E heads are good, but you will have to use headers or aftermarket round port manifolds.
KRE heads http://www.krepower.com/dport.htm Will bolt right up with existing manifolds, but I would recommend using a long branch manifold to extract the full potential of your investment.
The best brand is speculative and is based totally on what your overall goal for the car is.
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1967 Starlight black PMD Engineering 400 Auto 1968 Alpine Blue 400 4 speed 1968 Verdoro Green 400 HO 4 speed 2013 1LE 2SS/RS Inferno Orange Camaro.
KRE's are more "customizable". Kaufmann will put them together as per your specs, or close to them. They will also help you with those specs, based on your bottom end and desired performance. Regardless of brand, be sure to have a qualified person check them out before installation. Chamber CC's are rarely what is designated....and there is PLENTY of material left for porting(on the KRE's). I had to send a set back due to larger than ordered chamber size. No way to tell without a burette(spelling?).
I'm a hobbyist. Not a professional. Don't be hatin'!
There have been several raging discussions about KRE's vs E-heads over at Classical Pontiac. You might want to do a search over there.
2 of the big points for the Edelbrocks were that they had helicoil inserts (bolts and I think spark plugs?) and the larger chamber E-heads flow more right out of the box compared to the comparable KRE. The conclusion was that you could basically slap the E-heads on but the KRE's needed customizing.
2012 Mustang Boss 302 #1918, Competition Orange. FGF replacement 2006 Mustang V6 Pony, Vista Blue. Factory ordered. 2019 BMW X3 (Titled to the wife, but I'm always driving it for her. So I'm claiming it) Old projects, gone but not forgotten: 1967 FB 400, original CA car. After 22 years of work, trashed by the guy who was supposed to paint it. I had to sell it. 1980 Turbo Trans Am 1970 Mustang fastback, 351C 4Bbl, auto 1988 Mustang GT, 5 speed 1983 F-150 4x4, built 302 1994 Chevy K2500 HD 4x4, 454 TBI
KRE is near Loudonville Ohio although they've got a Glenmont address. I have the E heads because I got a good deal on them and the KRE heads were "in production" at the time. The E's flow more and have more potential as a race head but the KRE heads have a much more modern combustion chamber and flow characteristics that are more ideal for street to street/strip applications. My E heads required 38 degrees of total timing to make max HP while the KRE heads would require around 24. That amounts to a big advantage on a mostly street driven car.
