Wagon Queen Family Truckster.

[Eye of the Tiger]

What I'd rather do is find a set of GT40 heads, and the intake from a 5.0 Explorer or an aftermarket one and then a set of shorty headers and then put a flowmaster on it. With the stock cam.

I know a guy with a V8 Exploder that is falling apart, except the engine runs great.

[Soup DeVille]

I know a guy with a V8 Exploder that is falling apart, except the engine runs great.

I'm thinking I've a fair chance of finding most of what I'd need at the local pick-a-part. If I can spare a day come spring, that's what I'll do.

[SVT32V]

The later explorer 5.0 heads were better, they are stamped GT40P earlier ones are just GT40.

[Soup DeVille]

The later explorer 5.0 heads were better, they are stamped GT40P earlier ones are just GT40.

Everything I've seen says its pretty much a wash between the two for most purposes besides fitting the headers. GT40Ps tend to go cheaper, but the place I'd go to doesn't care. They charge the same price for pretty much all heads- just like they charge a set fee for any V8- which is like $350.

[SVT32V]

Yeah, I doubt the power would be all that different. IRC, the P version had spark plug location issues relative to the exhaust headers/manifolds making them less friendly. Then again my pushrod 5.0 knowledge is getting old.

[Soup DeVille]

Yeah, I doubt the power would be all that different. IRC, the P version had spark plug location issues relative to the exhaust headers/manifolds making them less friendly. Then again my pushrod 5.0 knowledge is getting old.

It jives with everthing I've heard so far: although I've yet to physically take a look at either of them, so we'll see.

[GoCougs]

Without bumping up CR and lower gears bigger heads/cam are gonna kill performance.

[Soup DeVille]

Without bumping up CR and lower gears bigger heads/cam are gonna kill performance.

Yes, thank you Cougs.

[mzziaz]

CR?

[MrH]

CR?

Compression ratio.

[Eye of the Tiger]

CR?

Civic Renaissance ______________

[SVT32V]

The explorer GT40P 5.0 (late 90s) only has 9.05 to 1 CR, soups has 8.9 to 1, not a big difference. The cam will be the limiting factor hurting performance.

[Eye of the Tiger]

The explorer GT40P 5.0 (late 90s) only has 9.05 to 1 CR, soups has 8.9 to 1, not a big difference. The cam will be the limiting factor hurting performance.

Yeah but also valves and ports and things.
A turbo could fix everything, of course. Imagine boosting that thing to 1 bar - ?Maybe 300,HP @ 3000 RPM.

[SVT32V]

I would expect soup to get the complete heads from the GT40 explorer, so valves/heads/intake would be the same as the 205 hp explorer.

Turbos would be nice, add a set t-bird turbos and cam 400+hp.

[Soup DeVille]

Yeah but also valves and ports and things.
A turbo could fix everything, of course. Imagine boosting that thing to 1 bar - ?Maybe 300,HP @ 3000 RPM.

Cougs is right; it's completely ridiculous to think that I could get more power or better mileage from my 24 year old engine without rebuilding every single thing on it. Nobody has ever gotten more than 150 HP from a 302 Windsor before: nobody knows anything about this super rare, extremely high tech engine.

I would be foolish to do anything more than change the oil on it.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Everything I've seen says its pretty much a wash between the two for most purposes besides fitting the headers. GT40Ps tend to go cheaper, but the place I'd go to doesn't care. They charge the same price for pretty much all heads- just like they charge a set fee for any V8- which is like $350.

In that case, you should pick up a used LS9. Chevy power ftw.

[Soup DeVille]

I would expect soup to get the complete heads from the GT40 explorer, so valves/heads/intake would be the same as the 205 hp explorer.

Turbos would be nice, add a set t-bird turbos and cam 400+hp.

I would either take the whole engine, or at least the entire top end from the heads up, and the ECM.

