not one person has an opinion on an aftermarket head to replace these junk ones that one stop cracking?
Dude, you just posted the thread 3 hours ago. Most people are at work right now (I should be too) and can't look at the forum to see your thread. I understand that you feel like you are in a hurry, but they won't get to you any quicker if you order now or Monday morning.
I just called promaxx and they quoted me 440 for the pair shipped. with just naked heads and boxed valves (ive got everything else)
I also found these but I don't know if i trust them
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOORES-FOR3126B-Cylinder-Head-Reman-Cylinder-Head-/360771654666?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1996%7CMake%3AFord%7CModel%3ARanger%7CEngine+-+Liter_Display%3A4.0L&hash=item53ffaa940a&vxp=mtr
anyone else got links or suggestions? is there a stock head from a different year that is stronger and is less likely to crack?
ProMaxx used to be Alabama Cylinder Head Exchange. They did offer thicker the aftermarket casting in both bare and assembled. I bought the complete castings years ago, but I think I have other problems with my engine. They, along with the block, will be coming out in the next few weeks to be checked so I'll find out how well they hold up then.
The ones on eBay are probably no better than what you have now. They are most likely reman stock head castings that are just as prone to crack as the ones on the truck now.
Stock for stock the 98tm (98-2000) castings are a little stronger IIRC, but the 95tm (95-97) castings you have now flow better. If you want to run stock head with no other work done then you are best off sticking with the same design castings you have now. If you want to port and polish it is my understanding that the 98tm castings can be taken further. If you don't plan to get a tuner set up for your truck then you will definitely want to stock with 95tm castings, but you still may need one for that cam. I'm not saying to stay with the Ford stock 95tm or 98tm castings, just make sure that the aftermarket casting is a replacement for it.
Sorry if I confused you there.
Tom Morona offers stock replacements with thicker walls around the ports. He also offers ported polished 4.0 heads in a few different flavors.
Tom's heads use the aftermarket thicker castings, but I don't know who's he uses. This may be a very good option for you. If I were going that route (and I may if mine are cracked) I'd get the stage 1 heads and have him set them up with dual springs. The cost a little more, but they would be ready to run out of the box. With the cam you plan to run you will need dual valve springs anyway, which means more machine work in addition to what ever was already needed on the bare castings (valve job, etc). You'd probably break even, and the porting will really compliment that camshaft.
Also check out your pushrods and rockers. This motor has a bad habit of chewing them up. You'll need different pushrods with that cam, I think they needed to be longer because of the change in base circle of the cam. If you call
Smith Bros. Pushrods I think they'll be able to get you the right ones. They've sold enough for that engine/cam combo that they know what's needed. If you need rockers, sealed power makes good replacements from my understanding.
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