Best Heads For Stock 5.0?

Vondy · Jun 9, 2022

Hey, I'm doing a head gasket replacement so I figured while I'm in the guts that I minus well put some power in now before it's all closed up.

I'm completely stock right now besides headers so I wanted to know what would be best in terms of weight and power gains. I might upgrade some other stuff in the future so if anyone can recommend a good combo I would also consider waiting and doing everything all at once. Thanks yall.

Willybill32 · Jun 9, 2022

Vondy said:
Hey, I'm doing a head gasket replacement so I figured while I'm in the guts that I minus well put some power in now before it's all closed up.

I'm completely stock right now besides headers so I wanted to know what would be best in terms of weight and power gains. I might upgrade some other stuff in the future so if anyone can recommend a good combo I would also consider waiting and doing everything all at once. Thanks yall.

What are you driving?

Bill

SorsCode · Jun 9, 2022

Can't go wrong with some 165cc AFR heads

Vondy · Jun 9, 2022

Willybill32 said:
What are you driving?

Bill

A '90 LX 5 liter with an AOD

7991LXnSHO · Jun 9, 2022

Since you have headers and are looking at heads, I could not put the stock intake back on a nice set of heads. I have a Explorer intake (lower ported by tmoss, upper TB hole opened and the throat straightened by me) ready to go on as soon as I get a good reason to tear apart what’s working.

AFR and TFS have great options for a street car and Edelbrock has some good heads, but I predict what is on the shelf is going to make a big difference for you with supply chain issues.

Willybill32 · Jun 9, 2022

Vondy said:
A '90 LX 5 liter with an AOD

With a ‘90, you have options, and you already have MAF. I’ve got TFS TW heads on my ‘86 and like them, but my buddy swears by AFR. But you’re on the slippery slope, as intake and other add-one will soon be desirable.

Bill

Vondy · Jun 9, 2022

7991LXnSHO said:
Since you have headers and are looking at heads, I could not put the stock intake back on a nice set of heads. I have a Explorer intake (lower ported by tmoss, upper TB hole opened and the throat straightened by me) ready to go on as soon as I get a good reason to tear apart what’s working.

AFR and TFS have great options for a street car and Edelbrock has some good heads, but I predict what is on the shelf is going to make a big difference for you with supply chain issues.

Thanks for the recommendations!

The only reason I'm a bit apprehensive to go all out and replace everything is because I have a relatively low milage motor (50,000) and I'm not sure if it's in my best interest to buy new parts or wait and see what happens later down the line. Any thoughts on that?

7991LXnSHO · Jun 9, 2022

Vondy said:
Thanks for the recommendations!

The only reason I'm a bit apprehensive to go all out and replace everything is because I have a relatively low milage motor (50,000) and I'm not sure if it's in my best interest to buy new parts or wait and see what happens later down the line. Any thoughts on that?

If you are going to keep it, cost per mile and smile is lower now than if you wait 50k miles then have to start wondering if it’s worth it then.

Mustang5L5 · Jun 9, 2022

If I could go back in time….

I’d throw a nice basic Vortech supercharger kit on my stock motor with 6-7 pounds of boost and drive it.

Edit: This and address the fuel system and call it a day.

Vortech Mustang V-3 SI Non-Intercooled H.O. Complete Supercharger System - Satin (86-93) 4FA218-040L

Looking to get some serious power out of your 1986-93 Ford Mustang 5.0L? Check out this Vortech Supercharger Kit!

lmr.com

Mindseye007 · Jun 11, 2022

Mustang5L5 said:
If I could go back in time….

I’d throw a nice basic Vortech supercharger kit on my stock motor with 6-7 pounds of boost and drive it.

Edit: This and address the fuel system and call it a day.

Vortech Mustang V-3 SI Non-Intercooled H.O. Complete Supercharger System - Satin (86-93) 4FA218-040L

Looking to get some serious power out of your 1986-93 Ford Mustang 5.0L? Check out this Vortech Supercharger Kit!

lmr.com

How much horse power per pound of boost?