I wouldn't replace the engine, as I have really good compression right now on a low mileage car, but having the whole thing let's me take all the little parts too, which often become just as much of a hassle.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Cougs is right; it's completely ridiculous to think that I could get more power or better mileage from my 24 year old engine without rebuilding every single thing on it. Nobody has ever gotten more than 150 HP from a 302 Windsor before: nobody knows anything about this super rare, extremely high tech engine.

I would be foolish to do anything more than change the oil on it.

Disconnect the smog pump and index your spark plugs. Instant +50 HP.

[Soup DeVille]

In that case, you should pick up a used LS9. Chevy power ftw.

Yeah, well if one of them shows up at this junkyard, I would. I'd have to think ultra cherry stuff like that never even makes it to the lot though.

[Soup DeVille]

I would expect soup to get the complete heads from the GT40 explorer, so valves/heads/intake would be the same as the 205 hp explorer.

Turbos would be nice, add a set t-bird turbos and cam 400+hp.

I don't need or really want anything that hot for this car, but 240-250 would be nice.

[280Z Turbo]

Just mill the heads when you have them off.

[280Z Turbo]

Also, I think a GT40 engine is a good idea. 427 power!

[Eye of the Tiger]

Grab a 460 out of an old F350. Excellent value.

[Secret Chimp]

Look, I could be a wagon twin:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/4263744152.html

[MrH]

Look, I could be a wagon twin:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/4263744152.html

Those rear seats are awesome. Does that seat just two in the back, or 4?

[Soup DeVille]

Those rear seats are awesome. Does that seat just two in the back, or 4?

Just two: and two small people at that. But, I've had three a few times now.

[MX793]

Cougs is right; it's completely ridiculous to think that I could get more power or better mileage from my 24 year old engine without rebuilding every single thing on it. Nobody has ever gotten more than 150 HP from a 302 Windsor before: nobody knows anything about this super rare, extremely high tech engine.

I would be foolish to do anything more than change the oil on it.

If it was possible to get more power or efficiency from that motor without major reconstructive work to the internals, Ford would have sold it that way from the factory.

[SVT32V]

I don't need or really want anything that hot for this car, but 240-250 would be nice.

Seems reasonable, the 1995 mustang cobra 302 with the gt40 heads/intake (cobra specific cam) with 9.0 to 1 CR made about that hp.

Although unlike the '95 cobra, your engine most likely has boost friendly forged pistons, seems a shame for that to go to waste.

[GoCougs]

Cougs is right; it's completely ridiculous to think that I could get more power or better mileage from my 24 year old engine without rebuilding every single thing on it. Nobody has ever gotten more than 150 HP from a 302 Windsor before: nobody knows anything about this super rare, extremely high tech engine.

I would be foolish to do anything more than change the oil on it.

Nah, just kinda foolish to see your first timer mistakes in the making. In a big ole smog led sled like that you'd be foolish to not start with gearing first. Bigger heads, cam and the creme de la creme of first timer mistakes, HEADERS, might be sound sexy but it's gonna kill your low end trying to push smog gears.

[Soup DeVille]

Nah, just kinda foolish to see your first timer mistakes in the making. In a big ole smog led sled like that you'd be foolish to not start with gearing first. Bigger heads, cam and the creme de la creme of first timer mistakes, HEADERS, might be sound sexy but it's gonna kill your low end trying to push smog gears.

Ahh, one day I just might be as all knowing as you.

You don't even know what gears I'm running now, but you automatically know they're wrong. It's brilliant I tell you.

If you were to read, you'd see that I repeatedly am not interested in changing the cam, and if you'd do some research you'd find that the heads I've mentioned flow better but have close to the same valve sizes as the stock ones; and that the exhaust on these is overly restrictive.

You're acting like I'm installing a race cam and a set of long tube headers on a bus; and I just love the "first timer" comment. OK, first time with a Ford engine for sure. A couple of Cadillac mills, a Chevy stroker and a handful of old school VWs though make it definitely NOT a first timer project except for the details.