86 Heads vs. E7TE

Don't bother. Your 86 has flat top pistons that are not notched for E7s. Even with the stock cam, you're likely to run into piston to valve clearance problems. Save you nickles and dimes and go for some Twisted Wedge heads or plan on replacing the pistons to accomodate another set of heads.

Zenix said:

Wait a sec....I thought the 86's came with dished pistons and they didn't goto flat top until 87???

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Dagger is right on the money.

fyi, 86= flat top pistons, no valve reliefs.

Despite what anyone else tells you, there is a very, VERY big chance that bolting e7's up to those pistons will result in piston to valve slap. SOME have claimed it done, however, my friend did it personally, and the valves and pistons had a mating ritual. Luckily, it was minor, but he did yank the pistons and had them cut. Save the money for a better engine. You can make those e6 headed cars run like crazy still, don't let it slow you down.

Zenix said:

I had just heard that the 86 heads flowed terrribly. Is this true? Or do they just flow slightly less than the E7TE's?

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they don't flow for ****. They do make gobs and gobs of torque, however, you won't really make any power above 4800 rpm's

Zenix said:

Thanks for the info, I have one of those new BBK SSI intakes on the way and I just figured, if I have it that far apart might as well look into it. I also read somewhere the 86 intake blows so we'll see what this does for me. Thanks again.

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ouch, dude, hold off on that, you're gonna lose hp if anything when you put that on. those e6 heads can't outflow those stock headers, let alone the intake. the 86 intake is 58 mm. If you want a free few hp, the best way to do it is to put an 87+ upper on it (lowers are the same) put the 87+ upper on it, with the throttle body (60mm) and you'll gain a few hp. that ssi intake is gonna be overkill. the best way to make your 86 run with the rest, is concentrate on it's inherent weaknesses first. that $500 into a set of gears would have dropped several tenths off, when that intake likely won't drop one tenth. get rear gears (if you don't have them already) along with a Quality set of rear upper/lower control arms, and a few other things, and you'll be miles ahead.

Like I mentioned, you can make your 86 run, but do nothing else to that engine until you get better heads, even if that means replacing the shortblock. FYI, I'd take the e6's off, and measure piston to valve clearance on some gt40's or even e7's, you may be of the lucky ones that has enough clearance.

IMO, the 86's are the most bad ass looking fox around. Do your research on what works, and what doesn't, and have fun!

v8only said:

ouch, dude, hold off on that, you're gonna lose hp if anything when you put that on. those e6 heads can't outflow those stock headers, let alone the intake. the 86 intake is 58 mm. If you want a free few hp, the best way to do it is to put an 87+ upper on it (lowers are the same) put the 87+ upper on it, with the throttle body (60mm) and you'll gain a few hp. that ssi intake is gonna be overkill. the best way to make your 86 run with the rest, is concentrate on it's inherent weaknesses first. that $500 into a set of gears would have dropped several tenths off, when that intake likely won't drop one tenth. get rear gears (if you don't have them already) along with a Quality set of rear upper/lower control arms, and a few other things, and you'll be miles ahead.

Like I mentioned, you can make your 86 run, but do nothing else to that engine until you get better heads, even if that means replacing the shortblock. FYI, I'd take the e6's off, and measure piston to valve clearance on some gt40's or even e7's, you may be of the lucky ones that has enough clearance.

IMO, the 86's are the most bad ass looking fox around. Do your research on what works, and what doesn't, and have fun!

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DITTO DITTO DITTO! You're tossing money out the window. Go cheap in this case and you will be much happier and make more power. Do as V-8 suggests with the intake and mayne use some of that money you were going to spend on that abortion of an intake and put it into make those E6 heads a little better. Take em to a machine shop and get them worked over for a little bit better flow.

I am pretty sure you can put E7s on an 86??? A buddy of mine just did that! I think his name on here is FiveLugFoxFanatic. I can ask him what he had to do, but if I remember right it was not bad at all.

There is some terrible information going on in this thread. Take it from me, I have an 86, and have stock flat top pistons WITH E7 heads. I have revved the motor to 6500 rpms, and guess what? No floating valves, no piston to valve problems. You want good power out of your 86?

PM TMOSS, get your lower ported. The stock lower from 86-93 is a pile of crap. Runner 1 and 5 are so pinched off it starves your motor. E6 heads suck. E7's will make a difference if you lack funds. Get a stock upper off of a 87-93. Flows better than the 86. I have an extra 93 upper if you are interested. Don't listen to people who give you advice who have heard this and that, talk to someone that HAS experience, and has done the mods.

