Heads-Cam-Intake? 96 5.0

[AndyHughes]

I have a 96 5.0 X. Ive got a buddy that has some GT40 Heads and some hoooker Shorties. Im looking to drag this one. What else do you guys recommend me do and are these 2 a good idea? Thanks a lot guys,
Andy

P.S. Does any one know what the factory gears are. Someone told me 273's. But i dont think thats right.

 

[james t]

your factory gears should be 3:73's, there will be a tag on the rear that says so. dont dump the stock gt-40p iron heads for the gt-40 aluminum ones. aluminum may look trick, but your stock heads were actually an improvement over the al. gt-40's. better shaped combustion chamber, spark plug in the middle of the chamber, etc.

 

[AndyHughes]

Yea thats what Ive been hearing... . OK, I Have a question for you, I wanna spend between 1000 and 2k$ and I want to get as many HP as I can from this. What do I do.

Ps. My friend has and 89 5.0 Gt. DO you have any idea if his shorties will fit on my X.?
Thanks a lot man,
Andy

 

[james t]

between $1k and 2K? heres what you do. we'll call this the "budget buildup." this is basically what i am doin to my X. go buy a high flow muffler (i like flowmaster) and have an exhaust shop make you a cat-back system. this will save some dough. go buy a K&N filter, and cut the factory airbox in half. i left the back part of the airbox on to work as a "heat shield". then, a Pro-M or Granetelli mass air sensor, and get an engine programer. (hypertech, diablo, whoever you prefer). dont forget to run a 180 thermostat and high octane gas with the programmer. then, check into getting a new cam and lifters, and some roller rockers. go with 1.6 rockers, not the 1.7's. if you can do the cam yourself, or get it done cheap, this will put you at the outer edge of $2k. the cam is were you will really wake the motor up. the stock one is a turd. replace lifters while you are in there, because if yours are not ticking already, they will be soon. go with the ford motorsport E-303 cam, or i can recomend one of the Comp cams. i just got one the other day (it will be this spring before i put it in) and from what i have been told it will work a little better than the E cam. if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

 

[james t]

i almost forgot, i have no idea about the shortie headers. i know that someone on this board has some kind of ford motorsport headers; maybe they can help you out. i wouldnt bother replacing the stock headers until you get on up in the HP, even with the restrictive "dimples" in them, they still arent as bad as a cast exhuast manifold. unless the shorties will work and you can get them cheap. BTW, i was on the phone with JBA the other day, they dont make headers for a 5.0 X (although he said he could get me a part # of some that will work). the guy said they dynoed an X with a cat back system and intake; the headers only made 4 Hp.

 

[AndyHughes]

Awesom bud, Thanks a lot for all the help. Im thinking im going to do exactly what u suggested. Ill let you know what I order. Thanks again
Andy!

If anything else comes to mind. Let me know im all ears ,

 

[AndyHughes]

Oh man, I almmost forgot.. My X is an auto,, If i go with the E-303 cam will I have to change my factroy stall?

Thanks again,
Andy

 

[james t]

it wouldnt hurt, but na you dont have to. let me get a part # on one of the Comp cams for you. both my stang expert friend and my engine builder said they make a dual stage? or something or other cam that will work better than the E cam in a X. it has a really stout low-end power band while also having a little better top end than the E cam. supposedly better for a heavy X. the one i just ordered wont be the one you want; its basically the same its just a different grind for running a supercharger. ill get back to you. but if you want, there is nothing wrong with the E cam. talk to expo5.0, he has one in his X.

 

[james t]

ok, here you go. Compcams #35-308-8 has 1200-5200 rpm powerband and has good idle. #35-310-8 has 1500-5500 rpm powerband and has a very SLIGHTLY lopey idle, but not much. either of these should work good in your X. if you want, you can go to compcams.com and fill out a recomendation form with all of the mods you plan on doing and they will recomend a grind for you.

 

[AndyHughes]

Ah man, Awesom information. Im going to go fill out a form and see what they say about the cam. Im looking for a good ranged cam - wanting to stay away from high rpm bands. But I do want a slighty rought idle. . Dont want a heavy lope hah!.

Heres what Im looking at doing. Gt-40 Alu heads- milled , roller rockers-lifters-push rods-Cold air cut out- Shorties-power programmer, cam, and new stall .

Not the best improvment on the head swap but im getting them for free, Man i really appriciate all of the help. Keep it coming im learning a lot.
Thanks,
Andy

 

[AndyHughes]

Oh man -- Will twisted wedge heads bolt up to my stock maninfolds? And or do they make headers that will bolt up to some twisted wedge heads?

 

[jjue]

Be sure that you can plant your traction. I went to the track today, and with new plug wires, bilstein shocks, shift kit, dryer hose replacing the silencer, brand new Pirelli Scorpion AT tires, and running them at 22 psi, I couldn't match my best 16.496 1/4 time when bone stock since I couldn't keep from wheelhopping. I made that 16.4 pass leaving at idle. I started to get less wheelhop when I loaded up the converter some today, but this thing is definitely leaving harder. If I could get traction, I might actually have a better ET & get past 81 mph.

 

[EZEric81]

It's been a few months now, but I was just curious if Andy went through with this 5.0 project? It sounded like a nice plan at the time, just wondering if it ever happened...

 

[section525]

Buuump.

 

[plrs x45]

gt 40 heads

do not go with the gt 40 heads over the iron ones. the differences are negligable unless you spend 1k on porting. go with bigger valves and you are set (if you are on a budget)