General karthief · Jun 11, 2022

25hp per pound average

Mindseye007 · Jun 11, 2022

General karthief said:
25hp per pound average

Is that wheel or crank horsepower?

General karthief · Jun 11, 2022

The google search did not specify

7991LXnSHO · Jun 11, 2022

Mindseye007 said:
How much horse power per pound of boost?

The link quotes HP and TQ. It’s safe to assume it’s power at the flywheel as that’s higher and better for advertising. The 225 stock hp is not measured at the rear wheels.

2000xp8 · Jun 11, 2022

He's doing a head gasket, i'm not so sure in this case the answer is a supercharger.
Twisted wedges or afr 165's would be optimal, but not a must.
Any other aluminum head valve jobbed by a reputable machine shop should be fine too.
I certainly would not remove an iron head and put another iron head back on.

With that said, i have not seen too many stock headed non supercharged cars that have needed head gaskets.
I'd be more worried about damage done by water in the oil and why it happened in the first place.
My biggest concern would be acidic coolant.

General karthief · Jun 11, 2022

There are a lot of opinions on this, anywhere from 10 to 25 hp per pound of boost, a lot of things can effect out come.
The Engine Masters show gives some of the best variations of what can effect hp numbers in most applications.

KRUISR · Jun 11, 2022

What are you wanting to do with your ride? Spirited cruising, track racing, drag racing, grocery getter,...? How far you go with upgrades should be a function of what you want to do.

revhead347 · Jun 11, 2022

Vondy said:
Hey, I'm doing a head gasket replacement so I figured while I'm in the guts that I minus well put some power in now before it's all closed up.

I'm completely stock right now besides headers so I wanted to know what would be best in terms of weight and power gains. I might upgrade some other stuff in the future so if anyone can recommend a good combo I would also consider waiting and doing everything all at once. Thanks yall.

I have become a fan of the Ford Performance X303 heads. They perform in the ballpark of all the aftermarket heads, but because they are made by Ford, everything bolts up just like stock stuff. They work with a variety of cams, stock pistons due to the valve angle, etc. Sure, you are going to get an extra 5hp with the Trick Flow heads with aggressive valve angles, but the Ford heads are more affordable, and so hassle free.

Kurt

BrewsterGT · Jun 12, 2022

I have a set of Brodix ST 5.0R heads on my 85 and they perform very well. The car had them on it when I bought it otherwise I would have purchased AFR 165's.

mikestang63 · Jun 16, 2022

its a slippery slope you are about to embark on. Slapping on a set of aftermarket heads with no supporting mods will leave you with a lighter wallet and dissapointed. Unless you plan on doing a heads, cam, intake, Throttle body,. MAF, headers, and THEN a good balancer, address the cooling, exhaust,,,,, get the idea?

The other option is to go to a junkyard and pull the top end off- a 93 to 96 5.0 Explorer or Mountaineer- intake, heads, Throttle body- change the springs on the heads and have a machine shop check them out. Get a cam like an N41 or TFS 1. Still need the headers, MAF, cooling, Balancer, gaskets, ARP intake, head, exhaust bolts , etc.. That is a low buck option

The last option is to button it back up as is and throw a V3 on it. that would be my choice.

Best Heads For Stock 5.0?

Vondy

New Member

Willybill32

But at least it's tight!

SorsCode

Vondy

New Member

7991LXnSHO

wanna catch the space herp

Willybill32

But at least it's tight!

Vondy

New Member

7991LXnSHO

wanna catch the space herp

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Vortech Mustang V-3 SI Non-Intercooled H.O. Complete Supercharger System - Satin (86-93) 4FA218-040L

Mindseye007

10 years still blowing strong

Vortech Mustang V-3 SI Non-Intercooled H.O. Complete Supercharger System - Satin (86-93) 4FA218-040L

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Mindseye007

10 years still blowing strong

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

7991LXnSHO

wanna catch the space herp

2000xp8

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

KRUISR

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

BrewsterGT

Member

mikestang63

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wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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