Heads for 302 - Need Input!

[HerNastyNotch]

We are looking for heads with a 170cc or larger intake runner and 2.02 valves. No, we are not interested in the Trick Flow twisted wedge heads.

There are four heads we are looking at but first we wanted to try to get information from anyone who has done this...

Air Flow Research makes a 185cc head with 2.02 valves (http://www.airflowresearch.com/pages/185sbf_strp.htm) that will fit with stock pistons, but the stock pistons need to be notched.

Holley makes a 165cc head with 2.02 valves and a 17 degree angle (http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLine/Products/AMS/AMSCH/SBFord.html) (the last one in the table). We do not know whether the stock pistons need to be notched.

Brodix makes a 185cc head with 2.02 valves and a 20 degree angle (http://www.brodix.com/2005catalog/59-60.gif). We do not know whether the stock pistons need to be notched.

Jegs makes a 170cc head with 2.02 valves and an 18 degree angle (http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=168620&prmenbr=361). We called Jegs and they stated that the heads were bolt on to a stock 302 motor. No piston notching was required for motors with a cam of up to a 550 lift. Our cam is a 512 lift.

We don't like the idea of notching the pistons while still in the motor and we are definitely not interested in tearing down the motor to notch the pistons since she is my daily driver. In fact we are not interesting in notching the stock pistons at all.

Keep in mind that our near future plans include purchasing a DSS Level 10 331 short block, hence the reason for purchasing a large volume head.

Has anyone ever put heads with 2.02 valves on a motor with stock pistons? Does the degree of angle of the valves make a difference? Any advice in general is welcome and appreciated!

[NoSlo5.0]

The lift of the cam isn't so much of a factor as is the duration and timing. You need to be considering a 185 or 195 cc head for a 331. You don't build a 331 with 302 parts. Of course, even with that said, I run 170cc Edelbrocks on my 347, and they run hard at lower rpms due to the high port velocities. That makes for a great street motor, lots of torque. Heads are a big investment, I'd be inclined to wait until the 331 purchase so that you're not limited to what you can buy because of fitment issues.

[NoSlo5.0]

I don't like the Jeg's heads, they come with .580 lift springs and then say their head flows 250+cfm at .700 lift. Wonder if it flows 250cfm at .500 lift?

I like the AFR's or the Brodix, but I would also go look at the new Dart heads before buying as well.

[onebad95]

I have the afr 165's and love them. It took my 3,700 lb. vert to 12.9 with an art carr aode. I would contact Ed Curtis at http://www.flowtechinduction.com He is the best in my opinion. He also did my custom grind blower cam. His car's do well in pure street division in the nmra. He is a very knowledgable man that can take you where you wan to go.

[HerNastyNotch]

Here is what we have managed to find out thru extensive web research:

The degree of angle for the valves plays a major role in whether the 2.02 intake valve will clear stock (un-notched) 302 pistons.

Stock valve angles are 20 degrees. Some articles published state that 2.02 valves will not work with stock 302 pistons. And their argument for that is very logical... The stock 302 piston dish reliefs may be deep enough for a 2.02 valve (provided the cam duration and lift are not too much above stock) but that the reliefs are not wide enough to accept the 2.02 valve. But...

Considering the stock valve angle is 20 degrees, there are a few heads being produced with 17 and 18 degree valve angles. The difference in the angle appears to rotate the valve enough to allow for clearance with the stock pistons.

The AFR 185cc heads maintain a stock valve angle which is why AFR told us that their 185 would not work with our stock pistons.

However, the Jegs 18 degree and Holley 17 degree valve angle heads (and other heads with these valve angles that we found) do not require piston notching.

I have been looking high and low for more tech information about valve angles and stock pistons but have been unable to find just the right keywords to turn up good search results. Or maybe there is nothing published specifically on this topic.

[JPRCobra]

:nya: Brodix all the way

[JPRCobra]

:nya: DSS bad go with broroski insted you will be a lot happyer