GT40 to GT40P swap

[Limited97]

I have a 97 5.0, unfortunately made before the switch to GT40P heads according to the build date. i am considering buying a set of P heads to install, as it needs to come apart for head gaskets anyway.

What i would like to know is; would this be a direct swap, or am i into some work?
and is there anything i should be doing while the heads are off?

 

[Electrohacker]

you're gunna have to swap the intake too, the whole EGR system is different

 

[techieman33]

Don't waste your money on gt40p's. It could go a lot further in the form of a cold air intake, exhaust, headers, custom computer tune, etc.

 

[Limited97]

Well I have a set of heads lined up for $150, so this is a cheap option for me.
And I want to swap the heads because they have to come off anyway to do the head gaskets.
My concern is having to swap all the manifolds because i have very little money.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

you're gunna have to swap the intake too, the whole EGR system is different

And the exhaust manifolds. The GT40 exhaust manifolds will not fit the GT40P heads.

 

[Limited97]

I was afraid of that, thanks for the replies, looks like GT40P's aren't in the cards just yet.

 

[nrschaaf]

Hey guy's, figured I'd revive this one with a new question. Aside from the intake/exhaust manifolds, will the GT-40P heads bolt right on the GT-40 engine? I was mostly concerned with valve clearance. One of the difference I beleive is the smaller combustion chamber and I didn't know if the valves could be in a different position. I know the guy that I bought them from asked me if I planned on using them on a 302 or a 351 so I assume it won't be an issue but I wanted to be sure.

 

[Steeda90GT]

Coming from the Mustang world here, I'm not quite sure why you would go through the hassle to do this? The P heads are going to require so much little odds and ends to get them to work. Mustang folk actually do the opposite, and look for regular GT40 heads.

 

[nrschaaf]

Really, I didn't know that. This project is actualy not for an explorer. Its for an explorer 302 that is getting carbed and shoved in an old project for awhile. I bought the heads a few months ago for a different project that wound up getting a new engine anyway and I'm really just looking for something to justify my 400 dollars. So is there really no benifit from the p heads?

 

[windsors03cobra]

No cast non exploder manifold will fit on the P heads so if you plan on using that then its surely a no go, there are expensive p specific headers that fit the P head, most regular Windsor headers can be made to fit the different and tight spark plug placement of the P head but must be "massaged" read heated with a hot wrench and whacked with a hammer.

The heads are interchangeable to the Windsor block with no interference.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Mustang folk actually do the opposite, and look for regular GT40 heads.

Really? Not all of them...

 

[ExDude]

 

[nrschaaf]

I had no idea about the intake manifold, that kinda blows. I was expecting issues on the exhaust side, but I was prepared for that hell. Well guess I won't be getting my moneys worth out of them in the long run.

 

[Steeda90GT]

Really? Not all of them...

I did say most of them, not all of them. I know there's exceptions to every rule

I've been in the Mustang scene for 20 years, and nearly every regular GT40 head for sale thread on the Mustang sites always boast how they're NOT P heads. Regular GT40 heads usually fetch more than P heads as well.

Just like windsors03cobra mentioned, most Mustang folk don't want to deal with the hassles.