Remanufacturing cylinder heads

[B-Woo]

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]

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-Woo]

well for my application what would you say i do?

 

[Bullitt347]

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]

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]

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-Woo]

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?