AFR 205 head problems

Glad to hear that you found a way to make it work. That looks much, much better.

Also thank you for giving us the part#'s for the big bore head gasket. I am definitely going to use them next time as they are a cheap alternative to the 1011-2's that I use.

Wanted to make this clear because it will save people a lot of money.

*1011-2 head gaskets from Summit are $36.95 each if you order Ford racing part# M-6051-A302 from Summit you get a pair of felpro 1011-2'(they have 1011-2 stamped right on them) for $29.88 the only differance is the package.

* Fel pro 1022 & 1023 (one is driver side the other is for the passanger side) big bore gaskets from summit are $50.99 each if you order Ford racing part # M-6051-B341 from Summit you get both for only $44.88.

* I ordered a set of Ford racing M-9439-A302 intake gaskets for $9.88 from Summit which I think are actually Felpro 1250's or 1262's that sell from Summit for $22.95. I will let everyone know which one they are when I recieve them.

I could have used that info a couple of weeks ago when I put my 347 together. I have well over $100 in head and intake gaskets.
Thanks, it will come in handy next time around. Matter of fact I think I will order a set to have on hand.

Originally Posted by BRANDON6

Wanted to make this clear because it will save people a lot of money.

*1011-2 head gaskets from Summit are $36.95 each if you order Ford racing part# M-6051-A302 from Summit you get a pair of felpro 1011-2'(they have 1011-2 stamped right on them) for $29.88 the only differance is the package.

* Fel pro 1022 & 1023 (one is driver side the other is for the passanger side) big bore gaskets from summit are $50.99 each if you order Ford racing part # M-6051-B341 from Summit you get both for only $44.88.

* I ordered a set of Ford racing M-9439-A302 intake gaskets for $9.88 from Summit which I think are actually Felpro 1250's or 1262's that sell from Summit for $22.95. I will let everyone know which one they are when I recieve them.

That's crazy, Summit even advertises them as a different compressed thickness too....042" to .039".

On the AFR thing...don't feel bad...we're going through a similar problem with Probe on a set of their rods right now. They came to us with the shoulders around the rod bolts ground down a ton by hand on each side of ONE rod, and the others untouched. Then on the other seven the tops of the little ends are all ground down by hand, while the one that was ground on the shoulders is factory. We sent them back and told them if they can't give us a set of rods that freakin matches they should just cancel the order. I think finally that's going to be the only way to resolve it too.

Sad.

Originally Posted by Is1BadFord

That's crazy, Summit even advertises them as a different compressed thickness too....042" to .039".

On the AFR thing...don't feel bad...we're going through a similar problem with Probe on a set of their rods right now. They came to us with the shoulders around the rod bolts ground down a ton by hand on each side of ONE rod, and the others untouched. Then on the other seven the tops of the little ends are all ground down by hand, while the one that was ground on the shoulders is factory. We sent them back and told them if they can't give us a set of rods that freakin matches they should just cancel the order. I think finally that's going to be the only way to resolve it too.

Sad.

Every now and then, I run across some blabber about how bad the cheapie parts I'm collecting are. This is kinda neat, in that although there are a bunch of pissed off people buying the same crap I am, it's interesting that there are a certain percentage of people getting burned by the higher priced items as well, and for all I know, the percentages may be comparable. My budget rods are perfect. I think it is probably more of a sad commentary of the times we live in and the lack of morals and pride in the individual than anything else. I'll give you 4 things that sent the world as we know it downhill: (1) Extended warrantees- translation- let me entice you with some cheaper crap at a price on the isle and try to get it back at the register. (2) Cash back rebates- DUH- people are so stupid, who's money are they giving back and why would you give it to them to make money on for a month before they give it back? (3) Self-serve gasoline. At the time gas was $.27 a gallon, and they would check your oil, wash your windhield, check your tire pressure and give you a coupon to save up for merchandise or give you a drinking glass or a plate that you could collect to make a set. For $.02 a gallon less, people got their hands all smelly with gasoline, and no glasses or inspections or windshield cleaning. Very quickly this deteriorated from the gas jockey taking your money to having to go to a window to pay. Soon after, you had to go to the damn window first and pre-pay. Over $.02! I don't care how far you go back in the history of fossil fuel use by the general public, $.02 was never that much money. (4) Once upon a time, the man was the provider, and the woman ran the house. All of a sudden some people got greedy and decieded that if their wife worked as well, they could get ahead. About this time, there was a movement for equality for women in the workplace. Equal pay for equal work. That was great for a few people for a very short while.The reality of this move? Now both man and wife have to work to make enough money to get by, and the woman is rewarded for her liberation by getting the enviable multitasking operation of running the house and working a job. Now for anybody still listening, the point of this dribble is that I see the next big FUBAR in history happening now, and it's called hurray for me and F-U! It's the mind-set that as long as it's legal, or I can get away with it if it's not, it's all good. This is going to make the earlier examples of the deterioration of quality civilized life pale in comparison. Hell, I think it already has. How's that for sad?

