Max Bang for Buck Top end swap for stock 5.0L

mrhtwls · May 2, 2010

I have an '89 5.0L LX with a stock bottom end that recently burped a head gasket. I am taking advantage of the sitation to do a top-end swap to wake the engine up a bit while keeping it very streetable.

My first thoughts was a Motorsports GT-40 EFI intake kit, AFR 165 heads, 65mm throttle body, and E-303 cam.

Anyone have any better ideas?

Anyone have a spare GT-40 EFI setup laying around?

~MrHtwls

RydeOn · May 2, 2010

I would step it up on the intake and cam with those heads. And don't forget roller rockers.

mrhtwls · May 2, 2010

1.6 Roller rockers, right?

Cobra1741 · May 2, 2010

fti cams are good with the afr165 heads i see. or anderson ford motorsports.

mrhtwls · May 5, 2010

I was told comp cams has a more modern grind hydraulic extreme energy cam, or perhaps a trick flow stage 1 cam would work well. Any feedback?

steelie4u · May 16, 2010

im just completing my swap on my 93 5.0 it has the following. AFR 165, trick flow street heat upper and lower intake, 1.6 rockers new roller lifters, stage 1 cam. new 24lb injectors, 70mm throttle body, pmass 73mm MAF calibrated for 24lb injectors, 255 fuel pump, adjustable fuel regulator, fuel pressure gauge and new pushrods, timing chain, it should rock , will let you know next week when its complete, just remember to check PTV clearance, and degree the cam good luck

steelie4u · Jun 20, 2010

well im finidhed with the swap and took her for a few rides and changed oil twice and all i can say is WOW! what a difference, she pulls really hard after 1500 rpm and gets rubber on the shift from 1st to 2nd ( didnt do that before) but the swap is well worth the money for the performance

GTNBY2 · Jun 26, 2010

If your wanting a matched kit without any guess work, use either the holley systemax or trickflow top end kits for sale at Summit. I have trick flow components on my car and have had great luck with them. Heres a link...cant go wrong when they do all the matching for you!
Trick Flow® 360 HP Twisted Wedge® Top-End Engine Kits for Ford 5.0L - SummitRacing.com

InfernoGT · Jul 8, 2010

I strongly second the trickflow kit! Everyone is on teh afr bandwagon these days, but they really dont seem to make much (if any) more power even with a magical "ed cam" than the TFS top end kits do out of the box. I have a 89GT that made 313rwhp and 303rwtq with nothing but the tfs track heat top end kit bbk headers and generic 2.5" exhaust. and that was on a mustang dyno (they read a bit lower than dynojets).

DucatiRdr · Aug 18, 2010

No recommendations for Edelbrock Performer? I was thinking a Performer upper and heads with my stock '88 speed density cam and 1.72RR.

89drop · Oct 18, 2010

DucatiRdr said:
No recommendations for Edelbrock Performer? I was thinking a Performer upper and heads with my stock '88 speed density cam and 1.72RR.

i have the preformer on mine, but thats really about it, i need to cam it, and roller rockers...the guy i got it from had just installed it... i really cant tell you if i noticed a difference cuz it was there already when i got it.

FobraR · Dec 21, 2010

"Bang for your buck"? Explorer/Mountaineer iron gt40 or P heads and manifold from same vehicle (explorer/gt40/cobra manifolds are nearly identical). Upgrade springs on the heads among the regular things.

93GTStang · Dec 21, 2010

The TFS kit works well, either of them. The Holley kit would be better if used a different cam.

FastDriver · Feb 19, 2011

Eddy Performer or RPM would be a better choice than the GT40. Get 'em ported too. Find Tom Moss. FTI cam did really well for me. Good luck.

Gunn331 · Mar 5, 2011

trick flow heads r great if you notch your pistons other than that they r do do.
the street heat intake is for girls and your e cam will kill any power you hoped to make. strongly suggest call james fry at comp cams and go with the R series or preformer 2 intake. and if you dont wanna go over 550 at the flywheel those heads work great but would go with a 205
or procomp 190 if your budget is tight

93GTStang · Mar 5, 2011

It doesn't take an overly complicated setup to make power, just the right combination of parts and some good tuning. This is an example...

This a 9:1 306
TFS heads (out of the box)
F303 cam
Holley intake
75mm TB
85mm MAF
24lbers
1 5/8 LT's
3" x-pipe w/cats
spintech mufflers

YouTube - AGP Dyno Engine Bay

Max Bang for Buck Top end swap for stock 5.0L

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