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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

GT40 F3ZE Explorer Heads!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter 1989SCZ
  • Start date Start date Jan 22, 2009
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1989SCZ

New Member
Jan 21, 2009
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Jan 22, 2009
#1
  • Jan 22, 2009
  • #1
okay, im looking to buy a set of F3ZE GT40 Explorer Heads for $87 each. As well as a GT40 Explorer Intake (price unknown yet).

How much am I able to mill before piston to valve clearance becomes an issue with the following:

-Stock cam with possible 1.6 or 1.7rr?

-Aftermarket cam with .500 to .550 lift and possible 1.6 or 1.7rr?

Will milling .030 cause problems with lower manifold to head alignment?

It would be great for some help, i know there are forums on here similar to this, but the information is scattered and I've tried my best to search and get some ball park estimates.

I am mainly trying to get a list of possible issues and problems that could arise from this swap beforehand.
 

KamiKaziDK

Member
May 16, 2005
555
0
17
Mesa, Az
Jan 22, 2009
#2
  • Jan 22, 2009
  • #2
dang man, where are you getting gt40 heads for 87 bucks a piece??
 

warriorpluto

Member
Aug 1, 2007
267
1
19
monroe.LA
Jan 22, 2009
#3
  • Jan 22, 2009
  • #3
down in the country. lol. i got gt40p heads for $57 each. intakes for $70. after reading on here i shouldve just got the whole block but i wasnt thinking.
 

white 89 GT

Member
Apr 3, 2003
281
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17
Tacoma
Jan 22, 2009
#4
  • Jan 22, 2009
  • #4
More than likely you will need to do the manifold also, why .550 lift with those heads and intake?
 

1989SCZ

New Member
Jan 21, 2009
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Jan 22, 2009
#5
  • Jan 22, 2009
  • #5
im probably not going to get a cam with .550 lift. .500 to .550 was just a range of possible different lifts. i dont know what cam and roller rocker ratio to use that would work best (or worst).

I know tmoss uses 1.6rr(i think, maybe they are 1.7) but he has a stock cam. i was thinking maybe a b303 or a crowler cam. unless you think my stock HO cam would work better.

but as for the heads and intake, i want to get them both ported, and have the heads milled. any other input or suggestions are welcome. its still kinda up in the air right now.
 
P

phutch11

Member
Nov 14, 2005
328
2
18
Jan 22, 2009
#6
  • Jan 22, 2009
  • #6
I bent 2 valves with 1.7s and the e-cam with .020 milled from GT40s. The trouble with used heads like mine is that its tough to know if anything been milled in the past - which I now suspect is the case on mine.

Good luck...

Posted via Mobile Device
 

white 89 GT

Member
Apr 3, 2003
281
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Tacoma
Jan 23, 2009
#7
  • Jan 23, 2009
  • #7
I have used the crower 15511 cam and was not real impressed, but it was an AOD car.
I just had .025 removed from my heads to bring them to 58cc and the intake was way off, but I think it was somewhat off before I did the heads (don`t know history of the heads). I have removed .050 from each side of the intake and now it sits close, still not perfect.
I would stay with 1.6 rockers and choose cam based on them.
 

Maryland Stang

Active Member
Aug 21, 2002
1,656
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Greenville, NC
Jan 23, 2009
#8
  • Jan 23, 2009
  • #8
There is no set of parameters that will assure clearance with any given engine combo. Once you start milling and changing cams and rockers then all bets are off and the clearances should be checked as you go.

It's not a cam's maximum lift that determines whether or not it will clear. It's the cam timing that determines clearance. Some cams come with different ramp rates that open the valves faster than other cams. You may run into issues at only .100 lift or some other number.
 

tmoss

Gettin Wired
Founding Member
Jun 28, 2001
7,153
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128
Saint Louis, MO
Jan 24, 2009
#9
  • Jan 24, 2009
  • #9
white 89 GT said:
I have used the crower 15511 cam and was not real impressed, but it was an AOD car.
Click to expand...

that's why, it's meant to be a 5 spd cam.
 

white 89 GT

Member
Apr 3, 2003
281
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17
Tacoma
Jan 24, 2009
#10
  • Jan 24, 2009
  • #10
tmoss said:
that's why, it's meant to be a 5 spd cam.
Click to expand...

I did note that it was an AOD car, so yes im aware results could be different in a stick car. But then what cam wouldnt be.

From what I remember it never stated 5 sp only.
 

tmoss

Gettin Wired
Founding Member
Jun 28, 2001
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Saint Louis, MO
Jan 24, 2009
#11
  • Jan 24, 2009
  • #11
from their on-line catelog - the 15510 cam is the auto cam. Both great mild cams
 

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  • Crower 15510-15511.webp
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50specialist

New Member
Mar 27, 2008
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ft. lauderdale, FL
Jan 24, 2009
#12
  • Jan 24, 2009
  • #12
How does AOD and 5 speed make a difference, when it comes to cams? The torque converter, computer..?
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,249
17,932
224
Massachusetts
Jan 24, 2009
#13
  • Jan 24, 2009
  • #13
Powerband. With an AOD, you spend more time in the lower range of the RPM band so you want something with a little more low end grunt. With the 5-spd, the cams tend to make power near the top of the RPM range.

Plus there is the additional power robbed by the AOD trans
 

1989SCZ

New Member
Jan 21, 2009
6
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Jan 24, 2009
#14
  • Jan 24, 2009
  • #14
well i just bought the pair of heads for a total of $189. they seem to look pretty good. (im gonna have to check them out for cracks of course)

so im gonna have to wait and see how they turn out. any suggestions or advice is still very welcome!
 
L

lang williams

New Member
Jun 11, 2003
567
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0
cleveland, oh
Jan 24, 2009
#15
  • Jan 24, 2009
  • #15
if they're off an explorer change the valve springs. I picked up a set of crane's off ebay for $50. I got my gtp's for $100 locally.
 
5

50specialist

New Member
Mar 27, 2008
33
0
0
ft. lauderdale, FL
Jan 24, 2009
#16
  • Jan 24, 2009
  • #16
Mustang5L5 said:
Powerband. With an AOD, you spend more time in the lower range of the RPM band so you want something with a little more low end grunt. With the 5-spd, the cams tend to make power near the top of the RPM range.

Plus there is the additional power robbed by the AOD trans
Click to expand...


Oh ok.
 

1989SCZ

New Member
Jan 21, 2009
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Jan 31, 2009
#17
  • Jan 31, 2009
  • #17
since im thinking of getting the heads ported/gasket matched (along with the intake), any ideas on what gasket to use?

i hear the fel pro 1250 is really popular. but what about the fel pro 1262? do you think gasket matching with the fel pro 1262 or something similar would be removing too much material?
 
T

tiptop

New Member
Apr 6, 2008
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Jan 31, 2009
#18
  • Jan 31, 2009
  • #18
where did u get the heads for that price?
 

tmoss

Gettin Wired
Founding Member
Jun 28, 2001
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Saint Louis, MO
Jan 31, 2009
#19
  • Jan 31, 2009
  • #19
don't gasket match the heads, it won't do squat ! - Port match the intake to the heads.
 

88mouse

New Member
Apr 18, 2007
630
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0
Mooresville nc
Jan 31, 2009
#20
  • Jan 31, 2009
  • #20
1989SCZ said:
since im thinking of getting the heads ported/gasket matched (along with the intake), any ideas on what gasket to use?

i hear the fel pro 1250 is really popular. but what about the fel pro 1262? do you think gasket matching with the fel pro 1262 or something similar would be removing too much material?
Click to expand...

the 1262 are for a raised intake runner. Go with the 1250.
 
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