what is better for my 96 mustang gt. porting and polishing my stock heads or getting aluminum heads. also could i do a 3v conversion?
Port and polish could give you loads of power depending on how big and clean you want to go. Aluminum heads are nice, they are very expensive and will only disperse heat faster. Although they can warp as well if they are under too much heat. If I had to choose, I would choose the port and polish with a roller rocker rail and a high flow electric water pump. I'm sorry but I'm not sure what a 3v is?
It is hard to beat a set of CNC machined new heads. By the time you pay the machining amd parts cost you may be money ahead to buy the new heads.
Aluminum. They reduce weight and reduce heat!
Your car already has aluminum heads on it. I'm not sure if the 3v heads bolt on and if they did they would expensive. Porting and polishing is not easy and often very expensive. A lot of people do more harm than good. This is not a Gran Turismo game where you click a button. If I were you this is what I would do. 96-98 4.6 heads suck, bottom line. Your car put out 215 HP stock. In 99 Ford starting using what is called the PI head. The horsepower went up to 260 mainly because of the better heads. Search on OKordermotors or look at Ford Racing Parts, they sell the heads brand new for $375 a piece I think plus the intake for around $200. They will do much better than porting your heads and probably cost less too. If you really want to get them ported or get ported heads look into Patriot Peformance, they sell 4.6 heads already ported. Good luck.
