im looking into swapping my gt 40 turbo swirls for some afr 165's. the afr's come in both stud mount and pedestal mount rockers. i already have pedestals for the gt40's is there a benefit to the stud mount. also should i get studs to put the heads on or just use my arp head bolts
the benefit to stud mount rockers is adjustability and strength. Pedestal mount rockers are non-adjustable, and use skinny bolts. It works fine, but stud mount creates a more rigid valvetrain. 7/16" studs even more so than 3/8" (standard).
I would only bother to use head studs in a boosted application, preferably with the heads machined for o-ring gaskets, otherwise head bolts are fine for N/A.
speaking of shimming, we did it a way a ford guy told me and it seemd to work fine, but just curious what are some of you guys' methods for correct shimming
If you are going to swap heads, it seems as though going from what you currently have to the AFR 165's is a small step. I know thw AFR's OOTB are better, but it just seems like thats the same small step as going from stock heads to iron GT-40's. If I had those heads on my motor already I would either be looking for a much better set of heads like the 185's or ported TFS TW's, or put the money elsewhere in the car to maximize what you currently have. I think if you really look around you will find that the heads you have now really arent that bad. Heck it might even be cheapest of all the options to have some work done to those heads.
well im not going to flycut the pistons any more than what they are oem, all the tests and stuff i see show the afr's to be quite a bit better than the gt40 y's. anyone else have any advice on this? ive got all i can really think of mod-wise to do, the engine is already gonna be apart. maybe a better intake is all i can think of. this kind of seemed like a "next step" i guess?
87 5.0 gt- gt40 turbo swirls, equivalent to e-cam, explorer intakes, 3.73 gears, 70mm, throttle body and spacer, converted to mass air, 73 mm maf, short throw
You don't list any exhaust pieces. What have you got on the back side of the motor? I think the AFRs are quite a bit better than the GT40Ys or Xs. You might benifit from a custom cam in more ways than one, too. How about porting the lower of that explorer intake? Pullies?
oh ya sorry shorties, cac pro chamber, thought about just getting a trickflow intake, thought about pullies. but u know what im saying, i feel like im kinda stuck where i am, without going bottom end mods.
I got rid of my GT40X heads for 165 AFRs and according to Tony at AFR there will be a very noticeable difference. I also spent the extra $150 for the competition version of the 165s which has further porting, 7/16 studs and heavier duty springs since I will be swapping the Cobra cam out of the 93-95 cobra shortblock for a Lunati grind. The motor I had started out as a 320 hp FRPP crate motor with a 93-95 Cobra shortblock, GT40X heads. With the Edelbrock performer RPM intake, Holley 650 carb and long tube headers, I would make 320 hp at the flywheel. With the new AFR heads, cam, Weiand Stealth intake manifold, and high flow fuel pump I should be making anywhere from 320-340 to the wheels. I have been talking with Tony at AFR and am following fairly closely to a combo that Evan Smith at Muscle Mustangs had done on their 85 Capri and they made 317 to the wheels with the same cam, heads, intake, stock shorties and fuel pump. I'm running full length headers, a little bigger carb and I have no accessories accept an alternator. I'm even doing an electric water pump. I also bolted up a Canton deep sump pan with a crank scraper. I talked quite a bit with Evan about the combo on the Capri and he knows my coupe and I told him about the mods and he's thinkin' no problem to get 330-340 rwhp. We'll see 'cause I'm gonna dyno it at MV Performance soon. Motor is built and done just need my tubular k-member and she's in.
Here ya go 87pony - this is for inspiration...
Here's the motor, I haven't taken the Edelbrock intake off yet...
Here's the photo album of the car for more shots of the engine build up and AFR heads - they are gorgeous!
wow that is beautiful thing! congrats. thanks for all the helpful input. do you know the guy at afr? or is it just a tech there that is helpin you out?