Hello! I'm planning the build for my '64 Galaxie. It's an original 390 4spd car with a 9" rear with 3.5 gears. I don't have the casting numbers for the original head handy, but I do know that the car has the original engine. What casting # head will give the best performance for a street driven engine? I'll be staying with a single 4bbl carb with an Edelbrock RPM intake. I haven't decided which cam to use yet, but this will not be a super high rpm motor, probably 6 grand tops. I'm aware that Edelbrock makes aftermarket heads for the engine, but from what I've read on line, it doesn't seem like they offer a huge bang for the buck, please correct me if I'm wrong. I'd appreciate any help or input. Thanks... Chris
You might check out Barry's new FE cylinder head. http://survivalmotorsports.com/New_FE_Cylinder_Head.html
Barry's new head is more expensive, but gives output results like a street-ported Edelbrock- it is very street oriented, but also isn't in full production yet, but he just got a shipment. If you want to run Edelbrocks, they actually run pretty good, just a bit better than a stock CJ head, and the price isn't that bad. You'[d want to run the one the call the "390-428" head, not the "427" head, as that one is meant to mimic the old machined combustion chamber heads, and the more modern chamber of the 390-428 head is a lot better and slightly smaller, plus they have all 16 exhaust bolt holes. Barry's heads have an even better chamber FYI, if your Gal engine has the C1AE or C4AE heads, they are basically the same general casting as the low riser/CJ type heads except with the smaller valves, so if you rebuild yours, you can just add the 2.09/1.65 valves and have what they call the "poor man's low riser"- I'm getting ready to do a set of C4's for my '69 Ranchero GT
There's not a whole lot of difference in most FE heads. As stated above, bigger valves will help your heads breathe. A '64 four-barrel engine should be high compression, somewhere above 9.5:1, so you should be OK there. Crane makes a C8AX-C clone cam, I have a soft spot for that grind. Good power to 5500, and a nice lope at idle. Headers are a must. Stock exhaust manifolds are no good for performance use. Performer RPM is a good choice. Your Galactic is a heavy car, you don't want to sacrifice low end grunt for top end, it will be a dog. I am planning a similar 390 for my '64 Marauder, and it's heavier than your Ford.....
Thanks for the replies. I guess in order to make a final decision, I'd have to drop the original heads off at the machine shop to see what they'd cost me to have done up right. If I can get a set of Barry's heads for a modest amount more, that might make more sense. Chris
give Jon Kasse a call he is one of the best with these engines and the cammer styles. I have used heads from AFR on an FE i had built years back they worked great on the street but were not cheap with the port matching and other parts to go with it.
I never heard one of those run..... But my o/t pony has a 3 valve per cyl. cammer motor... I know.... It ain't the same...
I believe the "GT 390" or CJ head is the best iron factory head for that combo, but by the time you buy a pair and have them gone through, you can do a set of Edelbrocks. I would call Bryce @ Dj's Porting Service/Air Wolf Cyl.Heads (714)943-3404. He can do the Edelbrocks with a good valve job and or a little port work very reasonably. He can also help you pick out a cam for your combo, his pump gas/street combos are second to none in my opinion, and I sell rods and pistons all over the world to everyone imaginable.
The 390GT and 428CJ heads aren't the same, in fact quite different- and the GT head isn't really a very good head, having the later lowered exhaust ports. The GT head is the same as the regular 390 head from the same time, except for the extra 6 bolt holes on the exhaust flanges for the shock-tower cars, and the one-piece retainers and stronger springs to go with the GT cam- which was also used in the 428CJ. The CJ head is basically the same as the low riser with the high exhaust port and "long" intake port, and is a much better head than the GT. Also, the FE is an engine that benefits greatly from being worked on by people who know them well, more of them have gotten boogered up by the corner machine shop guys with the 'ol "we'll punch 'er thirty and cut the crank ten",all engines are the same mentality. There a limited number of real FE specialists out there, and the names are well known in FE circles, pretty tight group
I mite get some flak for this but... The "King" of the FE heads to me, hands down is.................................... The "SOHC" ... like this boat has...
I'm thinking quickest and easiest for you is going to be the Edelbrock set-up with heads, cam, intake and carb - you should get what you want for the street - if you want balls-out go-fastness ................. how deep are your pockets? Other than that, go for a mild cam until you scrape the scheckels together. Cheers.
An AFR FE head? Can you provide a part number? Kasse is known for Boss 429 and Lima (385) style big blocks not FE's. Not to say that he can't do them but in the FE world his name isn't mentioned often. The Survival Motorsports head would be my pick for a strong street motor. Bolt them on with an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake and you'll be good.
Your '64 heads are really pretty decent, as long as they are C1AE, C2AE, C2SE, C3AE, C4AE , engineering (casting) numbers, open up the bowls, bigger valves, port clean up work. Not knowing what you want to do, "speed costs money; how fast do you want to go"?
If this car wont be timed, i would stick with the iron jobs. Back before alum people made the irons work, same can be applied today.
The Jalopy Journal
