Best Cylinder Heads for Ford 302: 10 Best Must-Have Heads!

Are you an enthusiastic car owner? Have you thought about rebuilding your Ford Mustang? Then at first, the best thing you should do is to upgrade your vehicle with the best cylinder heads for ford 302.

In spite of the stock heads being pretty well, they can’t, in fact, come closer to the modernized cylinder heads.

Well, The other name of the Ford 302 engine is Ford Windsor which is basically a V8 type engine manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. 

Actually, there are a varied amount of aftermarket cylinder heads available for your car to be replaced.

Here is a list of the best aluminum heads for Ford 302 compiled by us which can be the ultimate choices for you and can help you to decide what to select. 

Read More: Best Headers for 5.7 Hemi Rams 2022

Reasons Behind Upgrading the Heads

Ford 302 muscle cars had a bit of crappy cylinder heads. Even they were not designed properly compared to the heads remaining presently. 

Moreover, an engine acts as an air pump in your car. So, you need the heads to flow air as far as possible.

This is the case where you have to think about installing the best sbf aluminum heads for your Ford Windsor.

Earlier, people used to polish the stock E7 Fox body mustang. It may enhance some horsepower, but eventually, it can’t go as well as a perfectly designed aftermarket cylinder head.

By installing the latest aftermarket cylinder heads as well as a very good camshaft, your vehicle can attain about 80 horsepower at a time.

Recommended!

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TOP 10 Best Cylinder Heads for Ford 302

1. Edelbrock E-Series Street (Editor’s Choice)

With a view to getting excellent performance, you are suggested to use the Edelbrock E-Series cylinder heads with an E303 cam. I personally equipped this for my Fox Mustang.

Basically, these heads provide you with the uppermost service you can afford at this price. 

Besides, The Edelbrock E-Series Heads consists of 60 cc combustion chambers, 1.900” intake valves, 1.600” exhaust valves. These valves assure you of an exclusive performance.

Significant Features 

• Intake runner 1700 cc. 
• Exhaust runner 60cc.
• Intake valve: 1.900″/2020
• Exhaust valve: 1.600″ 
• Intake CFM at. 500″ lift 242 cfm

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2. Ford Racing GT-40X

Next comes the Ford Racing GT-40X. Formerly, American Muscle’s Fox body build used these heads.

In fact, these heads are most importantly much more expensive than those of Edelbrock’s heads. 

But logically, Ford Racing GT-40X can produce more horsepower than Edelbrock’s heads. 

Mainly, The GT-40X heads feature a 64cc combustion chamber, 1.940” intake valves, and 1.540” exhaust valves.

Significant Features 

• Intake runner 178cc. 
• Exhaust runner 62cc.
• Intake valve: 1.940″
• Exhaust valve: 1.540″ 
• CFM at. 500″ lift 240 cfm

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3. Edelbrock Performer RPM 190cc

The third one of our list is the Edelbrock Performer RPM. Those who require more performance can surely purchase these sets of heads. 

Though you can equip the head with 170cc intake runners, we are recommending you purchase those with the 190cc intake valves. 

Basically, the main function of the RPM heads with 190cc intake valves is that about a large 2.022” intake valves along with 1.600” exhaust valves can be featured by the heads associated with 190cc intake valves.

The Performer aluminum heads are highly suitable for non-emission implementation and the performer series are made off stainless steel swirl-polished valves, hardened plates as well as springs of the valves.

Significant Features 

• Intake runner: 170cc/190cc.
• Exhaust runner: 60cc.
• Intake valve: 1.900″/ 2.022″
• Exhaust valve: 1.600″ 
• CFM at. 500″ lift 245/251 cfm

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4. Victor Junior

The Victor Junior heads come fourth on the list. These heads have also come off the Edelbrock manufacturers, from which you can be pretty much sure of getting the best aluminum heads within your price.

However, these heads constitute 2.050” intake valves along with 1.600” exhaust valves.

In addition to that, the Victor Jr. from the Edelbrock manufacturers also feature reinforced rocker-stud bosses, significantly contoured combustion chambers with an extra thick positive surface that can ensure a positive head-gasket seal with the topmost compression ratios, 

Significant Features 

• Intake runner: 210cc.
• Exhaust runner: 75cc.
• Intake valve: 2.050″
• Exhaust valve: 1.600″ 
• CFM at .500″ lift 268 cfm

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5. Trick Flow Twisted Wedge 11R

The Trick Flow Twisted Wedge 11R stands at fifth position in our list. This is very popular among the customers for its special Fox Body scene as a huge number of racers became successful using Trick Flow heads.

Besides, these cylinder heads are built on the basis of original Twisted Wedge heads.

Therefore, Trick Flow offers you the best performance small-block Ford heads.

Also, It has special functions with a view to developing airflow. It features a heavy 2.055” intake valve and 1.600” exhaust valves. 

Significant Features

• Intake runner: 190cc.
• Exhaust runner: 66cc.
• Intake valve: 2.050″
• Exhaust valve: 1.600″ 
• CFM at .500″ lift: Unknown

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6. AFR 220cc SBF

The sixth position, according to our recommendation, is the AFR 200cc SBF which is worldwide acknowledged for its high-quality production heads.

Hence, it is highly recommended for its massive intake valves, which are 2.100” and the performance is very good compared to others. 

But because of its marginally little exhaust valves, people sometimes become confused while making decisions. 

On the contrary, relying on your ordered springs, these stand heads can handle .700” or even a massive camshaft. 

