(Copied from "fede85gt" over on foureyedpride.com, posted on 04-04-2007, 01:46 PM)
My buddy wants to pick up a complete 99 Explorer engine for his Stang. What mods need to be done to use the Explorer intake and throttle body???? The car has mass air SEFI and a 5 speed. Thanks. Justin
vb.foureyedpride.com
here goes:
5.0 EXPLORER ENGINE IN TO FOX BODY SWAP FAQ´S
Since more frequently I see the same basic questions popping up, and lot of board members contributing with very good information on the subject, I will try to compile to the best of my knowledge and experience a guide for swapping an explorer 5.0 engine in to a fox body mustang based on my current project car. Please feel free to add or correct any information.
What year of explorers came with the 5.0 engine?
1996 to 2000 (please correct me if Im wrong)
What are the advantages of using an explorer engine?
Well for starters you can get either variation of the GT40 heads which offer a performance gain, you may find a low mileage motor that wouldn’t give you any problems for a long time, they are cheaper than doing a rebuild on you current engine if an overbore is required.
Some explorer engines come with an engine oil cooler ala special service mustangs so that’s another added bonus, it just plumbs in to you’re lower radiator hose and that’s it!!!!
Please note: These engines came with hyper pistons so please consider this if you’re planning on running boost (supercharger or turbo) or nitrous.
How much should I expect to pay for an explorer long block?
The explorer engines are plentiful in the salvage yards and some with very low mileage (a lot of rollover vehicles),In my personal case the day I decided to buy the engine, with cash in hand, I found no less than 6 engines in 4 hours, you can usually find them in the $500 to $600 dollar range for a complete long block (in my area). Remember that if you are going to run it carbureted, you can easily sell the Intake, Throttle body (65 MM), and injectors (19 LB/HR), you can usually get $200 + dollars for all of the components so you can subs tract that from the price you paid
How do I know which type of GT40 heads I got with my long block?
Very simple regular GT40 heads have 3 vertical lines cast in to the right lower corner of the head they came on the 95 to 96 explorer v8, GT40P heads came on the 97 and up 5.0 v8 explorers and have 4 vertical lines cast in the same location, also you can find the legend GT40P cast on various parts of the head as opposed to just GT on the pre ´97 heads.
Should I port my GT40 heads?
GT40 heads are a proven winner compared to stock e7 heads, having better intake and exhaust runners, larger valves and several other improvements, so out of the box they are a great bang for the buck, but then again as with everything else, there’s always room for improvement, it all depends on you’re goals. There’s an excellent write up on
www.diyporting.com for GT40 and GT40P heads, if you’re mechanically inclined give it a try.
Which Headers can I use with GT40 heads?
Well if you got the regular GT40 heads 3 bars, here’s the good news is any stock or aftermarket stock replacement header will work be it short (equal or unequal) or long tubes!!!!!
Now comes the sad part, while the GT40P head is suppose to be the best GT40 head out there, it needs P-specific headers, there’s been a lot of debate about some long tube headers fitting with out a problem (MAC and
BBK), others say that that you need wires with 90 deg. Boots, I haven’t tested them yet. The issues that come up are interference with spark plug removal, and burned plug wires.
None of the stock type replacement shortie headers (equal or unequal length) work properly. I’ve mocked up old school FMS Stainless Steel headers, and BBK shorties and they wont work, don’t believe what they say that with “minor tweaking” they will work, not true, some tubes need major dimpling , not even worth damaging a good set headers.
Now the general opinion is that you’re better off just running the P specific headers in the first place either from FRPP at around $239 dlls. for painted ones or $290 for Jet hot coated ones, or the MAC´S that I usually see on eBay for around $280 with ceramic coatings, so you make the call.
I’ve been trying to find a set of used P specific shortie headers reasonably priced ,used , for almost a year now with no luck
Which items do I need to change on my explorer 5.0 in order to swap it in my fox mustang?
There are several items that need to be replaced with fox specific parts in order to drop in your explorer 5.0 engine in your fox body mustang, if you currently have you’re engine you can just bolt them to the explorer engine after previously inspecting.
If and when you decide to tear in to you’re explorer engine or take off the valve covers please note: the valve cover gaskets are reusable and expensive at about $35 dlls. a set (metal core with rubber) so don’t throw them away!!!!
1.- You will need to put your fox 5.0 oil pan (dual hump), oil pump pick up tube with screen, oil pan gasket, oil pan dipstick tube, and at the same time for safe cheap insurance replace the oil pump and oil pump drive shaft while your at it.
2.-At a minimum you will need a stock mustang 5.0 HO camshaft, the explorer specific cam is no good for performance applications, or even consider any of the popular off the shelf cams TFS or FRPP to name a few, just remember to upgrade your valve springs accordingly if you want to avoid any valve float, there’s a trick flow kit P/N TFS-2500100 that contains springs that will handle a cam up to .542 lift, includes all the appropriate retainers, and valve guide seals, for $129 these seems to be the best bang for the buck, you decide..
Replace at you’re consideration while you are doing the cam swap: the timing chain, also consider if you’re running a carbed set up, you will need to put the cam eccentric to drive the mechanical fuel pump, don’t be surprised if you don’t have any fuel pressure if you don’t put it in
You can reuse you’re roller lifters, stamped valve rockers and pushrod at you’re own criteria
If and when you are removing the heads remember that these engines use torque to yield head bolts, meaning that they are not reusable, take the time to replace them at least with ARP head bolts, or a minimum grade 8 replacement found on any Fastener specialty business.
3.-You will need to put a fox specific timing cover on the explorer 5.0 , along with a damper, crank pulley, fox water pump, and a distributor, please remember that the distributor needs to have the drive gear that is compatible with a billet roller cam, if not you can destroy your engine at initial start u, not good.
4.-If your running a 5 spd. Tranny remember that all explorer are automatics, so you need to ditch the flex plate, drop in a pilot bushing, and just for safe measure replace the rear main oil seal while your at it.
5.-Replace the intake manifold if you are running a carbureted set up, any carbed intake will work, there are several threads on this board regarding the issue(i.e. weiand stealth, edelbrock performer rpm), so again you make the call, I would highly recommend port matching the intake manifold to the heads, some improvement can be had here.
6.-Consider replacing plugs and seals while the engine is out of the vehicle , cheap insurance again …..
7.-Use you’re fox specific engine mounts.