Peaks and Averages - Six Budget Ford Heads That Work

Peaks and Averages
We should stress that during testing we optimized each set of heads for timing and jetting and then ran the engine with two near identical runs, which were then averaged to come up with the final power numbers. While peak horsepower is a quick evaluator, we prefer to use average power in these comparisons because it always produces a better picture of overall performance. But as we've seen before, the heads that produce the best peak power also do so throughout the entire rpm band. That's what the TFS Twisted Wedge heads did. Not only did the TFS heads produce the most peak power but also the best average torque and horsepower. The RHS heads produced the next closest average horsepower and torque, with the Edelbrock and Ford heads very close behind. The power numbers are so close that if we had tested these heads in a typical street car, it's doubtful we would have seen much of a difference in performance among the middle four heads. Throw a blue oval flag over the RHS, Edelbrock, and Ford heads, and the performance is very similar.

We certainly don't want to ignore the peak numbers, and that's where the TFS Twisted Wedge heads really earned the spotlight. The TFS heads made an honest 380 hp, but what we found surprising was how well the Edelbrock E-Street head did with a peak of 371, substantially better than Ford Racing's 362hp Third Place finish. The finish order for peak torque realigned slightly with TFS out front, RHS coming in a strong Second, with Edelbrock and Ford tied for Third.

Most of the heads were equipped with Thermactor holes that are required for emissions-controlled engines. If you don’t need this exhaust outlet, you can purchase Thermactor plugs from several outlets, including Summit (PN TFS-5140026, $9.49 each).
Most of the heads were equipped with Thermactor holes that are required for emissions-cont
We used Fel-Pro head, intake, and exhaust gaskets throughout the test to keep everything sealed up along with Permatex Right Stuff RTV on the china walls each time we installed a new set of gaskets. The Right Stuff is appropriately named—it really works well.
We used Fel-Pro head, intake, and exhaust gaskets throughout the test to keep everything s
We also used an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold topped with a Holley 750 cfm HP carburetor and sparked by an MSD Pro Billet distributor and wires. Most of the heads made best power with 34 to 36 degrees of total ignition timing.
We also used an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold topped with a Holley 750 cfm HP ca

Six Budget Ford Heads That Work Comp Cams Ultra Pro Magum Roller Rockers

We used a set of Comp Cams Ultra Pro Magnum roller rockers for all the heads except for the Ford Racing heads that require a net lash style rocker. Comp also supplied the various length Hi-Tech 0.080-wall pushrods necessary to complete the test, especially for the Twisted Wedge heads. That’s an additional cost that you might want to consider.

Average Power

	Avg. TQ	Avg. HP
TFS	341.4	294.3
RHS	335.8	288.8
Edelbrock	332.5	286.2
Ford	332.3	285.4
Flo-Tek	330.5	283.1
World	327.1	280.7

Power Chart
Test 1 (TQ1/HP1): World Windsor, Jr.
Test 2 (TQ2/HP2): Edelbrock E-Street
Test 3 (TQ3/HP3): Flo-Tek / Speedway Motors
Test 4 (TQ4/HP4): Ford Racing
Test 5 (TQ5/HP5): Racing Head Service
Test 6 (TQ6/HP6): Trick Flow Specialties Twisted Wedge

RPM	TQ1	HP1	TQ2	HP2	TQ3	HP3	TQ4	HP4	TQ5	HP5	TQ6	HP6
3,000	311	177	312	178	314	180	312	178	309	176	312	178
3,200	306	187	312	190	317	193	314	191	313	191	313	191
3,400	310	201	311	201	321	208	318	206	321	207	318	206
3,600	325	223	320	219	329	225	327	224	329	225	330	226
3,800	329	238	326	236	333	241	331	240	332	240	335	242
4,000	332	253	332	253	336	256	334	255	337	257	339	258
4,200	337	269	339	271	341	272	338	271	343	274	345	276
4,400	342	287	346	290	346	290	345	289	350	294	353	296
4,600	341	298	345	302	347	304	346	303	351	308	356	312
4,800	337	308	344	314	343	314	344	314	349	319	357	326
5,000	335	319	343	326	339	323	342	326	347	331	357	340
5,200	334	331	344	341	336	333	340	337	347	343	355	351
5,400	332	341	344	354	333	342	339	348	345	355	353	363
5,600	326	347	340	362	326	347	333	355	339	362	350	374
5,800	317	350	331	366	315	348	325	359	329	364	343	379
6,000	308	352	322	368	297	340	316	361	317	362	333	380
6,200	---	---	314	371	---	---	307	362	---	---	320	378
Peak	342	352	346	371	347	349	346	362	352	364	357	380
Avg.	327.1	280.7	332.5	286.2	330.5	283.1	332.3	285.4	335.8	288.8	341.4	294.3