5LugFoxFanatic said:

There is some terrible information going on in this thread. Take it from me, I have an 86, and have stock flat top pistons WITH E7 heads. I have revved the motor to 6500 rpms, and guess what? No floating valves, no piston to valve problems. You want good power out of your 86?

PM TMOSS, get your lower ported. The stock lower from 86-93 is a pile of crap. Runner 1 and 5 are so pinched off it starves your motor. E6 heads suck. E7's will make a difference if you lack funds. Get a stock upper off of a 87-93. Flows better than the 86. I have an extra 93 upper if you are interested. Don't listen to people who give you advice who have heard this and that, talk to someone that HAS experience, and has done the mods.

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This is what I'm talkin' about. I hate internet hear say. Take it from someone that has experiance first hand.

my E7s also clear fine

5LugFoxFanatic said:

There is some terrible information going on in this thread. Take it from me, I have an 86, and have stock flat top pistons WITH E7 heads. I have revved the motor to 6500 rpms, and guess what? No floating valves, no piston to valve problems. You want good power out of your 86?

PM TMOSS, get your lower ported. The stock lower from 86-93 is a pile of crap. Runner 1 and 5 are so pinched off it starves your motor. E6 heads suck. E7's will make a difference if you lack funds. Get a stock upper off of a 87-93. Flows better than the 86. I have an extra 93 upper if you are interested. Don't listen to people who give you advice who have heard this and that, talk to someone that HAS experience, and has done the mods.

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thanks for the insult, and since we're at it, you're a raving lunatic. First of all, if you would have read my post, I was talking about not making much/any power above 4800 rpms, maybe 5200ish WITH e6 HEADS. E7 heads are a world better, but not that good. I NEVER mentioned floating valves, as we're not talking about spring pressures here, are we? I'm talking about flowing abilities between heads. You're crazy if you shift at 6500 rpms, not only is that WAY beyond your powerband, but you're risking blowing your motor up. I have experience, and I'm telling you this. I go racing with my buddy constantly in his late 11/12 second notch and he's utilizing a stock short block, with afr165's, edelbrock rpm2, custom cam, racing suspension, gears, control arms, the full deal. He'll make power to 6500, but he won't shift beyond 6300, because you're going beyond the potential of the stock block.

I don't know what the above posters deal is, but I've likely got a lot more experience behind the wrench than he does. I suggested the e7's, or better yet, gt40's from the getgo, but I also told you that there could possibly be clearance issues between the valves and pistons, and that you won't know until the heads are off and you clay them. I love how mr. I've heard it here and there has generally applied the fact that since e7's have gone onto his car, they will on all cars. Ever heard of manufactoring tolerances? well, there isn't a whole lot of room to play on the clearance between the piston and valves after bolting on the e7 heads to a flat top 86 block, and manufactoring tolerances have account for the 86 block I sold my friend. the e7's hit, and he had to pull the pistons.

take advice from here and there. Ultimately you'll have to weigh it all, and decide upon what sounds best. It's your decision. You'll learn by your mistakes, and hopefully they won't be big ones...best of luck

also, upgrade to mass air if you really want to play with cams.
speed density won't work with all but one or two cams out there (aftermarket wise)

I invite you to come over to foureyedpride.com. 79-86 mustang message forum. post your same question over there, and you'll get advice from 10+ different mustang people, all with experience on 86's, and more advice than just the two of us

Stang8URMPRT said:

This is what I'm talkin' about. I hate internet hear say. Take it from someone that has experiance first hand.

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You mean like the 13 second scooter?

Seriously though, I HAVE attempted to install E7s on an 86. Here's a hot tip... when you can see daylight through the clay.... that's bad.

I'm a raving lunatic? Nah, I am just a person that has done the swap. If you could see clay did you make sure the heads were surfaced flat? Because I have yet to see a 86 have P to V problems, and I have seen over 10 installs of E7's onto 86 stangs with flat top pistons. I don't shift at 6500 rpms intentionally, but when you are racing at the track, sometimes you hit the top of the limiter when you are trying to pay attention to the road.

Reason he wants E7's? He is on a budget? You read that? So maybe some nice aftermarket heads are out of the question. You have more wrench time? Good for you. Guess what? I have an 86, with E7's and flat top pistons. I have no problems.

You are in MN? Go to www.tcstangs.com I am part of that site and you can always find good deals on stuff. I have bought alot of stuff off of the guys on there.

Someone at sometime just had to of had a problem with a 86 and e7's e7 heads and flat top pistons have been problems for some stangers............