• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech

5.0 Explorer heads don't work?!?!

  • Thread starter Thread starter earleys94gt
  • Start date Start date Apr 4, 2006
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last

earleys94gt

Active Member
Aug 31, 2003
1,223
16
49
Ashley, Ohio
Apr 4, 2006
#1
  • Apr 4, 2006
  • #1
So I called the junk yard today to see about some heads off a 5.0 Explorer. When I told the guy what I was looking for, he told me that the heads on a 5.0 Explorer will not work on a 5.0 mustang. He said the way the exhaust manifolds bolt to the heads, that these heads are "seperate" from other 5.0's and will not work on a Mustang.
Is there any truth to this, or is the junk yard guy wrong?
 

84convertablegt

New Member
Nov 6, 2004
589
0
0
Columbus, OH
Apr 4, 2006
#2
  • Apr 4, 2006
  • #2
hes wrong, u just need special gt40 p headers
 

Joes95GT

New Member
Jan 23, 2003
3,132
1
0
Delaware
Apr 4, 2006
#3
  • Apr 4, 2006
  • #3
earleys94gt said:
So I called the junk yard today to see about some heads off a 5.0 Explorer. When I told the guy what I was looking for, he told me that the heads on a 5.0 Explorer will not work on a 5.0 mustang. He said the way the exhaust manifolds bolt to the heads, that these heads are "seperate" from other 5.0's and will not work on a Mustang.
Is there any truth to this, or is the junk yard guy wrong?
Click to expand...
They bolt down perfectly fine whether they are GT40's or GT40P's.

P's require specific headers that you can buy to make them work, regular 40's don't and can use stock manifolds.

Joe
 
D

Danman765432

Member
Mar 3, 2006
471
0
16
Nutley, NJ
Apr 5, 2006
#4
  • Apr 5, 2006
  • #4
Really don't listen to people at junkyards. One time a guy told me that 94-98 mustang body parts weren't interchangeable.
 

SeventyMach1

Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep
Mar 30, 2005
1,940
3
36
North Carolina
Apr 5, 2006
#5
  • Apr 5, 2006
  • #5
THEY WILL WORK!!!



However, depending on what year Explorer you're talking about .... it will either have GT40 heads ... or GT40P heads. In mid-1997, Ford started using the "P" heads.

They both work, but the GT40P's work better with special "P-specific" headers. You don't HAVE to use those headers, though. You CAN use regular Mustang headers, but you'll have to modify your spark plug boots, or get a different style of boot. Do a search on it in the regular 5.0 Tech section on here. Several guys over there have used the "P" heads with regular headers.
 

95snoozer

Active Member
Dec 14, 2002
2,572
1
48
RCR
Apr 5, 2006
#6
  • Apr 5, 2006
  • #6
Ps do NOT require P specific headers

But you arent running Equal length shorties!
If you want shorties... goahead and pick up the P shorties.

For long tubes, BBKs and MACs will work.
 
O

outlawjay

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 2, 2004
104
7
19
Atlanta
Apr 5, 2006
#7
  • Apr 5, 2006
  • #7
He is wrong. And for an extra tip, never tell the junkyard you're looking for Mustang parts, you will get charged a premium, even if the parts are off an Explorer. Next time just tell them your moms explorer took a dump and she's looking to get it back on the road for as cheap as possible.
 
9

95ConvGT

New Member
Jan 25, 2006
65
0
0
Norfolk,Va
Apr 5, 2006
#8
  • Apr 5, 2006
  • #8
Yeah just like when i went to a car lot to look at a truck so i could use it to haul the stang and my mr2. I don't speak spanish so the price they told me and the downpayment was ridiculous. Then i had my friend ask and he is from venezula and they quoted him have the price they told me
 

69clark

Founding Member
Sep 25, 2002
731
7
18
Ravena, NY
Apr 5, 2006
#9
  • Apr 5, 2006
  • #9
Sounds as though he was referring to the p style heads, so he is kinda right in thought, but completely wrong in saying they won't work.
 

earleys94gt

Active Member
Aug 31, 2003
1,223
16
49
Ashley, Ohio
Apr 6, 2006
#10
  • Apr 6, 2006
  • #10
Thanks for the input guys. I did find out the heads he was telling me about were "p" heads, so thats why they "would not work...".

Do any of you guys know what kind of plug wires I will need if I get the "p" heads? Are they a certain angle(like 45* or 90* or something like that)???
 

