96 Gt, PI swap, Hitech Stage 2 cam. Will it work?

94GTHO

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Jul 21, 2005

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Richmond, Va

Jan 25, 2010

#1

• Jan 25, 2010

• #1

I have a 1996 Mustang Gt and its getting time to replace the heads because some of my seals are leaking a bit. I was planning on doing the PI swap because thats a no brainer. But my real question is, can I use Hitech Stage 2 cams. I would be getting new chains, guides, and tensioners just to be safe and I will get the cams degreed correctly with a good tune. I just know that 99-04 heads on a 96-98 shortblock has higher compression than a regular 99-04 motor or so I am told. I just really dont want to spend alot of money just to find out I will need to build the bottom end too or end up just doing a 99-04 longblock.

 

94GTHO

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Jul 21, 2005

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Richmond, Va

Jan 25, 2010

#2

• Jan 25, 2010

• #2

Also forgot to add that I will be putting valve springs in as well.

 

281CI96Coupe

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Oct 30, 2006

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Jan 26, 2010

#3

• Jan 26, 2010

• #3

Yes it will work, you can go two ways. Either get the intake valves cut somewhere, I heard hitech does it or notch your pistons.

 

midnightdriver

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Jan 3, 2010

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Northern California

Jan 26, 2010

#4

• Jan 26, 2010

• #4

With hitech stage 2's you don't have to notch the pistons according to hitech. They said with stage 3 and up you do.

 

94GTHO

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Jul 21, 2005

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Richmond, Va

Jan 26, 2010

#5

• Jan 26, 2010

• #5

Yea I asked them how much it will cost for them to grind them down and they said like 60 or 80. Cant really remember which one they said.

 

patman0911

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Jan 26, 2010

#6

• Jan 26, 2010

• #6

If your compression is good and you don't plan on spinning too much past the factory redline, then aside from possibly needing to notch the pistons, your current shortblock should be just fine.

You will get a bump in compression with PI heads on an NPI shortblock because PI heads have a smaller combustion chamber but PI pistons have a deeper dish to compensate. The difference in pistons doesn't make a difference in valve clearance though, because the valves would hit on the rim of the piston which is at the same level on either piston and not the dished center area.

 

94GTHO

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Jul 21, 2005

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Richmond, Va

Jan 26, 2010

#7

• Jan 26, 2010

• #7

I learn something new everyday. Thank you

 

Rickyll7

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Dec 16, 2005

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Jan 26, 2010

#8

• Jan 26, 2010

• #8

costs a bunch more, but trick flow has a nice set of heads that flow well out of the box without any porting. they moved the intake valve so that there is more ptv clearance and you can choose from two combustion chamber volumes.

just an idea, but they are too expensive IMHO.

 

94GTHO

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Jul 21, 2005

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Richmond, Va

Jan 27, 2010

#9

• Jan 27, 2010

• #9

Yea I would like to be able to afford a nice set of heads but anything is better than my current NPI heads. Just trying to get near 300whp all motor.

 

cMcKinney97-GT

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Aug 31, 2009

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Missouri

Jan 27, 2010

#10

• Jan 27, 2010

• #10

I put stage 2's in with my pi swap but i put some manley vavles in so they would clear

 

Green&GoldGT

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Aug 1, 2005

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Virginia

Jan 28, 2010

#11

• Jan 28, 2010

• #11

If you ported and rebuilt your NPI heads, you will have alot more cam clearance than a PI head. Aftermarket valves will help with either head. It's basically a toss up between more compression with a PI head or more cam with an NPI head. Do you plan on going FI or staying N/A?

 

94GTHO

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Jul 21, 2005

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Richmond, Va

Jan 28, 2010

#12

• Jan 28, 2010

• #12

For right now id like to stay n/a. who knows what ill want to do down the road.

 

Mike97gt

it doe snot

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Jan 26, 1999

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the people's republic of massachusetts

Jan 29, 2010

#13

• Jan 29, 2010

• #13

They should clear but to be safe go with some aftermarket valves that don't have as thick of a face. Degree the cams if you can or if not get some of those matched cam gears nickmickinley sells. spin the motor by hand several times with the plugs out so if it's going to hit it will do it then.

The part of the valve that hits on our cars is past the dish on the dished pistons that is on a true PI motor so what clears on a regular PI motor should clear on a PI head swapped NPI car.

 

94GTHO

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Jul 21, 2005

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Richmond, Va

Jun 15, 2010

#14

• Jun 15, 2010

• #14

So today I bought a set of PI heads from Performance Autosport with 40000ish miles on them. They look good just need a bit of a cleaning. I can't complain for $200 though.