question about heads

jachmar15

New Member
Jan 27, 2004
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is it worth the money to have my heads ported and polished? i have 94 gt 5.0 with shorty headers, b&m short throw shifter and 4:10's? just wanted to get some opinions on it before i spent the money
 
Yup, sure is....lots horsepower and torque to be made with a set of ported and polished stockers. But don't forget to address that ultra restrictive intake manifold the 94-95's are famous for. Any kind of power gain be it head work, or head swap is going to be minimal trying to suck air through that anemic piece.
 
Don't waste your money paying someone to port them, if you don't do it yourself, don't do it. Like Jesse said, look into a set of GT40P's, despite what many will tell you about its flow numbers compared to a set of ported E7's, the gt40P's are better all around and can make some serious power for what they are. These heads were factory equipment on the 97-? 5.0L explorer and mercury mountaineer.
 
Killercanary said:
Don't waste your money paying someone to port them, if you don't do it yourself, don't do it. Like Jesse said, look into a set of GT40P's, despite what many will tell you about its flow numbers compared to a set of ported E7's, the gt40P's are better all around and can make some serious power for what they are. These heads were factory equipment on the 97-? 5.0L explorer and mercury mountaineer.
Actually, a properly ported set of stock E7TE's will outflow a set of untouched GT-40P's. Now if you were to have the “P's” ported, it would be a different story. But then one might argue why spend the time and effort on porting a set of GT-40P's when the aftermarket is littered with better iron/aluminum castings. It's all going to come down to what you're willing to spend. If in fact he can’t do it himself, Thumpers prices are still reasonabley cheaper than a set of GT-40P's and the results are there.
 
Gearbanger, I really do not want to get into this arguement again, and I'm surprised after all the threads posted about gt40p's versus thumpers you would even make the comment that:
Thumpers prices are still reasonabley cheaper than a set of GT-40P's and the results are there

This is simply not true. No matter that the pro-thumper people say, their only arguement against GT40p's is that they don't require different headers and that thumper claims they outflow gt40p's... sorry but for me the results speak for themselves. Fact remains, there are faster combos running gt40p's than there are running thumpers... PERIOD. Instead of typing my usual book on this subject, I'll refer those reading to use the search function and see the PROOF themselves. Its really not worth getting into over. Anyone that reads and sees what people run with GT40P's versus thumper's E7's knows there is no question here.
 
Paul is right. Flow numbers don't mean a thing. The GT40P's have different intake runners, different intake valves and a more centralized spark plug location than the E7's do which provide for a much better burn resulting in more horsepower. The P heads have a slightly large intake valve than stock which makes for a great combination with the small exhaust valve, and when used with the right cam, can make tons and tons more torque than any type of E7's. A good idea would be to buy bare castings, port them and assemble them with nice springs, valves, locks, keepers, and guides. I'm sure if they were ported enough, they could run with any aftermarket headed 302 out there. However, it is all in the combination.

Joe
 
Thanks Joe, you said everything I was thinking.

In addition to what Joe said, from what I have seen larger than stock valves are a bad idea with the GT40P due to shrouding, but this is internet rumor... I have no personal experience to validate it.
 
i have a set of fully ported E7's with slightly larger valves that i'm waiting to install. if i didn't get these heads, i would of gotten a set of GT40P's. but for the price i got these heads for, i dont think anybody would pass it up :)

my work dynod a set of ported E7's heads on a 347 and made 400 hp at the flywheel. not mad considering there E7's.

there are only 2 things that should be considered if you want to buy a set of heads. how much you plan on spending and what you want to do with your car.
 
Killercanary said:
Fact remains, there are faster combos running gt40p's than there are running thumpers... PERIOD.
Well, I don't really want to get into it either, but I don't see any period at the end of that sentence. I'll give it to you that there are more combo's running GT-40P's than Thumper heads, but I didn't state that Thumper heads were the “be all, end all” of ported E7's either. . Powerheads does a pretty fine set of E7TE's as well, and besides, I stated that a properly ported E7TE would outflow a set of untouched GT-40P's. Which they have been shown to do and although I've not found any comparison numbers stating how they stack up on the dyno, I'll bet you haven't found any contradicting figure that say the GT-40P's are superior. It's true that flow numbers don't tell the whole story, but I'll never swap out my ported E7's for a set of GT-40P's, no matter how good "P" faithfuls say they are. The horsepower difference between them is going to be minute if any and it's just not worth the price of headers and head gaskets for me. The next set of heads my 302 would see would be Edlebrocks, Trick Flow’s or AFR’s. Something I’m actually going to feel a difference when changing. Not an extra possible 2-3 horsepower, that’s only ever going to be noticed on a dyno sheet.

If he can find a set of cheap GT-40’s or GT-40P’s, then fine. Buy em, bolt em on and go racing. But don’t discount the E7TE’s cause you don’t like em!
 
