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2018 heads on my gen 2

Turbotyla

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As the title states, I’m looking at putting 2018 heads on my sleeved gen 2 shortblock.

Yes, I understand what I’m getting into. But I am still curious so I wanted to open the discussion.

So from what I’ve figured out the coolant and oil ports line up and will work. There are actually people running gen3 shortblocks with gen1/2 heads. Then figure out blocking off the direct injection ports. Either leave the injectors in or have a plug tig welded into place.

The only thing I don’t think will work is on the gen3 engines the cam shaft sensors were moved from the back of the head into the valve covers. And the exhaust phaser sensor was relocated onto a tone ring on the camshaft as well. Not in the original place, So that leaves a couple options.

1. Bolt 2018 heads onto my block and time it plug all the sensors in and hope and pray the sensors and tone ring differences don’t mean anything at the ecu. Very unlikely.


2 . Run the 2018 cams locked out. It’s a boosted setup. This would require me making some block off and gutting the hpfp.
But this is the option with the best odds of working.

3. Buy the 2018 harness and ecu and just try to run the direct injection. Also unlikely it will work.


Its just a discussion because I’m looking into head options for my setup and ford has no eta on gen 2 driver side heads. This is all just theory but I’d like to see if anyone has any information.
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arghx7

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I'll be nice. Can you give us insight into your cost vs benefit analysis ?
 

arghx7

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Ok, let me put it another way. What makes you think they're better heads for your application? How do the benefits of these heads, which are designed for N/A (NOT boosted) direct injection (plus port), outweigh the costs of dealing with a high pressure fuel pump, new ECU, all the hassle involved with putting DI into a vehicle that never came with it from the factory?

Why not just port the ones you have?
 
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Turbotyla

Turbotyla

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I currently don’t have useable heads. So they’re not factored into this.

And after searching for a set of heads and realizing that ford has no eta on the driver side gen 2 heads this was just an idea.

They’re better flowing heads than gen 2 and have bigger valves. I think blocking the direct port off and running cam lockouts would be the best option. Or the one that might work.

I don’t know that I would say there is a benefit outside of learning to see if it works and I would end up with a good set of heads that are available.
 

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arghx7

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Is this turbo? You want to lock the Ti-VCT to fixed cam? Do you care about spool or low end at all, because that's going to really hurt it.
 

Rjames18

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If I'm not mistaken I thought the water jackets don't line up 100%
 
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Turbotyla

Turbotyla

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It all depends on how you degree the cams.

I could in theory really hurt the spool for higher hp.

But I could also time the cams to help will spool sacrificing high end power.

I could also run aftermarket camshafts.
 

arghx7

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You can degree the cams for low end torque, you can degree the cams for high end power, or you can keep the VVT and get both...
 
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Turbotyla

Turbotyla

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I understand this. And that’s exactly what I just said.

If I bought 2018 heads idk if I could get the vct to work.
 

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arghx7

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So don't get a 2018 heads, get some 2015-2017 heads, port them and get the benefit of flow and VVT without the hassle of trying to shoehorn the '18 spec in.
 

ahl395

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So don't get a 2018 heads, get some 2015-2017 heads, port them and get the benefit of flow and VVT without the hassle of trying to shoehorn the '18 spec in.
Part of the issue which he said though is that the gen 2 heads arent currently available through Ford.

OP, see if someone else has the heads? MMR or another aftermarket? Probably not worth the hassle for the gen 3 heads IMO. You could spend a whole bunch of money and not be able to get anything to work right.
 

Strokerswild

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Ported Gen 2 or GT350, FTW.
 
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Turbotyla

Turbotyla

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Gt350 are over priced and not worth the hassle themselves.

Obviously getting gen 2 heads would be the easiest solution. That’s not a hard thought to come up with here.

I made the thread to discuss this option not just say. Buy other stuff lol.
 

Jetnoise

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