As with all head installations, check piston-to-valve clearance before final startup. If you're running a stock cam, 1.7 rockers will work perfectly. I would like to know what heads, cam and intake manifold combination to use for the most HP I can squeeze out of that motor. Early Windsors tend to have fairly restrictive exhaust manifolds, making the addition of a set of headers that much more efficient. That's a good combo in my book. The gt40p head is considered the best OEM 302 head made. I'm running stock GT40 heads with stock 4.000 bore on cylinders and a Lunati cam with 256/262; Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 213/219; Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .483/.499; LSA/ICL: 112/108. Just got through porting one of my gt40p heads today. Win or lose, if you buy the ticket you must take the ride. He has worked as a tractor-trailer driver and mechanic, a rigger at a fire engine factory and as a race-car driver and builder. Compare. Thanks. #3::: Do your homework,get quality parts,dont skimp. this head fits years 95-01 explorer mountaineer mercury mountaineer . Well also assume that this engine is running stock exhaust manifolds. I have a 302 Windsor V8 EFI engine that I converted to a 600 cfm carburetor with a Street Warrior intake manifold. I have a 432 HP non Hi Po 289 I built. Test 1: 750-cfm carburetor, dual-plane intake manifold, and stock camshaft. THANKS VERY MUCH! A forum community dedicated to Ford performance owners and enthusiasts. Assorted screwdrivers, pliers and vise-grips. Check my post above. The best thing to do would be to use a specific break-in oil for the first 200 to 300 miles of use to reduce the change of a potential problem with undue wear. Finding Gt40p heads at the junkyard is getting more and more complicated and if you want to upgrade the heads you have to take into account the costs of the machine shop and compare everything to a set of cheap aluminum heads. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I had those on my car before I upgraded and they were nice heads. In a lightweight Fox or early Mustang with a five-speed behind it, this would be a great little street engine. I have a very good running stock 1981 302 in a F100 short box. Not looking for crazy HP. United Engine and Machine sells cheap but decent pistons that will do what you're wanting. In review, we rescued a used 5.0L Ford from the boneyard, ported the heads, added a cam, carburetor, intake manifold, and headers, and pulled an amazing 376 hp out of the mix. The question was whether we wanted a torquey small-block or a more cammed-up rpm engine to boost peak horsepower. As a matter of fact, Central Coast has an '89 coupe with GT-40P heads that has run a best of 11.98 in the quarter-mile. 1.7 shaft rockers and beehives. For those of you running a carb, or aftermarket intake, you already have a leg up in this area and should see even greater gains in power. Best of all, no machining is required to install these on your stock cast iron heads! OR you could put your automotive journalistic skills in motion by reporting on the many new modern components available for the latest generation 351 Cleveland. Not sure how they would mate up to your existing exhuast, but otherwise they should work. The spark plug issue is almost a non-issue. HiPo manifolds and Ill be good. No-option stripper- I like strippers. Depends on the budget. You will have to get special headers to fit these heads since the spark plugs are angled differently than normal 5.0 heads. never messed with the timing, its at 35* total . Well that article just got me very ancy, I want these heads!! I view the GT40P heads similar to Granada brakes. I got rid of the carburetor and went with a F.A.S.T. We bolted the Ford to the dyno with a set of 158-inch long-tube headers and an 18-inch collector extension to help the low-speed torque, then we fired up the small-block. JavaScript is disabled. We were cruising the 'yard a while back and located a 2000 Ford Explorer with an EFI 5.0L V-8 engine. SB Ford GT40 Drop In Valve Springs Kit, Hyd Roller w/ Stock Cam, .450" lift and below. Car Craft mag. Holley 670 street avenger carb. Everything fits, use the stock rockers and pushrods. In an effort to preserve the history of the Early Fox Era, FEP covers the following vehicles: 79-86 Mustang and Capri, 84-86 Mustang SVO, 78-83 Fairmont & Zephyr, 83-86 LTD & Marquis, 80-88 Thunderbird & Cougar, 82-87 Continental, 84-92 Mark VII, 81-82 Granada. They suffered from poor aftermarket support up until about 15 years ago when it really came on strong. We compare the GT40s to modern cylinder heads as well as other heads from the era. Im running stock GT40 heads with stock 4.000 bore on cylinders and a Lunati cam with 256/262; Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 