What heads to use

Hey guys,
Fixin' to get a '73 Gran sport with a 2V 351 Cleveland. I'm pretty sure it only has 8/1 compression. It was recently rebuilt wit .030 over pistons (maybe they're flat tops instead of dish) so a new set of heads shouldn't mess with the rings. I'd like 9.5/1 cpmpression or around that to use pump gas. What heads should I look for? I should acquire the car within a few weeks and will try to determine if it has flat tops or dish. Thanks

If it's got flat tops, run an open chamber head. Like any old american (non-aussie) 2V head will do. There may be some experts here that can tell you if there are any slight variations among standard open chamber 2V heads.

Why do you need to change the heads that are on it if it was recently rebuilt?

Just wanted some better compression and replacing the heads will be cheaper than building a whole new engine. Putting new heads on an old engine sometimes brings alot of blowback from the rings. A low milage engine can still handle replacement heads without trouble. My 302 with dish pistons doesn't perform nearly as well as my 302 with flat tops and higher compression. Figured the same applies to the 351. Thanks for replying.

One thing that makes a big difference here is your cam, do you know what you have? A cam selected for a those heads and compression may not preform as expected when you swap a different set of heads on there that make their power in a completely different RPM range.

So what we are trying to say is what is the purpose of having a higher compression is it just for bragging rights or do you want more power if you want more power how much do you want?

I think for now get the car and drive it and see how you like it and go from there.

As far as your 302 comparison well, The 302 with dished pistions what kinda cam is in it how many miles are on it has it been taken care of is the distributor properly curved or is it all stock? Same goes for the flat top piston motor if there has been work done to it well of course it would preform better then a stock setup, not really fair to compare without any information and if they are not built for the same thing then you also really cannot compare.

Anyways sorry to repeat myself but get the car enjoy it and see if you want more power if so pop back in here and we can help do you have any other build information on the 351c or just that its got 2v heads with 8:1 compression, also how do you know what kind of compression you have? I would try to get some information about who built the engine and ask them anyways take it easy man dont mean to ride on you just trying to save you from not being happy with your ride and or wasting time and money everyone knows we need it now a days with gas prices.

There is not an American 351C 2V head that I know of that has enough difference to be worth the change which would leave you with the choice of the American 4V CC heads and the Australian 2V CC heads and after market heads that all will bring up the Compression ratio above 9.5:1. Why not just change out the cam? You would need to change the Cam anyways if you went with the CC heads. Find a good street cam that will work with what you have.

Yeah,
You have a good point. It may have alot to do with an economy camshaft. I just looked up the horsepower ratings for the different compressions but it probably does have more to do with the camshaft. 163 HP sounds terrible for a 351 Cleveland. Lots of torque though. Anyway, I can run regular instead of premium with the 8/1 compression. I'm just getting into the Clevelands and haven't experienced them first hand yet. I'll stick with the compression and just change camshafts later if I want more power. I like the GTS because it's clean and the A/C works but don't expect much for gas mileage. I got a '71 short block Cleveland with flat tops and a 4 bolt bare block Cleveland a few days ago for my 65 Galaxie. I can run my '92 AOD behind a Cleveland instead of running the 460 with a C6 I was going to install. From what I'm reading in here, the Cleveland can pull my heavy Galaxie as well as the 460 and better than the low compression '74 302 in it now and I can still have overdrive. The '83 302 in my truck has more power than the '74 302 in my Galaxie but I have to run premium gas in it. They are both stock.
I have detailed schematics of 1973 - 79 Ford cars if any one needs anything. Sorry to be so windy and Thanks for your advice.

NP yeah a 351c can move most cars around no problem as long as its under 5000 pounds really and all torinos are.

As far as an AOD yeah behind a stock 351c 2v it should be fine as long as you don't abuse it and will get you much better mileage and be really nice to drive on long trips and such.

As far as factory rated HP you really dont know what the new motor has unless you talk to someone who built it so until then it would be safter to assume is a stockish cam but I would still try to find out what you can about the build any more questions feel free to ask.

Go the 351c, I like to run Manual Valve Body c4, They way strong enough