difference in 99 verse 2000-up continental heads?

[GT350R]

Ok, motors out and looking at doing a higher compression , C head , n/a motor.


So looking around, there are obviously great deals on Conti C heads.


Problem is. Everyone only mentions the 1999 heads. Nothing about the 2000-up heads. They do have different Hollander interchange numbers when you look them up on a parts finder.


Why? Are they different castings? cams? Anyone?


I would be reusing my 96 Cobra exhaust and SHM intake "blower" cams I am guessing.


Just afraid to buy them and find out somethings wrong after they are in the car.


(FWIW) I tried searching. It says "continental" is too long to search, and "C" is too short "

 

[GT350R]

*crickets*

 

[SonicBlueOval]

I haven't responded because I don't know this 100%, but I would say they are the same exact heads. Ford only has a few different head castings along the entire 4.6/5.4 modular engine line and I would highly doubt they would spend any money making special changes to the cylinder heads used on the last couple years of the lincoln continental. So, I am 99.99% sure they are exactly the same.

 

[MrBrain]

Looking in my 4.6L performance book by Sean Hyland he lists seven types of heads for DOHC:
'96-'98 B-port (flow at .500" in/out 231/146)
'99-'01 Tumble port (flow at .500" in/out 225/145)
'03 Cobra (shared with Mach1, flow at .500" in/out 233/169)
5.4 Tumble port (Navigator, flow at .500" in/out 218/153)
FR500 (flow at .500" in/out 228/162)
'00 Cobra R (flow at .500" in/out 268/206)
Ford GT/GT500 (flow at .500" in/out 274/213)

The '99 might look worse than '98 heads, but the '99 have better flow at lower lift. I also looked in a 4.6L Rebuild book and they neither mentioned any other tumble port than the '99 and 5.4 Navi.

Maybe some bolt holes for the timing cover or minor thing like that can differ? The timing cover seems to be found in a bazillion different castings.

 

[SonicBlueOval]

Maybe some bolt holes for the timing cover or minor thing like that can differ? The timing cover seems to be found in a bazillion different castings.

Only real differences with the timing covers on modulars are whether is short or tall (4.6/5.4) and where the accessories sit (belt routing). In terms of bolt difference, there is one bolt placement that is different on the iron blocks compared to factory aluminum blocks, and therefor timing covers for aluminum blocks and iron are different. So the bolts wont differ since the block in the continental is the same aluminum one those years, and all the heads actually have the same bolt holes on the front for the timing cover.

BTW - That sean hyland book does a pretty good job of laying out differences in the motors over the years, there are some small things that need updating and some things left out, but anyone that mods their mustang should own that book :thumbsup:

 

[99SVT3753]

If you can grab 99s instead of 01s take them .. the 01s had bad threads that loved to pop out the spark plugs (sorta like the 03/04 3V Tritons).
If you can locate Navi-heads - those are even better
Then I'd choose the 03/04 Cobra heads.
This is all dependant upon the cans you use of course. Most like the 03/04 better, but I love porting out the Navi heads because of the cooling jacket between the exhaust ports.
The heads 99-04 are interchangeable between the 4.6/5.4 -- the blocks are (but see SonicBlueOval's response above) .. I converted my 4.6 to a 5.4 running ported 99 Navi heads and the gains are awesome to say the least.

 

[na svt]

There is no difference in conti heads from 99-up.

The ports in the navi heads are way too big for the stock intake runners and are the third best choice behind 99/01(#2) and 03/04 (#1) heads. Bigger ports are not always better and this is a great example. If navi heads are so good they would be used on all the 4.6 race engines...they are not.

 

[birdman941]

Navi heads are not better IMHO.
200-2002 Conti heads are the same but the cams are different vs. Cobra.