213/219; Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .483/.499; LSA/ICL: 112/108. JEGS High Performance. . I'm sure the dyno operator used some goofball correction factor to make the numbers look higher. Just put some 1.7 pedistal rocker arm on along with a mild camshaft (make sure to use the correct valve springs), you will make over 300 flywheel hp. In addition, the cam timing was designed for torque, with duration somewhere around 190 degrees at 0.050 with roughly 0.450-inch lift. Here is my setup. Holten tells us removing the fan is worth two-tenths in itself, which tells us the fan soaks up roughly 20 hp. This pushed that little Ford to a peak horsepower of 503, and that was where we stopped. This is a common mistake with first-time cam buyers who dont necessarily appreciate that the cam is just one component of the overall engine package. I ran the Speed Pro L2488 pistons and it had me around 9.9 compression with a .041 head gasket, Now I had GT40 heads milled .020 and so that's just a guess on the CC. With nitrous, this is easily a mid-11-second ride. All Ford Mustangs | Model Specific Forums, GT-40P Heads - 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords Magazine. The engine never huffed oil out of the breathers, and the spark plugs all looked excellent. Smith began writing for Car Craft magazine in 1979 and became editor in 1984. The only one that's close, is #7. Ford offered a performance head that was a stock part on 1993-1995 Mustang Cobra models and pre- 1997-1/2 Ford Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers equipped with the 5.0 L engine called the GT-40 head (casting ID F3ZE-AA). $169.50. It runs smooth but seems lazy. Nice to see actual dyno results instead of "butt dyno" guesses. Its funny no one mentioned anything about ignition timing or components, Your email address will not be published. Purchase a set of flat top pistons (from Ford Motorsport, TRW or Keith Black) with machined valve reliefs and designed to provide 10:1 compression with a 59 to 60 cc combustion chamber cylinder head. I'm new and I'm currently building a 302 on a budget and want to raise compression without milling heads but by pistons and I want to get close to 10:1. FORD GT40p 4 BAR HEADS IN GOOD CONDITION . check out the. When building an engine there is a lot to take into consideration. I was thinking the same but the enforcers are $647ea now so $1400 (inc tax) is the entry price for good set of heads. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. SB Ford GT40P Drop In Valve Springs Kit, Hyd Roller w/ Stock Cam, .450" lift and below. Per a UEM tech support email I have the Icon IC736 is supposed to be good for GT40 heads when I asked about it. i've got a short block started, and i recently came across a set of GT40P heads for FREE ( love family members). You might even say its like flogging a dead horse without any animals actually being injured during my moments of sarcasm. If you can get the mentioned GT-40 heads with studs for a good price, that would be good for you. We set the timing to 34 degrees and rejetted the carburetor to get our desired 12.5:1 air/fuel ratio. The factory heads have a boss for the exhaust valve that restricts flow through the exhaust port. LOW-BUCK 302 FORD HEAD UPGRADE Richard Holdener 239K subscribers 189K views 2 years ago WESTECH PERFORMANCE GROUP WHAT'S IT WORTH? Our recommendation would be, rather than change the camshaft, you might want to look into adding a set of long-tube headers and a dual exhaust if the engine is not already so equipped. I'm wondering how these heads will interact with the paxton 1220 sl supercharger I'm trying to put on. You just want to keep it out of detonation. PTP Engineering front suspension and 25540R17s all around. We need a build on a 400+ hp 302/6 build. Paying a premium for a set of GT40P heads or dumping money into some to get their performance to rival aftermarket is not for me. Let us explain. P-heads have a smaller combustion chamber at 59cc, which will bump the compression ratio up on an otherwise-stock 5.0 engine. ***Most important is theStupid question is the one that was never asked!