Significant Features 

• Intake runner: 220cc.
• Exhaust runner: 70cc.
• Intake valve: 2.100″
• Exhaust valve: 1.570″ 
• CFM at .500″ lift 296 cfm

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7. Brodix Cylinder Heads

The Brodix Cylinder Heads come up with its ST 5.0 aluminum cylinder heads for your Ford 302 Muscle car. It is recommended especially for street engines living under 6000 RPM. 

Basically, Brodix ST 5.0 heads include 171cc intake runners along with 60cc combustion chambers. These heads also have 1.94/1.60 inch valves.

On the other hand, A CNC-ported ST 5.0R is also offered by the Brodix manufacturers, which consist of 2.02” intake valves and 185cc intake runners with 66 cc combustion.

In fact, the Brodix cylinder heads offer you to do suitable modifications if necessary. These are available from several suppliers, including Summit Racing and Roush & Yates Racing Engines.

Significant Features 

• Intake runner: 171cc.
• Exhaust runner: 60cc.
• Intake valve: 2.08″
• Exhaust valve: 1.600″ 
• CFM at .500″ lift 270 cfm

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8. Tri-State Cylinder Heads

Flo-Tek aluminum Ford small-block heads are produced by the Tri-State manufacturers, perfectly suited for late-model Mustang and Ford 5.0 liter passionates.

In addition, these performance cylinder heads have 180cc intake heads as well as 58cc combustion chambers.

Moreover, these heads were built from A356 aluminum and offered. 550” lift with roller lifters. These cylinder heads are also standard as part of a top-notch re-constructing project for the Fox-body 5.0-liter engines.

Tri-State cylinder heads are fully equipped for 1.94” intake valves and 1.54” exhaust valves. Also, these exhaust valves are heavily swirl-polished.

Even the 62cc exhaust runners develop the purge flow properly. Usually, Speedway Motors and the mother brand Tri-State manufactures these cylinder heads.

Significant Features 

• Intake runner: 180cc.
• Exhaust runner: 58cc.
• Intake valve: 1.94″
• Exhaust valve: 1.540″ 
• CFM at .500″ lift: Unknown

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9. Dart Cylinder Heads

Another well-recognized cylinder head manufacturing company is Dart Machinery Ltd. providing high-performing cylinder heads for your 302 Ford Body Mustang. 

Are you looking for some sort of cylinder heads at a reasonable price, ensuring a good street performance as well as torque improvement? Then the CNC-machined cast-iron cylinder heads from Dart Machinery ltd. are famous bolt-on aftermarket replacements for your Ford Mustang.

It consists of 180cc intake runners, which are bigger than the stock. The 58cc combustion chambers can contain 1.94 intake valves in each. 

Sometimes, your ordered heads can be unassembled. For this, you can purchase the compact package of assemblies of 1.25 or 1.4437 dual-diameter valve springs according to your choice.

Besides, Dart Machinery also offers you the Pro-1 Aluminum conducting small-block heads for your Ford’s body. It can ensure fabulous airflow and fuel atomization for your vehicle. Dart’s wet-flow technology designed the Pro 1 line optimizing the cast from 355-T61 aerospace alloy. Both 170cc or 195cc intake-port volumes constitute 62cc combustion chambers. 

Thus, choosing these heads will give you the best evaluation of your money. Through Jegs Performance and other retailers, Dart’s heads are usually delivered to you.

Significant Features 

• Intake runner: 180cc.
• Exhaust runner: 58cc.
• Intake valve: 1.94″
• Exhaust valve: 1.436″ 

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10. FRPP Z2 Cylinder Heads

For those who are looking for highly performed cylinder heads capable of accepting more than 500 horsepower, the latest FRPP Z2 cylinder heads are best suited for you.

These cylinder heads perfectly suit the small-block engine bays. The package of these cylinder heads is well assembled with top-notch components.

In addition to that, the head is set up with stainless steel measuring 2.050” intake valves as well as 1.600” 23-8N exhaust valves.

Significant Features 

• Intake runner: 208cc.
• Exhaust runner: 63cc.
• Intake valve: 2.05”
• Exhaust valve: 1.600”
• Inline valve angle: 20 degree 
• CFM at .500″ lift: Unknown 
• Laser-cut guide plates
• Manganese-bronze valve guide

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Small Block Ford Cylinder Heads Comparison

Conducting with the cam profile and intake manifold, the cylinder heads contribute not only to peak power numbers but the ultimate horsepower curving shape.

Besides, the larger CNC heads may offer much more power than that of the smaller 170cc heads.

Due to the pressure of the deadline, Dart Pro comp Electronics also offers small-block Ford heads. 

Though the products from these manufacturers are very much budget-friendly for us, most of the time they didn’t make any tests. The Dart castings are the Iron Eagle versions, while others are in aluminum.

FAQ About Cylinder Heads for Ford 302

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Concluding Thoughts

For better performance of your Ford Mustangs as well as to ensure the longevity of your classic 302 Ford Windsor, you must choose the heads which are best compatible with your vehicle considering its engine, conditions, and comforts. 

Moreover, you have to select those which must fit your car in accordance with the torque potential of the engine, horsepower enhancement without overdoing it, of course. 

Therefore, for all the products which are mentioned above here in our Best Cylinder Heads for Ford 302 Review, we have specific technical guidelines through which you can take help anytime when necessary and take the decision considering valve size, combustion chambers, etc. that can offer you the best value for the money you are investing.