Decided to look for an explorer motor.

The Green GT

No 13 year olds are safe around me.

10 Year Member

Jan 8, 2006

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Louisiana

Mar 11, 2007

#1

• Mar 11, 2007

• #1

What are the best years? Is it the P heads that you have to get certain headers for to clear the spark plugs? Cause I dont want those (unless they are the highest flowing). And what cam would go best with a set of ported explorer heads and a ported explorer intake and how much power could I be expecting?
Thanks

 

95opal

5 Year Member

Nov 16, 2004

449

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39

Mar 11, 2007

#2

• Mar 11, 2007

• #2

97 1/2 and newer came with the P heads and yes they flow better then the earlier 40s. As far as cam goes do some searching and see what others are running with similar set ups.

 

The Green GT

No 13 year olds are safe around me.

10 Year Member

Jan 8, 2006

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Mar 11, 2007

#3

• Mar 11, 2007

• #3

The P heads are the one with the special headers right?

 

T

tjh566

New Member

May 22, 2004

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Northern Va

Mar 11, 2007

#4

• Mar 11, 2007

• #4

yes, but some have goten away without special headers.

 

'66 coupe

Founding Member

Aug 7, 2000

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Lakeland, Fl.

Mar 11, 2007

#5

• Mar 11, 2007

• #5

The Green GT said:

The P heads are the one with the special headers right?

Click to expand...

I have a P engine sitting on a stand at my college house. I held the stock '95 headers up to it and the runners for 5&6 totally sit on top of the spark plugs.
Some people modify(dent) their headers to work, use shorter spark plugs, and/or use 90* wire boots. I'd just plan on buying the special headers and be done with it. Pretty sure MAC and other brands make the headers you'll need.

Mines going in my '66 so I'm just converting it to a '66 setup(carb., belts, oilpickup)
and using HiPo manifolds because they work easily.

 

Blackened302

Active Member

Jul 21, 2005

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South TX

Mar 12, 2007

#6

• Mar 12, 2007

• #6

glad i bought the P-spec headers--i have enough to worry about w/ the new set-up.

 

'66 coupe

Founding Member

Aug 7, 2000

1,202

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59

Lakeland, Fl.

Mar 12, 2007

#7

• Mar 12, 2007

• #7

What's the point in swapping to a P engine?

Are you all just swapping in low-mileage engines with minimal mods? Are you all just leaving the bottom end alone?
This is what I'm doing with mine, low-mileage engine, turns fine manually, so I'm just gonna drop it in.

I was just wondering cause that seems like the only logical reason for this swap; to get a low mileage engine that flows better.
If you're rebuilding/refurbishing the engine(replacing rings, bearings, bolts), wouldn't it be only slightly more expensive to get a ~'90 shortblock and an affordable set of aluminium heads?

 

Blackened302

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Jul 21, 2005

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South TX

Mar 12, 2007

#8

• Mar 12, 2007

• #8

i did it for a couple reasons:
1. obviously, more hp/torque
2. half as many miles as mine had

i took the time to put in a cam + matching springs, some ARP rod bolts and an ARP oil pump driveshaft.

i just felt better modding an engine w/ 70k as opposed to mine w/ 160+k. way more piece of mind with a slightly newer and more capable (my goal is street/track) driveline.

it gives you a better starting point, i think, too.

 

9

95five-oh

New Member

Jun 25, 2006

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Mount Airy, MD

Mar 12, 2007

#9

• Mar 12, 2007

• #9

Punisher302 said:

i did it for a couple reasons:
1. obviously, more hp/torque
2. half as many miles as mine had

i took the time to put in a cam + matching springs, some ARP rod bolts and an ARP oil pump driveshaft.

i just felt better modding an engine w/ 70k as opposed to mine w/ 160+k. way more piece of mind with a slightly newer and more capable (my goal is street/track) driveline.

it gives you a better starting point, i think, too.

Click to expand...

+1. I'm gonna try and find a 80k miles or less exploder long block this summer if i can. I've got 159k on mine, other than the exploder intake i bought for $70, im not gonna risk any other mods on such a tired engine.

 

'66 coupe

Founding Member

Aug 7, 2000

1,202

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59

Lakeland, Fl.

Mar 12, 2007

#10

• Mar 12, 2007

• #10

95five-oh said:

+1. I'm gonna try and find a 80k miles or less exploder long block this summer if i can. I've got 159k on mine, other than the exploder intake i bought for $70, im not gonna risk any other mods on such a tired engine.

Click to expand...

Mine is out of a '98 Mountaineer that had 75k. I paid $375 after tax for the complete engine. I sold the intake on ebay for $125 and it cost me $30 to ship the damn thing. 4 months later I got the '95(which has the stock intake).
I got mine from LKQ, if they have those in your area(I think they're pretty much nationwide). You can usually call them and bargain with the people at the main office in your area.

 

S

sage2k

Member

May 23, 2005

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Baton Rouge, LA

Mar 13, 2007

#11

• Mar 13, 2007

• #11

why not just build your topend up? how many miles do you have?

 

The Green GT

No 13 year olds are safe around me.

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Mar 13, 2007

#12

• Mar 13, 2007

• #12

sage2k said:

why not just build your topend up? how many miles do you have?

Click to expand...

Odometer is stuck at 89,XXX
But Id ballpark about 130K.