five liter internal mods

[EMStaxi]

Hey George, I too have a 97 Mountaineer and wish to do some of the mods you have mentioned. I have bee searching for headers and the only company that I think will have them is STEEDA...www.Steeda.com. I havent been able to find out how much they are or where to order them yet. If you don't have an exhaust system yet, and your interested in Borla, goto www.FordRacing.com, goto Fordracing Mall, look up great deals and you see the Borla Catback system (M-5200-FC) for 250.00 Dead Link Removed Can't beat that price. But, you have to order it through a Ford Mototsport dealer (They have a list of dealers to order from). Well good luck in your search and keep me advised Dead Link Removed

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Norman B.
97 Mountaineer 5.0 V8
K&N Airfilter-Modified Airbox with homemade Ram Air
BOSCH PLATINUM +4's
More to Come Before Summer

 

[cmnavajo]

George, your explorer should already have GT-40 heads, though they are referred to as the GT-40P. The only difference between regular GT-40 heads and the ones on your explorer is that the spark plug holes on the GT-40P come more straight out from the head instead of being angled. The reason for this was to clear the exhaust manifolds which are unique to the explorer. If you look at the lower front corner of the passenger side head, it should have the letters GTP printed. Regular GT-40 heads only have the letters GT.
These are good heads and many people are using them on Mustangs now. I would suggest maybe a good port and polish and a good valve job on the heads, roller rocker arms, new springs, a camshaft, and open up the exhaust a little. Port matching and/or Extrude Honing the lower intake manifold should also make quite an improvement coupled with the other mods. As for the upper intake manifold, I am not sure if an aftermarket one would work on an Explorer setup, but the stock upper could probably be ported/Extrude Honed also. With the short block, you could probably do the normal rebuild procedures such as a .030 overbore and good, forged pistons. Would you ever consider putting a supercharger on this engine? If so, you may want to keep the compression a little lower. Personally, I would stick with a 9:1 compression just to keep the supercharger option open for the future, but 10:1 would probably be the max for a street-driven, truck. Along with all the internal mods, you may also want to consider a few external mods to complete the engine such as a slightly larger throttle body and Mass air meter. You may also need larger injectors (I would suggest 24lb/hr), but I don't know what the explorer engines come with from the factory. Just a few of my thoughts and I hope this helps.

Charlie

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Charlie May
1992 Navajo LX 4x4

 

[2mrchio]

Thanks for the info, Charlie. I'll keep this info under my hat when I upgrade to a 5.0 Explorer/Mountaineer... Dead Link Removed

For that matter, couldn't you just switch in a Cobra Intake Manifold?

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Brian Tomarchio
1993 XLT 4x4

[This message has been edited by 2mrchio (edited 03-12-2000).]

 

[Troll]

I have an explorer with about 500 hp and what I did was put a 347 stroker kit in with canfield heads, ported intake, and a blower. If you want real power I would recomend more displacement for your mountainer. For the header problem there is no real answer. I had to have mine custom made because the SVO ones were terible. If you are serious enough about making big power you should get a local company that builds custom headers to build large headers for you. It cost me about $1000 to do that. do not buy SVOs headers because they are just a waist of money. If you have any more questions feel free to ask. I am happy to find other people with goals to make their explorer a sleeper like mine. I frequently toast viper GTS on the street. It is so fun to do it in a car that weighs 4600 pounds, can hual a boat, and can carry 5 people.

 

[sleepy george]

i have a 97 mountaineer. i'd like to build it into a real sleeper. i've built a couple of motors, and have an ok budget. i'm thinking about getting a blown mustang block (as in tired) and working up a good internals package.

initial thoughts: cams? gt 40 heads? 10:1 compression?

it's going to be a daily driver, no racing, nothing too abusive except a lead foot.

also i keep reading about headers, but the sites i visit don't seem to list anything for my beast...

thanks for a great site.

 

[sleepy george]

thanks very much for the info. as suspected, power costs...

i'll look into a stroker kit and good rods, lightweight pistons.

anybody done a whipple on this beast yet?

regards.

 

[V8Pete]

Troll:

What's the scoop on the SVO headers? I know the stock ones are mediocre, but I was hoping these would be an improvement.

Thanks,

Pete

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'96 XLT 2wd V8
K&N, drilled airbox
Flowmaster 50 series w/ 3" pipe
Explorer Express 1 1/2" lowering kit
Edelbrock IAS
Michelin 235/70 X-One
3.08 gears

 

[n5xmt]

Pete,
I had the cracked pass. side manifold... Stock replacement was $355.00 and guaranteed to crack in 20,000 miles... Bought the Motorsports headers for $259.00. BIG seat of the pants difference. Much more responsive at part throttle and it breathes really well at higher RPM's now. Looking at the stockers off the engine, it's amazing this thing ran at all... Flattened out in places to 3/8-1/2 inch across inside.
Definitely worth it and a good bang for the buck!




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1997 E.B. V8 AWD Explorer
Motorsports headers, Magnaflow 3" cat back exhaust, opened air box inlet.

 

[V8Pete]

Thanks much for the input. I've got the rest of the exhaust working pretty well, so it seems a shame to choke it down with poorly designed headers, even if the stock exhaust ports aren't the biggest!

I remember reading, when the V8s first came out, that the reason the factory headers were routed the way they were was because that was the only way to fit 'em, and, as a result, that's why they have all that insulation. So the question is: Any routing complications or melted wiring opportunities with the Motorsport parts?

Thanks again,

Pete

 

[EMStaxi]

n5xmt, Do you have a part number for the Motorsport headers? How did you get them? Did you do the install yourself or had it done? I havent been able to find any for the 5.0

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Norman B.
97 Mountaineer 5.0 V8 AWD
KKM Tru-Rev with Homemade Ram Air
BOSCH PLATINUM +4's
More to Come Before Summer

 

[n5xmt]

Norman,
Part number for the headers is M-9430-E52
I got them from the local Ford dealer for $259.00

 

[Tekeman]

N5XMT: DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR ORIGINAL EXHAUST. I CRACKED THE DRIVERS SIDE. NO LUCK WITH HEADERS AS EVERYONE ELSE. NEED A QUICK FIX. E-MAIL IF YOU WOULD SELL IT!!