I was just browsing through the Mustangs Unlimited catalog when I noticed that some cylinder heads are specific to certain years of 302's. The TFS heads for example state years 82-95. Edelbrock has performer heads and Performer 5.0 heads. What is the difference. Would these heads not work on my 302 (from a 1971 Mustang)? I know I have seen several early mustangs with new aluminum heads on them. Certainly the old 289's and 302's can use the high flowing heads like the new 5.0's can. Just wondering why the specific 302 years in the catalog.
Mostly emissions compliance. The performer 5.0 is meant for newer cars and the performer for older non-emissions cars. They flow about the same. I think heat crossovers may be the major difference.
Max Power & Vinyl66 are both right, but they do make heads for early models as well. Although my Trick Flows required me to do some minor (and easy) modifications to the block to work because its pre-69.
You are going to want the heads that do not have all that crappy emissions and smog stuff on them. Not that I am saying buy them from anywhere, but if you look in jegs or summit they have the differences more mapped out for you. You can also log onto their websites and check out different heads for different applications.
I bolted AFR 185s w/all smog provisions on my 67 block. No problems. I think the main issue is with pistons....?