*** We've seen what happens from previous Ford experience when power levels above 500 hp tend to either pop head gaskets or saw blocks in half. These cast piston short-blocks are not quite as good as the forged piston 5.0L that came in Fox-body Mustangs, but the GT40P heads flow much better than earlier 5.0L heads. Im now thinking of adding a cam to match the carb. Some ideas never go out of style. Also, you'll need to get a steel distributor gear to replace the iron gear that is currently on your distributor. I love my setup and it is very strong engine. Purchase any used aftermarket manifold for the 302 that is designed to function in the 3,500 to 6,500 power band. 68 Mustang GT/CS Highland Green, PS, PB & Console, C Code w/C4 & 3.55 8 rear, If you aren't using the GT40P's stock, with maybe a spring upgrade and valve job, they aren't worth it anymore. just curious. Is asking advice for a fairly common situation involving parts with mandatory compatibility between the two for performance and longevity. The GT40 heads are a bit more versatile, working with the 5.4 and 6.8, while the GT40P (Explorer/Mountaineer) heads will only work on the 6.8 due to an interference issue. fordfan289, Aug 27, 2011 Mac and Ford Motorsport both make a GT40P spacific header. This time around, we chose a shining example of this junkyard art form. 302 explorer short block with roughly 80k miles GT40's from a local u pull n pay ($97) weiand x-celerator trick flow stage 1 cam 650 holley double pumper car made 322/329 SAE . If this is beyond your technical ability, you could ask a local machine shop to perform the modifications. Advanced: Daily Deals; Help & Contact; Sell; My eBay Expand My . Manual trans. I'm an old school guy (289 in 65 mustang), and I'm just looking into the new 5.0 engine (roller cam) stuff recently. Aside from the cost of the nitrous itself, this setup should cost you little more than a stock rebuild using all brand new parts. But the part about a cam replacement possibly being a labor intensive undertaking is correct. Pride is built, in your garage, with your two hands. You gave me the info I was looking for, and I really do appreciate it. Ford GT40P 302 5.0L 4 Bar Cylinder Head Assembly Pair w/ 1/2" Head Bolt Hole. When I purchased my "brand new" set of GT40P's, I bought them from an Mustang specific machine shop that used to exist called Central Coast Mustang. With the GT-40P heads you will need to back off the timing a couple degrees and bump up the fuel pressure. Through Central Coast you can have the heads fully prepped for your combination. Despite adding 30 degrees of intake duration, this cam improved torque throughout the entire test from 3,000 rpm on up. Stock valve sizes? 1983 Mustang G.T. Hey Motorheadty,Like your comments,question for ya,I have a 92 convertible,just bought a 5.0 out of a 94 gt that was just freshened up top end,gt40p heads w/new springs etc for the new E303 cam,new FRP roller lifters,Crane 1.7 rockers,hardened push rods,double roller timing set,all put on a bottom end w/104000 miles,needless to say previous owner pulled said engine after 800 miles and now building a 351,I pulled engine down my machinest,putting forged internals in and bolting everything back together,I want to run about a 150 shot N2o,and iam going carb,wondering which intake would be best w/the 150 shot,heard that dual planes might not be the way to go? Then why did you port the heads and how do you know if you made an improvement. Your IP: Good on ya Jeff Smith. Slover primarily focused on the exhaust side of the GT40P heads. 1985 Mustang GT Mild 331 4bbl 5 spd, 1985 SEFI LTD LX AOD. Install a Ford Motorsport E303, X303 or F303 cam, or any of the similar units from Indy, Lunati or your favorite manufacturer. K.S. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Joined . The results were a major increase in power throughout the entire rev range, with an increase of 60hp at 4500rpm through to a peak of 279hp at 5800rpm. You need to check. If the head bolt holes are 1/2" or slightly larger, ARP makes the washers and can be sourced from Ford Racing or ARP through a speed shop or Summit, Jegs and PAW among others. I'm running BBK un-equal length shorty's, and I'm able to get all the plugs in, tight, and all plug wires on. Gasoline/Diesel all makes on earth & still doing it today with great pride.Feel free to contact me anytime. Start with any 302 block, but try to find one from 1985 and up since it will already have provisions for a roller camshaft. This combination should be good for about 400 horsepower and as much as 500 if you opt to use the stronger aftermarket pistons. i know a guy who used to build race engines so he has all the right tools, how much would it help to get the heads ported and polished or anything else he could do to them. Holten's best time is a 12.63 at 105.9 mph, and if we gain the desired result he will be right in the thick of things in Trophy Stock competition. Very true about finding them at the local yards. Ill do springs and a moderate cam and go for a good, dependable power plant. A forum community dedicated to Ford Mustang owners and enthusiasts. Just make sure it is a roller cam. Beyond the engine's amazingly good appearance, Moore had a couple of good reasons for choosing this engine. The heads also required some machine work, including screw-in studs, guideplates, and widening the spring pockets for bigger valvesprings. Horse Sense: The smaller valves found in GT-40P heads improve airflow velocity. These are some of the best castings Ford ever produced for this engine, and are still fairly cheap and available used. Yeah, except those. a) ain't early and b) aren't 289 heads. However there are plenty of factory heads that with the help of an experienced machine shop can be great. I'd get the gt40 setup, and put an s trim on it. He'd be the best source. Build Thread 1965 Fastback Project "Racesteed". 