Going to swap my head Need Help!

[lorwood]

First the stats

66 Mustang 68 Block 61 170 head

Ok I have never done this but I am going to swap out my 170 head which sits on my 68 block. I have been reading all I can including the shop manual. I have some questions.

1. I have a line on two heads. One is a 1978 250. This head would come from a rebuilder with a three angle valve job and already milled .060 Cost 450.00 plus 30.00 shipping. The other is a 69 flat top. Valve job complete other than that I don't know much about this head. $250.00 plus shipping. Which one?

2. Can I use my rocker arm assembly and pushrods from my 170 head? (Trying to save a few bucks) Or is it prudent to install new and if so any suggestions?

3. Can I use my autolite 1100 carb for now?

4. Will the exhaust manifold from the 68 and later engines work on a 1978 head?

Any advice would be welcome Thanks!

 

[matt1967]

'78 head. will fit earlier manifold too. rocker arms should fit too but a set of factory 1.6's wouldn't hurt. might have some binding problems with the non adjustable rockers, and a milled head

 

[wallaka]

Get the '78. Bigger valves, hardened valve seats, etc.

The 170 should have adjustable rockers, since it originally had mechanical lifters. Reuse them on the new head if they are in fact adjustable (they'll have a screw adjustment on the top, can't miss it). That way you can get proper preload OR just do like me and crank 'em down till you don't hear any lifter chatter, while making sure you can easily rotate the lifters by hand.

Make sure you label the lifters and put them back where they came from.

The carb might not fit. In fact, it probably won't. The carb hole got bigger in 68 or so, so it likely won't fit the '69 head either.

 

[lorwood]

Any carb suggestions? Is the holly weber the best bet? Are the ones sold at stovebolt any good? Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

I've got a stovebolt and it's fine. Have heard of one carb not working out. By the way, you can get a new 32/36 for about $235 (with stock jets)... somthing to consider. A rebuild if needed goes $160-$250......