Swapping Heads

[nugget68]

I have a 68' with a 302 4v. I am going to do the EFI swap using a GT-40 upper and lower (late model explorer). my question is are the heads on the exploer GT 40 too? and can i swap those out? Thanks in advance!
nugget68

 

[Stang_1973]

I believe they are. i remember someone saying that you can get the GT-40 heads off cobras and explorers but dont take my word for it. As far as putting GT-40 heads on, yes you can. I beleive though that you need different pushrods if you are going to use your stock block. When I put E7's on my car we needed slightly shorter pushrods.

Suggestion: If you are going EFI and GT40, then why not convert over to a roller setup? If you got the cash?

 

[Tubo(2-bo)]

Explorer heads up to early 97 are GT-40, after that they are GT-40p. Much better than E7's but the P's require special headers.

 

[D.Hearne]

Swap the whole motor, but beware of some of the rods in those late 90's 5.0's, they had weaker rods.

 

[Stang_1973]

I agree with D.hearn. If you can get the entire thing, just have it rebulit if you want and pop into your project. It shouldnt be too difficult than what you are already doing.

As far as the rods go, can he use rods from a HO 5.0? I think someone said they had forged internals.

To agree with Tubo3 you do have to watch out for GT-40P heads. And yes they are better than E7's but thats all I had to work with so I had them "worked".

 

[65ShelbyClone]

Swap the whole motor, but beware of some of the rods in those late 90's 5.0's, they had weaker rods.

Eh, I dont think so. I'm pretty sure all 302s had the same rod design and material all through the production.

 

[D.Hearne]

Eh, I dont think so. I'm pretty sure all 302s had the same rod design and material all through the production.

No, I've run across several 90's 5.0's that had different forgings from the old C8OE rod. These are F1TE rods ( if I recall correctly) Of these, I've seen two or three ( or more) that tossed a rod. Bolts were intact but the rod broke at the shoulder where the rod bolt passed thru. With the C8OE rods, you just had to worry about the bolts. Anyhow, good aftermarket forgings are out there to replace the rods without breaking the bank. On the other hand, the later cast cranks for the 5.0's are much improved over the early 50 oz. castings. These late 5.0 cranks almost look like forgings, the quality is that good.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

Seems like I'm always learning something new. I knew the C8 rods were used ALOT, but I've also seen D1s which are whats in my roller motor. I had no idea there was a much later F1 forging. What exactly do you mean by "early 50oz casting"? Early like pre-'90s or early like pre mid-'80s?

 

[D.Hearne]

I've seen a few of the first early to mid 80's 5.0--50oz cranks break in half. And these were in stock O.E. applications.