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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

To Head Or Not To Head, That Is The Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rjaaaaaa
  • Start date Start date May 17, 2017

Rjaaaaaa

Well-Known Member
Jul 11, 2016
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159
63
May 17, 2017
#1
  • May 17, 2017
  • #1
While I'm pulling this motor out and cleaning everything up I was wondering if I should be on the lookout for some gt heads. I believe my motor to be an 86 block with stock looking heads except they have dual springs witch makes sense with the install of the solid x cam. This is all second hand info from po who says he got his info from the guy who put the engine together. I'm thinking that if this guy went to this much trouble and work on this engine that he probably reworked these heads and I'm not sure of the benefit verses trouble and money to change the heads.
again this is what I've been told about the engine and what I can see
Punched out 30 to 306 (found receipt for pistons under seat)
x cam solild lifters
70mm bbk tb
70mm mafs (originally air density, mafs grafted into computer wiring)
Edelbrock intake
shorty headers
bbk fuel rails & reg. (maybe soon to be changed)
not sure what injectors are in there but while I'm at the junk yard should I look for some e6 injector?
stock distributor, coil and ford racing wires
4:10 gears in a TB disc brake rear
The car ran strong before the fire and I was happy with the performance. It' s just my cruiser.
It ran strong before
 

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
SN Certified Technician
Mar 2, 2015
6,945
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May 17, 2017
#2
  • May 17, 2017
  • #2
If ya liked it the way it was then leave it be.

The horsepower bug has a mean bite.

If you liked it before you'll like it when it goes back together. If you were going roller camshaft and aluminum heads I'd say go for it.
 

RaggedGT

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT
Mod Dude
Jul 20, 2014
4,739
3,188
203
Taylorsville ky
May 17, 2017
#3
  • May 17, 2017
  • #3
Before the fire ,didn't you have an oil pressure concern?
Fire damage and that issue(if it was you lol.) would be all I'd worry about since it runs so well already
 

Rjaaaaaa

Well-Known Member
Jul 11, 2016
217
159
63
May 17, 2017
#4
  • May 17, 2017
  • #4
I did have an oil pressure problem but it turned out to be a bad (cheap) sending unit. Replaced unit and pressure gauge is now holding at half scale
 
Reactions: RaggedGT

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
10,641
8,909
234
Birmingham, al
May 18, 2017
#5
  • May 18, 2017
  • #5
Firstly, an X cam is still a hydraulic roller cam.

While I guess you could put solid roller lifters on a hydraulic roller cam, I'd have to wonder why you'd do that.
What are you lashing the valves at if you have a solid lifter in this engine?
Seems that you'd want to have a better head too w/ that much lift and duration...
 

Rjaaaaaa

Well-Known Member
Jul 11, 2016
217
159
63
May 20, 2017
#6
  • May 20, 2017
  • #6
I'm only passing on what I was told, the block # indicates it's a 1985 block so it's probably not a roller but I understand they changed mid 85? Never pulled the lower intake off to check. The valve train has a little noise that sounds like the solid lifter cams I remember.
 

95BlueStallion

My assy trans to myself
15 Year Member
Feb 22, 2007
5,126
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Cedar Rapids, Iowa
May 20, 2017
#7
  • May 20, 2017
  • #7
I vote for leaving it alone if you were happy with how it ran. I just wanted to change my intake for looks, and ended up spiraling out of control. If youre anything like me, it bothers you to upgrade one thing, and realize you will not be using it to its full potential. So then one more part leads to another, and another...
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,106
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Box behind Walmart
May 20, 2017
#8
  • May 20, 2017
  • #8
85 is when the roller block was refitted to roller. 86 was fuel injection.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,260
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Massachusetts
May 20, 2017
#9
  • May 20, 2017
  • #9
I thought 1984 got the roller first?

Nope. 1985 it is
 

Mstng93SSP

You have a nice rear end there Dave.
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
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May 20, 2017
#10
  • May 20, 2017
  • #10
The first roller I remember was in 1983. This dude was in my senior class. His name was Sol Silva. Dude could roll like a champ....whaa wait...what are we talking about?
 
Reactions: deathb4dismount, RaggedGT and General karthief

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,106
21,284
234
Box behind Walmart
May 20, 2017
#11
  • May 20, 2017
  • #11
Do I hear 82?


Anyone?

FromtheWIKI said:
Throttle-body fuel injection first appeared for the 302 on the Lincoln Continental in 1980, and was made standard on all applications in 1983 except manual-transmission equipped Mustangs, Mercury Capris (equipped first with two-barrel (1982), then later four-barrel carburetor (1983–85)), and F-series trucks. The block was fitted with revised, taller lifter bosses to accept roller lifters, and a steel camshaft in 1985, and electronic sequential fuel injection was introduced in 1986.
Click to expand...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Windsor_engine

/about half way down the page
 
Last edited: May 20, 2017
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