cylinder head ???s FF vs reg gas

[pjtoledo]

currently have a 2000 4x4 3.0 FF ATX. plan on picking up a used engine to play with.
I'm interested in the differences between FF and regular gas heads, and any changes in newer years. I know the combustion chambers are larger and shaped different for the 2000 FF. did that continue on, or did Ford go to a single head for all 3.0s at some point?
is either one considered a better performer for low to mid range?
plans call for mild porting and some 1.7 roller rockers.
I know, its a 3.0 so "performance" isn't a strong point, but its what I have and plan on keeping for a while. low to mid range RPMs are what I'm searching for,
I'm not interested in anything over 5000.
since there are issues with seats on 2002-2004(?) I'll stay away from those.

thanks
Perry

 

[monstermazda]

I would get the 2002 pistions if you going to rering it.

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[pjtoledo]

I would get the 2002 pistions if you going to rering it.

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what would be the improvement? compression, dome shape, material, coating, ring type?

 

[stmitch]

I've always heard that Ford went away from the special flex fuel heads at some point in the early 00s. I don't know exactly when that was, but the 02 Taurus FFV engine that I used as a donor for my build does not have the "heart shaped" combustion chambers that the early FFV heads had. They look identical to regular fuel heads according to a google image search. I'd upload some of my pics, but Photobucket isn't working at the moment.

For your goal of midrange power, I'd do everything that I could to increase compression. Use heads with the smallest combustion chambers you can find, and maybe have them decked a little along with some of the domed Pistons (this is another part where I'm not sure when they changed, but my 02 donor engine had slightly domed Pistons, instead of totally flat, which supposedly came on earlier engines.)

 

[pjtoledo]

compared pistons on NAPA, the '02 has a dome, coated skirts, narrower oil groove. most interesting is the pin, its .0003 larger on the '02. I doubt that will make a difference on a street engine.

according to some charts the '00-'01 has the best peak torque at 190. I'm wondering if the '02 has a better overall torque curve outside the peak.

my plan is to set the heads up on a spare engine, 1.7 roller rockers on pedestals, clearance, geometry etc then swap onto my 2000 block with only 115,000 easy miles on it.

also wondering if the 1.7 rockers will kill the bottom end, shouldn't affect timing events much.
but,,,,, I do know the intake cams in 3.0/3.2 Taurus SHOs had .020 less lift in the 3.2 ATX to increase the bottom end.

 

[monstermazda]

Compression, rings are thinner so easier to slide. If you get the newer heads the do decrease the combustion chamber for FF. I got an 04 had heart shaped and domes. She runs better than she ever had. Feels like I got more hp and torque.

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