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

Progress Thread Hci Swap, Finally Here After 1.5 Years!

  • Thread starter Thread starter RangerJoe
  • Start date Start date Oct 13, 2014
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Next
1 of 3 Next Last

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving
15 Year Member
Apr 26, 2010
2,560
1,146
184
Georgia
Oct 13, 2014
#1
  • Oct 13, 2014
  • #1
For those few of you who may know, I built my 331 in my garage going on about 4 years ago now. I built it out of the necessity for a new bottom end, but I didn't have the money to redo the top end to match. So I home ported my GT40 heads, swapped in a N41 camshaft and robbed the Edelbrock Performer RPM intake from my father-n-law. This combo has been good enough to propel my 3400lb car to a best of 12.84@108.25 with a crappy 1.85 60ft. That puts this combo right around 305rwhp, not too bad I guess.

For the last 1.5 years I have been collecting top end parts. I have taken next week off of work to get things accomplished, but I got a good start over the weekend and into today. Here is the new parts that are going on:

-AFR 185 w/ LS valve springs
-FTI custom Cam 227/235 .613/.588 on a 111 Lobe
-Systemaxx II Intake
-Mac 1 3/4" Longtubes 3" collectors
-Comp promagnum rockers
-VRS X-Pipe 2.5"
-Standard Volume Oil Pump (replace HV)
-UPR K-Member (Old D&D will not clear LT)

Here are some pics of the work getting done now and a few pics of the GT40's I ported. All the old stuff coming off is for sale .

Joe
 
Reactions: Boosted92LX, A5literMan and deathb4dismount

hoopty5.0

mechanicus terribilis
15 Year Member
Dec 14, 2010
7,786
6,939
214
SW Houston
Oct 13, 2014
#2
  • Oct 13, 2014
  • #2
Very nice!
 

deathb4dismount

Crap, didn’t realize my crotch was in that picture
15 Year Member
Oct 6, 2011
1,031
502
164
THE BUCKET
Oct 13, 2014
#3
  • Oct 13, 2014
  • #3


Can't wait to see how it turns out
 

FoxMustangLvr

I love my Pimp
SN Certified Technician
Oct 14, 2012
4,968
3,514
204
Spokane, Wa
Oct 13, 2014
#4
  • Oct 13, 2014
  • #4
Joe,

What do you plan to use for tuning this beast?
 

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving
15 Year Member
Apr 26, 2010
2,560
1,146
184
Georgia
Oct 13, 2014
#5
  • Oct 13, 2014
  • #5
FoxMustangLvr said:
Joe,

What do you plan to use for tuning this beast?
Click to expand...

Right now I have an old Motorsport extender to get me past the rev limiter. I am still undecided on using a PMS or paying someone to dyno tune it.

Joe
 

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...
5 Year Member
Jul 30, 2011
4,674
2,343
194
Illinois
Oct 13, 2014
#6
  • Oct 13, 2014
  • #6
Can't wait to see the results!
 

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?
5 Year Member
Jul 2, 2009
5,222
3,254
204
South Jersey
Oct 13, 2014
#7
  • Oct 13, 2014
  • #7
I've been waiting a long time to see this happen. Can't wait to see the finished product!
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
8,859
214
In the garage
Oct 13, 2014
#8
  • Oct 13, 2014
  • #8
Great news! Sounds like you have a solid build going. Ed is a master in grinding cams and I know you will be happy.
 

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving
15 Year Member
Apr 26, 2010
2,560
1,146
184
Georgia
Oct 13, 2014
#9
  • Oct 13, 2014
  • #9
Thanks for the votes of confidence! I hope I haven't built this cam up in my head as some magical hp potion. Lol. What really sucks is a new clutch is going in too, so I gotta take it easy for several hundred miles. I hope to get the heads off in a few days.

Joe
 

deathb4dismount

Crap, didn’t realize my crotch was in that picture
15 Year Member
Oct 6, 2011
1,031
502
164
THE BUCKET
Oct 13, 2014
#10
  • Oct 13, 2014
  • #10
RangerJoe said:
What really sucks is a new clutch is going in too, so I gotta take it easy for several hundred miles.
Click to expand...

I know the feeling. I just hit 500 miles on my engine and new clutch today. Oil change tomorrow and then some spirited driving that I have been waiting for.
 
Reactions: FoxMustangLvr

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?
5 Year Member
Jul 2, 2009
5,222
3,254
204
South Jersey
Oct 14, 2014
#11
  • Oct 14, 2014
  • #11
RangerJoe said:
What really sucks is a new clutch is going in too, so I gotta take it easy for several hundred miles. I hope to get the heads off in a few days.

Joe
Click to expand...

