever been rebuilt they could be anything including raised dome. if they are flat top you need to mill around .050" off of your heads then mill the intake face of the heads or the intake manifold so you have decent compression.

low compression = low performance.


Because you want the following. unfortunately, you can not have your cake and eat it too. you can cheat a bit though by using numerically lower gears like 3.23 and putting a higher stall converter in than i recommended. if your gears are numerically lower than 3.23 and you do not change them to 3.23, you are wasting your time and money by installing heads and cam etc.. i have seen literally hundreds of people try increasing hp without changing gears before and none were happy.




I was looking at AFR heads but i think they are just way out of my price range. I am hoping to stay at or below a grand for the heads.[/quote]eddy e street heads have been suggested twice for your particular app. you need the ones with the small valves to be safe because your pistons are stock.



worse.



do not buy a head and cam kit. there are better options avail separately. eddy and trick flow do not make their own cams anyway. they simply have comp or howards make them etc..
.

gambling209

call one of the custom cam grinders. it is not that more money.