95snoozer

Active Member
Dec 14, 2002
2,572
1
48
RCR
Apr 6, 2006
#11
  • Apr 6, 2006
  • #11
90, like chevies and you can run almost any header except an equal length, which sucks anywayys because they burn wires no matter what
 

SeventyMach1

Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep
Mar 30, 2005
1,940
3
36
North Carolina
Apr 6, 2006
#12
  • Apr 6, 2006
  • #12
95snoozer said:
90, like chevies and you can run almost any header except an equal length, which sucks anywayys because they burn wires no matter what
Click to expand...

Yeah, what he said. Just get some un-equal length shorty headers or long tube headers for a Mustang .... and use 90 degrees boots. You should be fine.
 

OrangeMustangGt

Founding Member
Mar 7, 2002
1,976
0
36
Cape Cod, MA
Apr 6, 2006
#13
  • Apr 6, 2006
  • #13
im willing to bet that they WILL work....
 

95Vert

New Member
Aug 19, 2004
1,785
0
0
North Mexico (deep south Texas)
Apr 6, 2006
#14
  • Apr 6, 2006
  • #14
I just want to make a post and not say anything cause everyone else already did. But just in case, I'm running a set, soooooo.........
 

95Vert

New Member
Aug 19, 2004
1,785
0
0
North Mexico (deep south Texas)
Apr 6, 2006
#15
  • Apr 6, 2006
  • #15
I'll even go further with it, YOU CAN EVEN USE THE INTAKE, IT'S JUST LIKE A COBRA INTAKE WITH A FOX TB, AND IT'S 65MM.
 

SWYZ721

Member
Aug 24, 2004
208
0
16
Ann Arbor, MI
Apr 6, 2006
#16
  • Apr 6, 2006
  • #16
95snoozer said:
90, like chevies and you can run almost any header except an equal length, which sucks anywayys because they burn wires no matter what
Click to expand...

How often? I've had my E/Ls for two years and my wires are peach.
 

95snoozer

Active Member
Dec 14, 2002
2,572
1
48
RCR
Apr 6, 2006
#17
  • Apr 6, 2006
  • #17
the lower intake is not the same and needs porting, run a tmoss ported lower and an explorer upper and it will run great.

when all used with a gt40 lower, i have seen the explorer outpull bothgt40 and cobra upper topend on the dyno
 

SeventyMach1

Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep
Mar 30, 2005
1,940
3
36
North Carolina
Apr 6, 2006
#18
  • Apr 6, 2006
  • #18
95snoozer said:
the lower intake is not the same and needs porting, run a tmoss ported lower and an explorer upper and it will run great.
Click to expand...

LMAO. Yes, that's the only thing you have to do to run the intake, lol.

95snoozer said:
when all used with a gt40 lower, i have seen the explorer outpull bothgt40 and cobra upper topend on the dyno
Click to expand...

:OT: This is making me feel a little better. How do you think it will do with a 347? Ported, that is.
 

Leeroy697

Founding Member
Nov 26, 2000
2,294
0
0
Detroit, Michigan
Apr 7, 2006
#19
  • Apr 7, 2006
  • #19
I have had a set of explorer heads sitting in my garage for 4 years. I think I should look into getting those on my car.
 

95Vert

New Member
Aug 19, 2004
1,785
0
0
North Mexico (deep south Texas)
Apr 7, 2006
#20
  • Apr 7, 2006
  • #20
Leeroy697 said:
I have had a set of explorer heads sitting in my garage for 4 years. I think I should look into getting those on my car.
Click to expand...

Now that's a thought!
 
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
Engine PATS off pcm for 1999 Explorer 5.0 swap
  • GOvert
  • Dec 23, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
16
Views
900
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 14, 2026
GOvert
G
S
ECU/PCM ISSUE
  • Santi1015
  • Jun 29, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
181
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jun 29, 2026
Santi1015
S
1
Engine Motor swap from a 2003 Explorer
  • 1996mustang new
  • Oct 9, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
668
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Oct 16, 2025
squeak93
S
5.0 Rebuild
  • smittys7up
  • Nov 29, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
8
Views
633
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Dec 20, 2025
Noobz347
6
Hey all,I’m putting together a 302 for my 1968 Mustang and wanted to post the combo + some questions to make sure I’m not missing crucial
  • 68_Disgustang
  • Feb 22, 2026
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
1K
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Jun 20, 2026
gray owl
G
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?