This depends on how brazen you want to be. On a car like yours I would typically slip the clutch around a parking lot or up a hill a few times to heat cycle it and give it the gusto. We have swapped clutches at the track, heat cycled them there and raced them within an hour and never had a single issue. Personally... I'm impatient
 
Reactions: TOOLOW91, Boosted92LX, A5literMan and 3 others

f8tlfiveo

My wife likes my spool and blow-off valve.
Aug 8, 2007
1,585
102
64
Lancaster, PA
Oct 14, 2014
#12
  • Oct 14, 2014
  • #12
84Ttop said:
This depends on how brazen you want to be. On a car like yours I would typically slip the clutch around a parking lot or up a hill a few times to heat cycle it and give it the gusto. We have swapped clutches at the track, heat cycled them there and raced them within an hour and never had a single issue. Personally... I'm impatient
Click to expand...
Yeah I never break in a clutch more than 20 miles.. Lol.. Never had a problem, never resurfaced a flywheel either. Just some scotch brite... Maybe if you are making more power it matters but at 300rwhp I never had an issue.
 

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving
15 Year Member
Apr 26, 2010
2,560
1,146
184
Georgia
Oct 14, 2014
#13
  • Oct 14, 2014
  • #13
I have never made it 500 miles, usually a tank of gas is about as far as I go. Swapping from a billet steel to an aluminum this time too.

Joe
 

hoopty5.0

mechanicus terribilis
15 Year Member
Dec 14, 2010
7,786
6,939
214
SW Houston
Oct 14, 2014
#14
  • Oct 14, 2014
  • #14
Why aluminum?
 

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving
15 Year Member
Apr 26, 2010
2,560
1,146
184
Georgia
Oct 14, 2014
#15
  • Oct 14, 2014
  • #15
Brother-n-law going coyote and I bought it of him for cheap. Thought I'd try it out.

Joe
 

hoopty5.0

mechanicus terribilis
15 Year Member
Dec 14, 2010
7,786
6,939
214
SW Houston
Oct 14, 2014
#16
  • Oct 14, 2014
  • #16
Im interested to see how it is with everyday driving. Seems like you'll be losing some rotational inertia that helps get you rolling from a stop, but I'd bet it's not enough to notice. If the price was right, no reason not to.
 

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving
15 Year Member
Apr 26, 2010
2,560
1,146
184
Georgia
Oct 14, 2014
#17
  • Oct 14, 2014
  • #17
I've read lots of reviews and went back and forth on it. It's not a DD car, more of a hobby car, but driving manners is important to an extent. This is a full interior, AC, powersteering car, so I am trying to retain its street ability. I forgot to mention, I also picked up his scatter shield, which has been on my to do list for sometime.

Joe
 
Reactions: A5literMan

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...
5 Year Member
Jul 30, 2011
4,674
2,343
194
Illinois
Oct 14, 2014
#18
  • Oct 14, 2014
  • #18
RangerJoe said:
I've read lots of reviews and went back and forth on it. It's not a DD car, more of a hobby car, but driving manners is important to an extent. This is a full interior, AC, powersteering car, so I am trying to retain its street ability. I forgot to mention, I also picked up his scatter shield, which has been on my to do list for sometime.

Joe
Click to expand...
+1 on the scatter shield. I really need to do this also. I saw an old Chevy nova throw a clutch disc through the floor pan. Not pretty. But luckily no one got hurt.
 

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving
15 Year Member
Apr 26, 2010
2,560
1,146
184
Georgia
Oct 14, 2014
#19
  • Oct 14, 2014
  • #19
Got the heads off. Here is a before and after picture if the pistons. I used acetone and a rag to clean them. Is there any reason to clean them further? If so, what is the safest and easiest way to do this? I have read various chemical and mechanical ways, let's hear it from you guys.

Joe
 

Attachments

  • image.webp
    119.5 KB · Views: 330
  • image.webp
    89.2 KB · Views: 316

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
6,100
2,710
224
Vass, NC
Oct 14, 2014
#20
  • Oct 14, 2014
  • #20
My opinion is that they're fine. Let 'em rock! BTW, impeccable selection of top end parts! This car is going to move!!!
 
Reactions: RangerJoe and A5literMan
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Next
1 of 3 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

SN95 Desktop 363 Engine Combination - Looking for input
  • WhiteCobra95
  • Sep 8, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
11
Views
1K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Oct 6, 2025
Habu135
For Sale 94 Cobra 408w AOD Project For Sale
  • Labora
  • Oct 11, 2024
  • SN95 Mustangs For Sale (1994-04)
Replies
1
Views
1K
SN95 Mustangs For Sale (1994-04) Apr 7, 2025
Labora
Progress Thread H/C Swap Problems/Ideas
  • sav22rem22
  • Mar 31, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
10
Views
2K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Sep 10, 2024
AeroCoupe
Engine Rocker Noise after Aluminum heads and 1 piece CM Pushrods
  • 79pace
  • Apr 12, 2022
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
17
Views
4K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Apr 19, 2022
Monkeybutt2000
M
Question for the 4-digit hp crowd
  • tannerc91gt
  • Apr 16, 2019
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
17
Views
2K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 5, 2019
tannerc91gt
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?