97% Positive Feedback . This modification will help your late-model GT40P heads work better with the old-school carbureted intake setup. Have fun, be safe, enjoy. Perhaps even more surprising was how well this engine idled, calmly purring with 16 inches of manifold vacuum at 980 rpm. Along with the heads, we used MAC headers for GT-40P heads. Here is the lowdown on exhaust manifolds and VALVE SPRINGS. These heads have been remanufactured using refaced reclaimed Factory Valves. Since 2003, Jeff has held various positions at Car Craft (including editor), has written books on small block Chevy performance, and even cultivated an impressive collection of 1965 and 1966 Chevelles. Within a few hours of his discovery, the engine was sitting in the back of his truck on its way to a new home. Compare. well i finally did my first ever carb build, ive always been an EFI guy Black 1985 GT: 408w, in the 6's in the 1/8 mile. We also discovered some issues with the GT40P heads that required changes, so we added valves from Manley that eliminated the exhaust-valve rotators and allowed us to set the proper valvespring installed height. +1 I would go with the regular GT40 heads. How to Build a Budget 383 Stroker Chevy How do I Increase Horsepower on a 440 Cylinder Head Specifications for a 1969 How to Get More Power Out of a 92 4.3 dragster engine image by Robert Young from, Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media. Shop by category. We started with a 120,000-mile 5.0L out of a Ford Explorer, removed the EFI and DIS, and pocket ported the stock GT40P iron heads with stock valve sizes. Over $2050 for the 165/185 renegades. After a couple grand you have a killer set of heads, but there's got to be a less-expensive way of making horsepower. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Scorpion 1.6 roller rockers. We took the heads to Mike Slover of Slover's Porting Service in Sun Valley, California, to do this work, plus some basic pocket-porting to improve flowespecially on the exhaust side. Choose a cylinder head before you install the pistons. On the power side, we selected 400 hp as an impressive but reasonable output for our small-block 5.0L Ford. Rowe studied engineering, philosophy and American literature at Central Florida Community College. As a final goal, we decided to bolt on a simple nitrous system and see if we could push this little small-block Ford to make some real power. I'm also have the regular GT40 heads on my current build. There's not a lot of reson to use 351 heads later than '75 since they essentially identical to 302 heads except for head bolt holes. T5 with 3.73s. 1986 Short block with notched pistons. In a 3,250-pound car like a Mustang with 3.50 gears and an automatic with a 2,800-rpm converter, this 5.0L could pull 12.80s at 108 mph. While we've seen engine dyno tests performed with GT-40P heads replacing factory E7TE castings and resulting in a boost of more than 25 hp, we have reluctantly set our horsepower gain goal at 25 ponies, as well. You didnt mention the car this engine is in, but lets assume there is enough room to remove the radiator and any other coolers and perhaps some or all of the front grille and/or brackets before the cam has sufficient room to exit the front of the engine. Do not ever, ever think about using the tube type manifolds. For additional insurance, we also added a set of ARP head studs, which are stronger and offer better thread overlap than factory bolts, which helps prevent pulling threads out of a used block. Note the head bolt hole issue, some GT40 iron heads had 1/2 holes, if not they will need to be enlarged. Good Luck. Vehicle: 1972 2 door 302 maverick, 1986 5.0 stang gt convertible,66 mustang coupe, HEMI ram. However, theres a distinct possibility that I might pull all of my hair out if I see another in-depth article explaining how I, along with just over a billion other desperate humans seeking answers, need special valve spring split locks for my next tired Chevy build. Not *as* good as the GT40p heads, but I'd prefer to not have to worry about exhaust fitment issues, or have a narrow range of what I can work with. For real performance, stock E7TE heads leave a lot to be desired. Mar 23, 2004. I don't need tons of power to enjoy the car. axial resolution ultrasound, lund sport track accessories catalog, coconut tastes like soap,