Also thank you for giving us the part#'s for the big bore head gasket. I am definitely going to use them next time as they are a cheap alternative to the 1011-2's that I use.

This is all very interesting but now I know what to look for in a set of heads for my 289. I don't know a lot about these new aluminum heads out there since I used stock iron heads way back when. Is there a good set of heads out there other then AFR or Edelbrock? I'm sure every head made out there could have problems but why not just use stock iron heads that are tricked out? Other then weight and cooling better is it worth the added cost? Not to say aluminum heads aren't great but for just a street car are they worth it, can't you get some tricked out iron heads for a lot less?

Originally Posted by RickRacer

This is all very interesting but now I know what to look for in a set of heads for my 289. I don't know a lot about these new aluminum heads out there since I used stock iron heads way back when. Is there a good set of heads out there other then AFR or Edelbrock? I'm sure every head made out there could have problems but why not just use stock iron heads that are tricked out? Other then weight and cooling better is it worth the added cost? Not to say aluminum heads aren't great but for just a street car are they worth it, can't you get some tricked out iron heads for a lot less?

It all depends. I assume when you say "tricked out" stock iron heads, you are talking about heads that are used, that have been ported and polished, have hardened seats cut in, with new valves, springs and keepers. Now, either you have to take old heads and have all that done to them, or buy used ones that have already been worked over. So right off the bat were talking apples and oranges. If you will surf Ebay you will find used and bare aluminumn heads for less than the machine work on those stock iron heads. Edelbrock and AFR are some of the more expensive heads for what they are. The aluminum heads have CNC'd ports and thick decks that allow you to cut them down for more compression. Unless you have the iron heads proffesionally ported and do the other upgrades, they are not going to flow like the aluminumn heads, and are much more likely to flow differently to different cylinders. As for the question of whether they are worth the money for a street car, the answer is probably no, in most instances. A good set of E7TE's or GT-40's that have had the exhaust ports massaged are going to be all that's needed for most mild street builds. For a good set of iron heads, Google up Thumper heads, and check that guy out. If a guy is going to run a big cam, a Vic intake, 700+ cfm carb, and large primary headers, it needs a good breathing heads w/big valves, whether it's bound for the street or the track.

Originally Posted by RickRacer

This is all very interesting but now I know what to look for in a set of heads for my 289. I don't know a lot about these new aluminum heads out there since I used stock iron heads way back when. Is there a good set of heads out there other then AFR or Edelbrock? I'm sure every head made out there could have problems but why not just use stock iron heads that are tricked out? Other then weight and cooling better is it worth the added cost? Not to say aluminum heads aren't great but for just a street car are they worth it, can't you get some tricked out iron heads for a lot less?

Unless your a machinest and know how to do all the mods correctly, it will cost you big $$$$ to upgrade stock heads for high HP use.

It can be done, but for the same money or less, you can get aftermarket heads that will work better then you can make yourself.

I have another question for you guys....do you have problems with the aluminum head iron block combo sealing like they did with the Vega way back when?