Cams

Note: on numbers stamped on cams (engineering number)
RH intake cams basic eng. Number is always 6A270
LH intake cams basic eng. Number is always 6A271
RH exhaust basic eng. Number is always 6A272
LH exhaust basic eng. Number is always 6A273

1996-1998 Cobra

Passenger Intake Cam F6ZE-6A270-AA
Passenger Exhaust Cam F2LE-6A272-AE
Driver Intake Cam F6ZE-6A271-AA
Driver Exhaust Cam F2LE-6A273-AE

2001 Cobra

RH intake YF3Z 6250-BA Eng. Number YF3E-6A270-BB
RH exhaust YF3Z 6250-AA Eng. number YF3E-6A272-AB
LH intake YF3Z 6250-CA Eng. Number YF3E-6A271-BB
LH exhaust YF3Z 6250-DA Eng. Number YF3E-6A273-AB


1999 Cobra and Continental

RH intake XR3Z 6250-AA XR3E-6A270-AD
RH exhaust F3LY 6250-C F2LE-6A272-AG
LH intake XR3Z 6250-BA XR3E-6A271-AD
LH exhaust F3LY 6250-D F2LE-6A273-AG


2000 – 2002 continental

RH intake YF3Z 6250-BA
RH exhaust YF3Z 6250-AA
LH intake YF3Z 6250-CA
LH exhaust YF3Z 6250-DA

 

[SonicBlueOval]

Navi heads are not better IMHO.
200-2002 Conti heads are the same but the cams are different vs. Cobra.

Cams

Note: on numbers stamped on cams (engineering number)
RH intake cams basic eng. Number is always 6A270
LH intake cams basic eng. Number is always 6A271
RH exhaust basic eng. Number is always 6A272
LH exhaust basic eng. Number is always 6A273

1996-1998 Cobra

Passenger Intake Cam F6ZE-6A270-AA
Passenger Exhaust Cam F2LE-6A272-AE
Driver Intake Cam F6ZE-6A271-AA
Driver Exhaust Cam F2LE-6A273-AE

2001 Cobra

RH intake YF3Z 6250-BA Eng. Number YF3E-6A270-BB
RH exhaust YF3Z 6250-AA Eng. number YF3E-6A272-AB
LH intake YF3Z 6250-CA Eng. Number YF3E-6A271-BB
LH exhaust YF3Z 6250-DA Eng. Number YF3E-6A273-AB


1999 Cobra and Continental

RH intake XR3Z 6250-AA XR3E-6A270-AD
RH exhaust F3LY 6250-C F2LE-6A272-AG
LH intake XR3Z 6250-BA XR3E-6A271-AD
LH exhaust F3LY 6250-D F2LE-6A273-AG


2000 – 2002 continental

RH intake YF3Z 6250-BA
RH exhaust YF3Z 6250-AA
LH intake YF3Z 6250-CA
LH exhaust YF3Z 6250-DA

Good info there.

Btw Birdman - the thought of your car keeps me up some nights lol :rockon:

 

[GT350R]

Damn , never notifed me that there were posts here.

If I pick up heads this weekend, (have a line on a whole Conti motor) , I will add the engineering numbers for those cams.

I might have figured something out.
The Holander number is the same for 2000-2002. Just 99 is different. I have read that 99's had the adapter to use the old "b" style intake. Well the Holander considers the IMRC (delete adapters) as part of the head. So that would be a reason why the 99's have a different interchange then the 00-up.

I am aware of the thread problem. But i figure I can helicoil them before installing and have a strong piece at a much cheaper price. I am looking at a whole 28k motor for 450 bucks. I figure I can sell off what I dont use to even bring that down further. Rather then spend 600 on just heads.

For cams. It is supposed to have SHM blower cams. I need to put a magnetic pick up indicator on them to see if thats true, and if so, what they are. I will end up using those, unless they would be terrible N/A cams. If thats the case, i will look for stock 96-98 Cobra cams I guess.

 

[98cobrancali]

I just bought some 00 continental heads and it ended up being a 99 motor for an early model 00 and they have the same casting number as the 99 cobra heads

 

[GT350R]

Anyone have an opinion on what cams are better? 99 Cobra/Conti or the 2000-up Conti/01 cobra ?

Or spring or valve details that should be avoided?