High Performance Heads / Intake

I have a 92 SN with a PCM 351 285 HP. Being involved in Autombile Road Racing I was thinking of replacing my stock heads with High Performance ones and also replacing the intake manifold with a High Performance Aluminum. Is this a mod which could give me good results? Can I purchase Heads from a Ford dealer ? Is there a difference between automotive heads / intake and Marine Heads / intake ?

Thanks to all,

Hudson

I'm not 100% sure on this but I believe the 285hp 351's are considered HO (high output) models and have GT-40 heads, a slightly different cam, and possibly some other differences.

The heads are the same as automotive heads. 302 heads can be used if the head bolt holes are drilled out. I would encourage you to stick with an iron head however, the combination of aluminum and hot lake water will cause corrosion. There are better heads out there but I doubt you would yield much useful power for the money spent over the GT-40's. A nice intake manifold such as an Edelbrock Performer should help performance some. I wouldn't worry about aluminum on the intake manifold as much since it can be replaced easier if it corrodes away. With intake manifolds make sure you have room to fit any additional height under your motorbox.

In my '79 SN I currently run an Edelbrock Performer intake with the stock D8OE heads ported and cut for bigger valves and they work great. I also have a custom ground Comp Cams cam and a GM style HEI distributor with custom advance curve. My new engine has a lot more hole shot and better acceleration than stock but top speed is still about the same.

I think that there may be a difference in head gaskets. I thought I remember seeing somewhere that boats use a type of stainless steel gasket. Not sure though.