I currently have a rebuilt 350 in my 91 Bird with a T5 and 3.73s. I would like to pep it up a little bit. I am completly capable of doing all my own work so that would not be an expence but I have a few questions. . .
I currently have 882 or 881 heads on there, i forget which ones but it is one of the two because when I changed the valve cover gaskets i remember seeing 888888882 or 888888881 lol. From what i have read I am pretty sure those are crappy heads unless some porting is done correct?
I am supposed to be getting some heads on a sick deal from someone who knows someone who owns a head shop, he said he would build me a set of heads that will flow well and handle a nice cam (very very good price as in parts only(free heads b.c he has themlaying around)). I would like to do heads, cam, headers and a few little things, all at the same time but i dont know if i can wait the month for him to make the heads. (a month is just a guess but around there) Also it is not my impatients but I was thinking if I put the cam in before the heads it would save some of my future time that I dont have.
What would happen if i put a cam in with out the heads, i know that they should be matched together for max performace but would my current heads be able to handle the lift or any other things i should watch out for?
Would I see an increase in power or would i just be wasting money untill the heads and headers come in?
Are there any other tips i should get before starting to pep the car up a bit? I am very open minded.
Also any suggestions on what cam to go with? I know to do some research a bit but i thought i would throw it out there. I would like to be able to drive it around town with out much hassle but also go to the track once in a while.
Thanks,
Dennis

 

There's a rule in hot-rodding:

You get AT MOST, exactly what you pay for. It's mostly downhill from there.

So now, where does that put "free" heads?

Most likely they'll be another set of what you've got... not an improvement.

What's the rest of your combo? (compression, intake, exhaust, etc.)

 

I would normally agree with you except I am friends with this persons son and his wife. They are both looking out for me, this isnt the normal "i can get shotty heads for free" type of deal. I will be there most of the time when they are doing the work as well.
Oh and another thing I would like to say about 'free' is I got my car for free all the conversion was done already and most of it was done crappy so that is why i would like to make it better.

For intake i got the free Edelbrock performer rpm... I have a free edelbrock AVS 650 CFM Carb... I have a uninstalled 3" flowmaster cat back exhaust. (also free from a different deal) I would like to get shorty headers when I do the head swap. (ill pay for these i guess lol) As for the compression wont that depend on the heads/ headgasket that i use?

 

With 882 heads, Keep your expectations modest. (low compression, restricted ports). Without more info on exactly what heads you will be getting its hard to nail down the exact cam. But a cam that will enhance the 882's will work just that much better on good heads. Keep the duration modest. A huge cam is not going to work with stock 882's. 222@.050 duration or less.

Comp cams DEH 275 is not bad. #12-209-2

Crane cams H-272-2 is good too. #113941

Find out the casting numbers of the heads you are getting.
When you switch to new ported heads install 1.6 rockers on the intake side.
Exhaust side will be fine with 1.5's