hey everyone sorry if this gets long, i have been thinking about doing a junkyard build, i can get a complete motor out of a 97 explorer for next to free, its got low miles on it (47k). so my question is, what can you guys recommend for a mild build, thats relatively cheap, im realistic. im looking for between 275 and 300 rwhp, it doesnt need to pass emissions, and it will see the track maybe 3 times a year. i know the thread is pretty vague but im just looking to see what different combos and setups work regarding the early v8 explorer 5.0s
newbie with some questions
- Thread starter xterkmx
- Start date
NKau
Founding Member
You're already off to an awesome start. You are a cam swap away from making some decent power. I know of a local guy who's running an explorer longblock with nothing more than an e-cam and 24 lb. injectors, and runs consistent low 13's/high 12's on street tires.
thanks guys thats helps a lot, what gears would you guys recommend with a 300 rwhp mill, all my buddies have 4:30 and 4:56s in there mildly modded stangs, i was thinking 3:90 for a good bang and good cruise rpm on the highway, and lastly lol, i can get a buddy of mine to port the gt40s for some junk in the garage, what gains do you think i will see with some decent portwork? i just did some math the n-21 anderson cam with 1,7 roller rockers comes to a 5.44 lift, is that alright
I pretty much have an explorer engine with a TFS stage 1 cam in my 93. Its the 93 short block with P heads of a 98 explorer. One thing that I would do is swap out the stock springs on the explorer heads with the TFS kit for Ford iron heads.
LiquidGT
Member
I used a whole explorer motor, just swapped the explorer accesories from the stang. Ported the H/I, tfs 1 cam, upgraded springs, windage tray, 1.6 roller rockers, slightly longer pushrods. Pretty quick, would be qucker if I had 3.55 gears.
NKau
Founding Member
Anywhere from a 3.55 - 4.10 gear should be good. I don't see any sense in going deeper than that.
Porting doesn't always help if it's not done properly, so keep that in mind.
You'll definitely want to get a matched set of valvesprings for that cam. On E7's, the springs bind afer .500 lift, and I wouldn't assume the GT40P's would be any different.
Thats not right. It is .512 with 1.7s. The cam is made for them. The original intent for the cam was to be a stock replacement for the 93 cobra. So all of those parts work very well together. This set up with drag radials will go 12s. 3.90's would be a perfect choice. I had 3.73s in mine and always wanted a little more. But, I drove the car 92miles a day 5 days a week. The tfs spring package is a good match for the cam.
, what type of pistons do the explorer mills come with and the compresion?
LiquidGT
Member
I actually just got the ports matched on the heads to intake and got the exhaust side opened up more. An old racer guy did mine, but if you go too big it will hurt you. I heard somewhere when I was reserching the gt40 vs gtp, that if you port the gtp's it messes up the flow and turns them into windtunnels. Any one else heard this.
I think the compression is 9:1, not sure. The pistons are hyper, and they dont have the small dish like the forged mustang pistons.
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