[1BadEgg]

Already have a deal lined up on Crower stage II's and cam gears, and now thinking of getting a higher output head to put in during the install.

I know some of you are dealers and hard to be unbiased, but looking for ratings on price to gains ratio, along with reviews. Here are heads I have looked at:

Gude (avail in different grinds)
Ford Racing Aluminum
Focus Central (avail in different grinds)
Focus Sport

Some come with cams (kent, etc,) but with such a good deal on the set of Crowers, would like to use them unless someone has a good argument.

Thanks alot and fire away

 

[djvash]

Don't forget the Esslinger head, I believe they are available from ZXTuner?

 

[Cameroon]

The ford racing head looks hard to beat currently seeing as it comes with oversize valves already fitted for about $800.

I also tend to favor FocusSport. Their quality control is second to none. 95% of companies would ship products that FS pulls as being "blemished"

 

[tgrcub]

sure, it's 8:30am and the ol' mind shouldn't be in the gutter this early, but I am impressed that no one has made a crack about the subject heading ( HA! ) yet...

 

[1BadEgg]

Yeah, I was thinking of just naming it "Where can I get the best head at" but reconsidered.

 

[1turbofocus]

The Ford Racing is the best bang for the buck out there power wise and cost

tom

 

[1BadEgg]

Ok, been talking to Ray at McNews and what a great guy, willing to talk to see exactly what you want your car to do before recommending and not just a "hard salesman", very impressed. Since they port and polish the Ford Racing Head to what you want at the same location as the point of sale, they can get it right, and even better if you purchase the Ford Racing cams from them to set in to insure proper clearance and match the larger valves, etc in the FR head. I think I am going that route for max compression, etc. From what I have been reading the FR cams are very close to the Crowers in specs. He is also experimenting with a set of cams from Belguim I think that he may market after dyno tests. This is based on the theory of a little larger intake and smaller exhaust cams that Spank has been talking about.

 

[ford_focus]

The Ford Racing head has larger valves but not the ports to support them. They heads require a proper porting job matched to your cams prior to use (or vica versa). Bolting them on as is with anybody's cams would produce less than desirable results.

Other head packages (should!) have their porting optimized to the cams recommended. Just adding a larger valve does not make more power. Plus, the Zetec head was not constrained by valve size to begin with.

There is also the whole system to consider. If you did correctly port the FR head to take advantage of the larger valve size, create a set of cams matched to this flow characteristic, and then make sure you have sufficient valve to piston clearance....you wouldn't make anymore power because of the intake manifold, TB and MAF. Most likely you'll make less (across the total useable RPM spectrum) and have a peaky engine.

The FR head is a good starting point for maximum potential but require more work and most likely a set of notched pistons. I say this because a set of Crower Stage 3's are very, very close with stock valve sizes, and the oversized valves would match with a cam this large, or larger.

 

[ford_focus]

One more thing is compression ratio- because of the oversized valves you cannot deck the head to maximize the compression ratio without notching the pistons.

Here again the FR head is a blessing and a curse. Also remember to add in the cost of new valvesprings, since the stock springs won't support the required cam profile.

 

[ford_focus]

1BadEgg,

How much is the FR head with porting, new valvesprings and retainers? Over $1000?

This topic was played out in the "New Cylinder Head" post. But it basically boils down to getting a complete package with everything ready to go- heads, cams, installation settings and the CHIP to make it all work.

 

[1BadEgg]

Thanks for the input, I guess I failed to mention that I am getting a larger MAF from him along with a ported pre-2000 intake manifold. I have already ported my TB. As mentioned in my earlier post, he is building the FR head with the FR "2" cams and the port and polish. So with that head package, plus the MAF and larger/smoother intake manifold you still don't think it is worthwhile gains? Ray seems to think that it is a good setup. Fire away....

 

[1BadEgg]

Originally posted by ford_focus:
[QB]1BadEgg,

How much is the FR head with porting, new valvesprings and retainers? Over $1000?
QB]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">You have PM

 

[ford_focus]

When you say "the port and polish" do you mean the "stock" p&p that comes on the heads?

You might want to ask Focus Sport if they can do their Serdi program on the head for you. This program is well proven for getting the stock head to perform on the street and the track.

Otherwise, you'll need to keep the cams on a tight lobe separation which will make good power from 4 to 6000 but will be bah-gy down low.

 

[1BadEgg]

Originally posted by ford_focus:
[QB]When you say "the port and polish" do you mean the "stock" p&p that comes on the heads?
QB]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Higher compression from normal will go .040 off should raise to 10.25 to 10.5 to 1. Ray
will also check valve to piston clearance with cams and bigger valves if needed will mill more off of the head on stock pistons.

 

[Gregersonsalvage]

Esslinger makes an incredible head that is very difficult to compete with. Not to mention they have 3 different grinds for the focus. If they could make an escort run 10s imagine what they could do to your focus.

 

[Yel900rr]

What makes these other heads better than the FR head. Flow #s what? Show me better flow #'s for the money. New casting, springs, retainers, stainless larger valves and very good flowing ports the #'s show that.

[ 01-20-2003, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: Yel900rr ]

 

[1turbofocus]

Ford_Focus i dont agree the ports when finished with the CNC program that is done is more than enough for what the larger valves can flow

The springs that are on them are good for the stage 2 cams and will go to 7000RPM with no problem

For 90% of the guys on here this is the head to go with and for the 795.00 it cost and what it will do there is no other head on the market that will compete with it

With doing a little intake work or going to the 2000 intake and a good set of cams ,T/B and a header this will be a cost effective answer to some good HP

tom

 

[1BadEgg]

With doing a little intake work or going to the 2000 intake and a good set of cams ,T/B and a header this will be a cost effective answer to some good HP

QUOTE]

Tom, you have a PM. Thanks

 

[ford_focus]

Tom,

I think I either mistyped or something-

what I'm trying to say is:

The FR head's mild "CNC work" isn't significant at all to make the larger valves a necessity. If anything it hurts performance for numerous reasons in modern cylinder head flow theory that you and others know.

Yes, adding a little spit and polish to the setup (bowl work, guide intrusion, parabolic seat work etc), new valve spring and retainers, and a header flange match PLUS a ported pre-2000 intake, 63mm ported throttle body, and a matched set of Stage 2+ cams (to be generic) will produce awesome power. Oh, and a fuel system, chip, ignition upgrade. And cam gears. And dyno tuning to set the cam gears. ANd a special chip for California 91 octane simulated gasoline.

Overall, the $795 pricing is a good hook for Ford Racing but it just doesn't make sense. For the average Focus owner, buying a more expensive (at face value) well developed kit, from a reputable shop would give a better result. The FR head is a good starting point for a full-on NA motor because of the valves. But a stock head with $795 worth of porting and valve work would work much better for a given set of cams.

 

[1BadEgg]

Sorry, double post.

[ 01-20-2003, 10:40 PM: Message edited by: 1BadEgg ]