AFR 165 or 185 heads?

[Warrior1670]

Anyone here running AFR 165 or 185 heads? Happy with them?

[Killercanary]

I've run them both and loved each one. I had box stock AFR 165's on my old 302 stock shortblock and made 304rwhp/331rwtq with a ton of area under the curve. It made enough that I was able to run 12.03 at 112.5mph in my heavy 95 GT 'vert. I then took the same heads and installed lightweight retainers and valve springs, to that I added a 9:1 331ci shortblock, holley intake, long tube headers and 3" into 2.5" X pipe I made 380rwhp/380rwtq with the 165's. I then switched to AFR 185 Competition heads, probe shaft mount rockers, and had the lower intake ported and made 415rwhp/410rwtq. This combo resulted in a 11.5 at 121mph pass in my '95 GT 'vert. I LOVE their heads as they flow air that others require huge port volumes and cross sections to achieve. The resultant high velocity charge equates into a more useable power band and typically more area under the curve. AFR is the only SBF ford head I would ever run.

AFR 185's will not clear stock pistons though without notching FYI.

[yeahloh95]

i too run the 165's and make close to 500 at the wheels with a little boost, to say i'm happy with them is an understatement

[Mark Aubele]

I would go with the 185's to have some head to grow into, but both are great heads. Everyone I know with them are pretty happy.

[RSbeast]

Loved mine n/a and with boost aswell. FYI staying smaller cube n/a the small combustion chamber on the 165s gives a little bump to and is thrilling with boost ;)

[biminiLX]

Don't run them but definitely would.
Originally had a comp port set of 185s I sold before using, seemed like very high quality.
IMO, unless you are stuck with a stock piston shortblock, buy the 185s even on a 302.
-J

[PaxtonShelby]

Have 185's on my "new" '94 Cobra with a 347 and dang does it run great!! Running TFS TW heads on my '66 5.0 Paxton and it runs very well, but I have a feeling that the 185's would make it run even better.

[Warrior1670]

Good info fellas. Ok, here's the big question. I'd rather not boost at this point so I want heads, headers, intake and cam. Are roller rockers with the cost? Anything else? I basically want about 400-450 and possibly a blower of some sort later on (with tranny). I know my motor was worked on in the past and the cam isn't original (I'll buy a new one unless there is a way to see what's in it now and if it works) but don't know any of the details. Is it worth pulling it now and tearing the bottom end apart to see what's in there or wait till the blower goes on? I'm trying to stay about $3K for this first round. There are a few other things I want to do to it before the blower. I'd like to do as much now to get to 400-450 without pulling the motor.

[Killercanary]

I don't see you hitting your goal NA if you want to do it NA with ~302ci.

[Pure Stock]

I don't see you hitting your goal NA if you want to do it NA with ~302ci.

Unless you decide to join forces with the dark side.....

[Mark Aubele]

Good info fellas. Ok, here's the big question. I'd rather not boost at this point so I want heads, headers, intake and cam. Are roller rockers with the cost? Anything else? I basically want about 400-450 and possibly a blower of some sort later on (with tranny). I know my motor was worked on in the past and the cam isn't original (I'll buy a new one unless there is a way to see what's in it now and if it works) but don't know any of the details. Is it worth pulling it now and tearing the bottom end apart to see what's in there or wait till the blower goes on? I'm trying to stay about $3K for this first round. There are a few other things I want to do to it before the blower. I'd like to do as much now to get to 400-450 without pulling the motor.

You will need roller rockers with stud mount heads.

400-450 NA? At the wheels? With a 302? A big stretch, possible, but even 400 would need to peak at ~7300 rpm in a 302. Not feasible.

A simple heads/cam/intake combo is going to be more like 290-330, with a good tune and well chosen parts. If you want to add boost later, choose the cam accordingly.

I wouldn't touch the bottom end if there isn't anything wrong, but I am pretty ghetto like that.

[thedak]

^ this ^