PI head swap, too strong?

Azarello · Aug 28, 2005

Hey guys,

first thanks for all who have help me with my research. I have learned alot. Now that I have desided to make mt car a weekend warrior fun car, I am strongly considering the full head swap. But will the swap be too strong formy car, which has 97k. It has been well maintained, just had a full tune up and ford said it was nothing wrong with the engine. My concern is that the engine wasn't designed for the heads that are on 99 plus, unless it is the same engine that is on 96-98. Can someone clear this up for me. Has anyone heard of any problems with the swap damaging the engine. Sorry if these questions sound elementry, but I'm just getting started.

forpit2000gt · Aug 28, 2005

Azarello said:
Hey guys,

first thanks for all who have help me with my research. I have learned alot. Now that I have desided to make mt car a weekend warrior fun car, I am strongly considering the full head swap. But will the swap be too strong formy car, which has 97k. It has been well maintained, just had a full tune up and ford said it was nothing wrong with the engine. My concern is that the engine wasn't designed for the heads that are on 99 plus, unless it is the same engine that is on 96-98. Can someone clear this up for me. Has anyone heard of any problems with the swap damaging the engine. Sorry if these questions sound elementry, but I'm just getting started.

It will not be to strong. It is a good mod for you. The block is still a 4.6. You will need a new intake as well. You will have more compression that a 99+.

blackink00 · Aug 28, 2005

youll be fine, dont worry unless you have 98,000 miles then i wouldnt.

j/k

Sick96Stang · Aug 28, 2005

Azarello said:
Hey guys,

first thanks for all who have help me with my research. I have learned alot. Now that I have desided to make mt car a weekend warrior fun car, I am strongly considering the full head swap. But will the swap be too strong formy car, which has 97k. It has been well maintained, just had a full tune up and ford said it was nothing wrong with the engine. My concern is that the engine wasn't designed for the heads that are on 99 plus, unless it is the same engine that is on 96-98. Can someone clear this up for me. Has anyone heard of any problems with the swap damaging the engine. Sorry if these questions sound elementry, but I'm just getting started.

96-98 and 99+ engines are basically the same except for the heads, intake, and cams, and probably a few other little things. A PI headswap is definetely not to strong for your car, it makes your car stronger. You are basically just putting on new heads, cams, and an intake manifold, its not like your adding a blower and putting more stress on your current parts you are taking off old parts and putting on newer and better parts. As long as the swap is done right there should be no damage to your engine.

Azarello · Aug 29, 2005

Sick96Stang said:
96-98 and 99+ engines are basically the same except for the heads, intake, and cams, and probably a few other little things. A PI headswap is definetely not to strong for your car, it makes your car stronger. You are basically just putting on new heads, cams, and an intake manifold, its not like your adding a blower and putting more stress on your current parts you are taking off old parts and putting on newer and better parts. As long as the swap is done right there should be no damage to your engine.

Cool thanks, just what I wanted to hear.

Azarello · Aug 29, 2005

blackink00 said:
youll be fine, dont worry unless you have 98,000 miles then i wouldnt.

j/k

MyEarsHurt · Aug 29, 2005

It should be fine, I mean, it would probably make the engine a lot better too. Think about it, you are replacing a lot of your gaskets, cleaning up the pistons when the heads are off, new intake, new heads all these things will only make the engine more reliable.

CobraM23 · Aug 29, 2005

My car had 110K on it when I did the swap. Its got 118K on it now, and its been the best 8000 miles ever.

mrvax · Aug 29, 2005

It will be no problem. Think of it this way:
You are rebuilding the top end of your engine. Have fun, enjoy.

BTW: I did mine at 60K, it has 89K now and runs as good or better than ever.

tomustang · Aug 29, 2005

90K did the headswap, cleaned the carbon off the pistons too.

No one would do it if it would damage the engine.

billfisher · Aug 29, 2005

go for it

Azarello said:
Hey guys,

first thanks for all who have help me with my research. I have learned alot. Now that I have desided to make mt car a weekend warrior fun car, I am strongly considering the full head swap. But will the swap be too strong formy car, which has 97k. It has been well maintained, just had a full tune up and ford said it was nothing wrong with the engine. My concern is that the engine wasn't designed for the heads that are on 99 plus, unless it is the same engine that is on 96-98. Can someone clear this up for me. Has anyone heard of any problems with the swap damaging the engine. Sorry if these questions sound elementry, but I'm just getting started.

from somebody that has a 96 w/changes do it dude. 96 and up block are crossbolted on all 5 mains. = plenty strong.

billfisher · Aug 29, 2005

red headed stepchild

this months MM&FF details the many advantages 96-98 have over 99-04's....

we catch them off guard with our speed.(slower)
we confound them with our legendary torque(less).
as we drive by them(parked) they can only envy our good looks.(for real)

Azarello · Aug 30, 2005

CobraM23 said:
My car had 110K on it when I did the swap. Its got 118K on it now, and its been the best 8000 miles ever.

sounds great

Azarello · Aug 30, 2005

mrvax said:
It will be no problem. Think of it this way:
You are rebuilding the top end of your engine. Have fun, enjoy.

BTW: I did mine at 60K, it has 89K now and runs as good or better than ever.

That makes sense now, thanks.

Orions98GT · Aug 30, 2005

do the swap, its like a complete top end rebuild. That can only help.

green_fow_six · Aug 30, 2005

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about it, I had around 190k miles on my npi engine before I did a pi engine swap. And the engine was still running good so you should be fine. Maybe you should get some stage 1 or 2 cams while you have your heads out?

edbo · Aug 31, 2005

My curiosity has me. I know we're looking at raised compressions on this 96-98 NPI to PI mods. So, is everyone running 93 octane that has performed this mod or mid-grade 89? I might have to wait for these big time gas prices to drop before doing the mod (as well as having the money to get the parts and work done)!

Sick96Stang · Aug 31, 2005

edbo said:
My curiosity has me. I know we're looking at raised compressions on this 96-98 NPI to PI mods. So, is everyone running 93 octane that has performed this mod or mid-grade 89? I might have to wait for these big time gas prices to drop before doing the mod (as well as having the money to get the parts and work done)!

I believe u should still be able to run 87 octane even with the raised compression not sure, because I got my head port and polished also and get some milled so my compression raised even more. Might have to run 89 but I think you could get away with 87 still, maybe I'm wrong hopefully somebody else will jump in here and have some better info.

PI head swap, too strong?

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