afr 185

[Pimpdady753]

ive got a 86gt the guy i bought it from said it was bord out to a 306 and a cam was put in. i want to get a pair of afr 185s but not sure on a few things, like ive ben reading and the say that 86s and below n the pistons need to be noched for clearence any ideas on that. also does any one no the stock comprestion ratio on a mustang and what combustion chamber should i get. i have a bbk ssi race intake manifold on it with bbk full exgust, ive got a procharger that ive not hooked up yet, i want to wait till i get the heads to get it tuned so i only have to get it once u know. what do u guys think.

[351wStang]

What size cam do you have? The problem you will have with the AFR 185's is the intake valve size. A set of TFS wedge heads would be your best bet, they are designed to clear stock pistons.

[Pimpdady753]

im not sure thats the problem, is there any way to tell

[351wStang]

Any way to tell what?
If your talking about piston to valve clearance then yes, you can check it. You install your cam of choice, put some clay on top of the pistons, torque heads, install rockers, rotate motor. Remove heads measure thickness of clay at the point where the valve was the closest.

With any decent size cam and a 2.02 valve you will hit stock pistons. I suggest TFS TW Track Heat heads because with their valve angle they clear stock pistons.

[Pimpdady753]

ok well is there any way to check how much lift my cam is, because im not sure if its the stock one or aftermarket, i was just told it had one but im not sure u know.

[351wStang]

You can check with a dial indicator I guess. You would have to pull the cam out though. You might be able to check lift at the valve if you have a dial indicator that has a base that screws into a valve cover bolt hole.

All that will tell you though is the lift, you will need to know more than that. If you cant feel or hear a cam then I bet its stock, or so close to stock it wouldn't matter.




You just need to build a matched engine. Putting big heads on a stock motor is a mistake. It will feel like an absolute dog until you get the rpms way up. You need to run a head, or cam, or intake, or whatever you want to buy next that is a good fit for your motor, not just whatever you have heard makes more power. AFR's 185 heads is great for lower ci, calmer motors with boost. But it would also do great in N/A form on say a 347" motor with 10.5:1cr, something like a Comp 284H grind, Edelbrock RPM Air-Gap intake, and a 600cfm 1850 Holley.

My motor pics up big time around 2200, and pulls good until I let out.

[Pimpdady753]

ive got that pro charger that im going to be hooking up. yeah i really dont want to take the cam out if i do that im going to just build a 347 witch then i will have to much power for the stock block any ways so theres no point you know what i meam. its hard to tell if its stock or not, i have flowmasters with turndowns so its really good and loud sounding so i dont know.

[351wStang]

Well, if your sold on the 185's then buy them and clay the pistons like I said. If the hit notch the pistons.

[Pimpdady753]

ok so how do u nothch the pistons just take a grinder to them.

[351wStang]

Pretty much. But try to take the same amount of metal out of all the pistons. Also don't leave any rough or sharp areas to create hot spots.

[dwendt1978]

I'd be careful notching the pistons. When they say the 86 GT's came without valve reliefs in the pistons they were not kidding.

They are literally a flat top piston. If I remember right the compression was a factory 9.2:1 on the 86's.

A supercharger could definitely call for dished pistons. I'd just go for a set of heads with a 190 intake valve and slightly larger combustion chamber. That would cure all the problems. 202's are to much for those pistons.

[Pimpdady753]

about the twisted wedge heads, i thought u had to get specal pistons or get your pistons notched because of the odd valve placement.

[351wStang]

No, Wedge heads will allow a larger valve on a stock piston due to valve angle.