Gearbanger 101 said:
Well, I don't really want to get into it either, but I don't see any period at the end of that sentence. I'll give it to you that there are more combo's running GT-40P's than Thumper heads, but I didn't state that Thumper heads were the “be all, end all” of ported E7's either. . Powerheads does a pretty fine set of E7TE's as well, and besides, I stated that a properly ported E7TE would outflow a set of untouched GT-40P's. Which they have been shown to do and although I've not found any comparison numbers stating how they stack up on the dyno, I'll bet you haven't found any contradicting figure that say the GT-40P's are superior. It's true that flow numbers don't tell the whole story, but I'll never swap out my ported E7's for a set of GT-40P's, no matter how good "P" faithfuls say they are. The horsepower difference between them is going to be minute if any and it's just not worth the price of headers and head gaskets for me. The next set of heads my 302 would see would be Edlebrocks, Trick Flow’s or AFR’s. Something I’m actually going to feel a difference when changing. Not an extra possible 2-3 horsepower, that’s only ever going to be noticed on a dyno sheet.

If he can find a set of cheap GT-40’s or GT-40P’s, then fine. Buy em, bolt em on and go racing. But don’t discount the E7TE’s cause you don’t like em!

Just curious, what do you run with the thumpers? (track times)
 
I have nothing against home ported E7's, but I think there are much better alternatives than to spend $500 on thumpers. I can find a TON of cars that perform better than thumper claims his does, the proof is there for the Gt40p's, it doesn't exist for the thumpers. I've called this NUMEROUS times, and still nothing has surfaced. There are guys running some unreal times on GT40P's, look at this PROOF, if you can find thumper headed combos that match these please post them...

dark pony-7.94@87 gt40p's, afm cam, cobra intake 299 RWHP 329 RWTQ

redSN95vert-95 GT Convertible, 2001 Explorer Engine(5.0),Engine mods, P Heads (milled .030"), Ported Exh., 1.6 Roller Rockers(Yella Terra), RPM II Intake, 24# Inj.,E-cam, Mac LongTubes- P specific, Mac Prochamber, Magnaflow Catback, 4.10 Gears, 12.483 @ 106.81


Factory Stocker-12.27 @110.3, unported gt40p heads, cobra intake, stock cam, stock short block on Hoosier Dots, 3300lbs.
281hp 323tq

ROG30Y-ported and milled gt40p, ported edel. rpm intake, 75mm tb, 77mm maf, f303 cam, 1 5/8 longtubes, 2 1/2 full exhaust and turbo mufflers, 18 degrees timing, 34lbs fuel pressure, 3180lb car, 4.10's, 327rwhp, 330rwtq, 11.94 at 115.1

91lxssp-91 LX SSP 5.0 Coupe w/AOD. GT40P heads, Cobra Intake, 1.6 RRs, cam, 24lb injectors, 65mm TB, exhaust, pulleys, 4.10 gears, TransGo shift kit, PI 2800 rpm non-lockup converter, M/T 8.5 slicks - 12.57@108 mph w/1.74 60 ft.
BFG 275/60/15 Drag Radials - 12.70@106 w/1.77 60 ft.


Check out this thread:
http://www.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=315488&highlight=gt40p+times
 
yellow1995Cobra said:
Just curious, what do you run with the thumpers? (track times)
I don't own a set of Thumpers, I've ported and polished my own heads using stock valves (5-angle valve job), as well as a welded straitened and ported stock intake. Other than that, I’m running the stock cam with 1.7rr, bored stock throttle body to 63mm, underdrive pulleys, full exhaust, fuel system upgrades, home made CAI and 3.55 gears along with a bunch of miscellaneous stuff and a good tune. The best I’ve run with my full weight, fully loaded 5-speed LX was a 13.89 @ just under 104mph with stock worn radials, crappy 60ft, full interior (not to mention 75lbs worth of stereo equipment and an old gym bag full of crap in the back) on a cold track. Now by now means is this time spectacular, but I’ve out run a lot of "claimed" 12-second cars with a lot more money into their combos than mine. Given a warmer track, a new set of street radials (not slicks or D/R’s) putting the car on a diet and a little luck, I’m convinced that mid/low 13’s are within reach.


I did all the work myself and have less than 4500 Canadian wrapped up in the entire car.....including the purchase price! And that’s with a ground up resoration! Is that what you were expecting to hear? No bragging, no B/S and no way that stock GT-40’s on my combo are going to do much better!
 
Oops, found another 94-95...
94VIRGINIASTANG-94 gt.Fox Lake GT40P'S,Shorty headers,TFS stage 1 cam,TFS street heat intake,65mm tb.,76mm.c&l,Mac prochamber,flowmasters,4.10s,crane ps91 coil,16'timing,Kirban AFR.Lakewood traction action lift bars,MSD Digital 6,30lbs. injectors,3/8 intake spacer,smog deleted.Strange adjustable shocks& struts.PA C-4,3400 stall...............12.97 at 108 at 3540 lbs
 
Gearbanger 101 said:
I don't own a set of Thumpers, I've ported and polished my own heads using stock valves (5-angle valve job), as well as a welded straitened and ported stock intake. Other than that, I’m running the stock cam with 1.7rr, bored stock throttle body to 63mm, underdrive pulleys, full exhaust, fuel system upgrades, home made CAI and 3.55 gears along with a bunch of miscellaneous stuff and a good tune. The best I’ve run with my full weight, fully loaded 5-speed LX was a 13.89 @ just under 104mph with stock worn radials, crappy 60ft, full interior (not to mention 75lbs worth of stereo equipment and an old gym bag full of crap in the back) on a cold track. Now by now means is this time spectacular, but I’ve out run a lot of "claimed" 12-second cars with a lot more money into their combos than mine. Given a warmer track, a new set of street radials (not slicks or D/R’s) putting the car on a diet and a little luck, I’m convinced that mid/low 13’s are within reach.


