If you get the first book by Barry Robotnick it is a really good reference for rebuilding your engine.
Avoid the book by Steve Christ, it contains a “FE Identification” section that is complete BS. That book is the source of most of the bad FE parts identification charts found across the internet. Because it sounds scholarly a lot of otherwise well meaning folks have been duped into using it as a reference of sorts. Steve is a former Cougar GT-E owner who wrote the book as he was collecting information to try and find the original 427 engine (or one like it). He was fed bad information that ended up being published and re - published for the past 50 years.
I agree with Catlover. The Edelbrock heads are the way to go. You can buy a new set for about 1600.00 to your door. I spent over 1400.00 on a set of C6AE-R heads with valves, springs, a little porting and reconditioning. The Edelbrocks drop the weight by 50 lbs on the front end and with shock tower issues it’s a wise choice. Be sure to pick up the oil restrictors from Precision Oil Pumps and DO NOT install them out of the box. Have a competent machine shop go over them. Too many with piss-poor valve jobs. They also flow much better than a CJ head.
-Keith
If you’re going to have a custom cam ground go with SLR- Steve Long Racing Cams.
Randy Gillis and I know him well. He did the cam for my Shelby. I have power brakes so I wanted something right on the edge that would still make enough vacuum for power brakes. He doesn’t use crap Chinse cores like Comp and most others and the surfaces have a process done to them I have never had one flat lobe. I can’t say that for Crane, Schnider, Lunatti or Comp Cams.
I had to replace a block that was machined incorrectly and Steve resurfaced the lifters and re-coated the cam. It broke in perfectly a second time.
I can’t say enough about him, his quality products and his service.
Steve Long Camshafts
119 N Maple St Ste H, Corona, CA, 92880
(951) 273-0816