Engine HCI Upgrade

foxbodyclark · Jan 21, 2025

Blew the head gasket pretty severely on the old 5.0, that means things are coming apart and getting put back together with upgrades
My car has a B cam with stock E7 heads and stock intake manifold. What would be a good pairing of heads and intake to compliment the B cam that's in there? Id like to keep the headers I have. What does that price point look like for parts on something like this?
This whole thing is new territory for me so any additional info helps (specs, CCs, used vs new, etc) Thanks!
Coolant pond in cylinder 3

LILCBRA · Jan 21, 2025

I'm sure a lot of people will chime in and say to ditch the B cam. But since you already have it why spend the money, right? It looks like you already have your hands full - so I'll give a couple options that I would personally look at. I'm also sure that you'll get a number of different responses, but here are mine:

To try to keep costs down, I'd probably look for a set of GT40 heads and intake. I'd try to avoid the P heads in case your headers aren't compatible. Then I'd have them cleaned, checked, springs swapped and throw the engine back together. If the budget allowed, I'd also consider 1.7 rockers.

If money wasn't an issue, I'd look for a good set of aluminum heads like Trick Flows and go with an appropriate manifold. In this case, I'd also look at replacing the cam to match whatever my goals were.

Whatever you choose, it could very well turn into the proverbial rabbit hole - good luck!

AeroCoupe · Jan 21, 2025

The amount of money you will put into some GT40 heads you may be better off getting a set of the AFR Enforcers. It just depends on what you will spend on the GT40’s.

As far as intakes go an Explorer upper and lower would be great for your application. If it were me I would send the lower to TMoss and have it ported as that will be the best bang for the buck.

foxbodyclark · Jan 21, 2025

LILCBRA said:
I'm sure a lot of people will chime in and say to ditch the B cam. But since you already have it why spend the money, right? It looks like you already have your hands full - so I'll give a couple options that I would personally look at. I'm also sure that you'll get a number of different responses, but here are mine:

To try to keep costs down, I'd probably look for a set of GT40 heads and intake. I'd try to avoid the P heads in case your headers aren't compatible. Then I'd have them cleaned, checked, springs swapped and throw the engine back together. If the budget allowed, I'd also consider 1.7 rockers.

If money wasn't an issue, I'd look for a good set of aluminum heads like Trick Flows and go with an appropriate manifold. In this case, I'd also look at replacing the cam to match whatever my goals were.

Whatever you choose, it could very well turn into the proverbial rabbit hole - good luck!

Thanks! Yeah you're spot on with keeping the cam - no reason to spend money on an already expensive project, the cam could come later if needed.
Where would you suggest seeking out those heads? If I recall GT40 heads aren't in production. Do you know any reliable sellers of remanufactured parts?

LILCBRA · Jan 21, 2025

I can't think of any remans off the top of my head. My suggestion would be scouring salvage yards and grabbing what I could find. Other than that option, you'd probably have to resort to Ebay, Craigslist, FB Marketplace or word of mouth if you know anyone in your area.

LILCBRA · Jan 21, 2025

Another suggestion, you could check out hollanderparts.com and see what you can find.

Mustang5L5 · Jan 21, 2025

GT40 heads and an explore intake are probably the route I'd go. I've driven this combo before with the B cam and with a stick and 3.73's it was a fun combo. Problem is by the time you get a set of GT40 heads and go through them, you could almost put that money into a much better head. Then scope creep settles in when you start getting new springs, and pushrods and supporting mods for the new heads and decide you need a better cam/intake.

But aside from that, i think the GT40/B303/Explorer combo is a pretty reliable good street combo.

Oh and just because

View: https://youtu.be/XeOn5FjsYAI?si=KOXmjYBo6vGtjNuk

foxbodyclark · Jan 21, 2025

Mustang5L5 said:
GT40 heads and an explore intake are probably the route I'd go. I've driven this combo before with the B cam and with a stick and 3.73's it was a fun combo. Problem is by the time you get a set of GT40 heads and go through them, you could almost put that money into a much better head. Then scope creep settles in when you start getting new springs, and pushrods and supporting mods for the new heads and decide you need a better cam/intake.

But aside from that, i think the GT40/B303/Explorer combo is a pretty reliable good street combo.

Oh and just because
View: https://youtu.be/XeOn5FjsYAI?si=KOXmjYBo6vGtjNuk

That little video was awesome

Yeah I have 3.73 gears too so good to hear your enjoyed that combo

foxbodyclark · Jan 25, 2025

Mustang5L5 said:
GT40 heads and an explore intake are probably the route I'd go. I've driven this combo before with the B cam and with a stick and 3.73's it was a fun combo. Problem is by the time you get a set of GT40 heads and go through them, you could almost put that money into a much better head. Then scope creep settles in when you start getting new springs, and pushrods and supporting mods for the new heads and decide you need a better cam/intake.

But aside from that, i think the GT40/B303/Explorer combo is a pretty reliable good street combo.

Oh and just because
View: https://youtu.be/XeOn5FjsYAI?si=KOXmjYBo6vGtjNuk

Any chance you remember what length push rods you used on that build?

Mustang5L5 · Jan 26, 2025

foxbodyclark said:
Any chance you remember what length push rods you used on that build?

I don’t remember. Was 15-20 years ago. I want to say stock but I honestly couldn’t tell you. I think it had the crane 93 cobra style roller rockers too

Engine HCI Upgrade

foxbodyclark

Member

LILCBRA

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

foxbodyclark

Member

LILCBRA

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

LILCBRA

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

foxbodyclark

Member

foxbodyclark

Member

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

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Engine HCI Upgrade

Member

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

Member

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Member

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That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

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