I did all the work myself and have less than 4500 Canadian wrapped up in the entire car.....including the purchase price! And that’s with a ground up resoration! Is that what you were expecting to hear? No bragging, no B/S and no way that stock GT-40’s on my combo are going to do much better!

I was gonna say i dont want to hear 10 excuses when i posted that, just the actual track times. But i didnt and you gave a ton of excuses. Sounds to me that your making excuses for your times. Just be happy with what you got instead of saying things like "well the track was cold" etc etc.

4500 isnt much at all, considering that includes the car. Nice job on building a real budget car. But i still wanna know what your actual times were, not "just under 104", lets see the 60ft, 1/8, 1000ft 1/4 etc.

How much power did the car make when u tuned it? And do you know the weight?
 
yellow1995Cobra said:
I was gonna say i dont want to hear 10 excuses when i posted that, just the actual track times. But i didnt and you gave a ton of excuses. Sounds to me that your making excuses for your times. Just be happy with what you got instead of saying things like "well the track was cold" etc etc.

4500 isnt much at all, considering that includes the car. Nice job on building a real budget car. But i still wanna know what your actual times were, not "just under 104", lets see the 60ft, 1/8, 1000ft 1/4 etc.

How much power did the car make when u tuned it? And do you know the weight?
Yellow1995Cobra, it sounds a lot like you’re trying to put words into my mouth? No excuses, just facts! The track was cold, my tires were worn and I had a load in the car. I did the best I could under these conditions and told you what it did. Would it have gone faster under better conditions, discounting the factors that I mentioned….DAMN RIGHT! But I didn’t. Had I not stated the conditions, I would have gotten a ton of responses telling me I should be running better times than that, or what were the track conditions like, etc, etc. I just cut the crap and got it out of the way, right off the bat.

Otherwise, I'm very happy with the times considering most others with more mods and expectedly faster cars were running low 14's that day. I only had a chance at one run, so I took it. Don't remember much more about the time slip other than the time and trap speed and can't do much about it now, since the vehicle is in storage under a foot of snow with the slip in the glove compartment. Remind me this spring to run out and get if for you if you’re really that interested, or I’ll be happy to run a few new ones and post them when the track reopens.

I’ve never had the car dyno tuned, as I live miles away from the nearest dyno, not to mention I’m not done tinkering with it. The car weighs 3320lbs (give or take) according to the city dump.

You’re right, $4500.00 Canadian isn’t a lot of money, considering like I said it include the price of the car itself and a ground up restoration, as the car was a total write-off when I bought it. Not to mention an Automatic GT, which is now a 5-speed LX. I hope I’ve provided you with the answers to your questions. Feel free to ask away, if you’ve got anymore.
 
blah...blah.... DONT BUY PORTED HEADS!!! DONT BUY THUMPERS PORTED HEADS!! GOD, anything to keep those two long winded high dollar racers quiet!! Port your own heads if you have too!! all you need is a 20.00 die grinder and some carbide bits.. and a few hours and your rocking the world!! Hell yeah!! that s it...blah blah blah.... 101 you WONT WIN!! they are safe!! But when we look at our cars, we dont see 12s with
8,000.00 ( whats that..12,000 Cn)... hell no!! we see 12s with 1000.00 duh..... ( oh that is what 1500.00 Cn??) Cheese and rice..... these guys are on every site!! Just agree... and maybe they will feel big and strong and wax their car again!! LOL

Just me..................................

Thumper
 
thumper460 said:
blah...blah.... DONT BUY PORTED HEADS!!! DONT BUY THUMPERS PORTED HEADS!! GOD, anything to keep those two long winded high dollar racers quiet!! Port your own heads if you have too!! all you need is a 20.00 die grinder and some carbide bits.. and a few hours and your rocking the world!! Hell yeah!! that s it...blah blah blah.... 101 you WONT WIN!! they are safe!! But when we look at our cars, we dont see 12s with
8,000.00 ( whats that..12,000 Cn)... hell no!! we see 12s with 1000.00 duh..... ( oh that is what 1500.00 Cn??) Cheese and rice..... these guys are on every site!! Just agree... and maybe they will feel big and strong and wax their car again!! LOL

Just me..................................

Thumper

Thumper, everyone has opinions, and we can state ours at will. thats why we live in America. You say things like the high dollar racers only preach about afr's and the likes. While you preach only about thumpers. So you are exactly the same. There is more then JUST THUMPER HEADS, you need to remember that there are so many choices out there for heads. New and used, iron and alum. Sometimes when i read your posts i wonder if you forget that there are other options out there.