Remanufacturing cylinder heads

B

B-Woo

New Member

Jun 22, 2009

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Feb 25, 2010

#1

• Feb 25, 2010

• #1

i have a 1986 gt with a 5.0 converted to mass air, cammed, cobra intake, 60 over bore, 73mm maf, 70mm tb, cold air. engine's comming out for a rebuild and going into a newer shell (this one a lil beat up), i thought this would be a good time to upgrade. i don't want to spend a grand on new cylinder heads so i was wondering if there is a place to remanufacture the stock heads to gt-40 spec. also how much of a hp gain do you get from the explorer heads?

thank you

 

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time

15 Year Member

Mar 23, 2007

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Feb 25, 2010

#2

• Feb 25, 2010

• #2

By the time the stock heads are "remachined to GT-40 spec's" you will have spent as much if not more than buying a set of new heads that will outperform the rebuilt stock heads. When it comes to machine work, you usually get what you pay for. To get to GT-40 spec, you are talking all new valves, which may or may not mean new valve seats, maybe new valve guides, intake and exhaust port work, possible re-surface of the cylinder head. For the $ spent, it would be better to save a little bit more and get new heads, unless you want to stimulate the economy of the local machine shop.

 

B

B-Woo

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Jun 22, 2009

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Feb 25, 2010

#3

• Feb 25, 2010

• #3

well for my application what would you say i do?

 

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time

15 Year Member

Mar 23, 2007

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Middle of Maine

Feb 25, 2010

#4

• Feb 25, 2010

• #4

If the price is right, go with the Explorer heads, they are the better option compared to rebuilding stock 5.0 heads, assuming that the Explorer heads are in good condition.

 

rd

Founding Member

Jan 12, 2000

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Ocean Springs MS

Feb 25, 2010

#5

• Feb 25, 2010

• #5

There is not really a cheap way around heads. I have done this comparison a couple times.. By the time you get new larger valves, new guides, new springs, retainers, locks, and machine work for the new larger seats, valveguide installation , etc, you will be $5-700 or more into them.

Probably the best compromise is to find some used iron Gt40s where you can just have a shop redo the valves, and reuse the springs, etc.

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

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Feb 25, 2010

#6

• Feb 25, 2010

• #6

Since you have an '86, do you have the stock flat-top pistons? Or did you have valve reliefs flycut into them?

If you have the flat-tops, it will limit your choices here

 

B

B-Woo

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Jun 22, 2009

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Feb 26, 2010

#7

• Feb 26, 2010

• #7

sorry, i really don't know, the block is not the orginal i think it's out of a 93, its really a chopped up car, i think they may be because of the over bored don't you have to install larger pistons?