Perfomance Mods for a 302
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Prairieville, Louisiana
Perfomance Mods for a 302
I am currently rebuilding my 87 302 from the ground up. I just got my block back from the machine shop with a fresh cylinder bore and hone, line bore, new cam bearings, and freeze plugs. So now I need your help.
I going to switch from flat tappets to roller lifters and I think my new cam I'm gonna put is 214/224 cam. Any advise on cam specs?
I'm think about going with gt 40 or gt 40p heads for the motor. Are there any better heads out there for this motor?
Then I'll probably but the Cobra R upper and lower intake manifolds. Or is there maybe something else that would be better?
I also have some dynomax long tube headers that I have that I will put on.
Is there anyone who also knows some good brands for fuel pump, distributor, and any other parts that I need to know?
I going to switch from flat tappets to roller lifters and I think my new cam I'm gonna put is 214/224 cam. Any advise on cam specs?
I'm think about going with gt 40 or gt 40p heads for the motor. Are there any better heads out there for this motor?
Then I'll probably but the Cobra R upper and lower intake manifolds. Or is there maybe something else that would be better?
I also have some dynomax long tube headers that I have that I will put on.
Is there anyone who also knows some good brands for fuel pump, distributor, and any other parts that I need to know?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
ok your truck is running speed density so you have to be very careful in what cam you chose. you cant thro any ol cam in there especially most that run in stangs. remember this is a truck not a car. your long tube headers will not fit on gt40P heads so scratch that idea. either get a set of E7's ported or find some used edelbrock,worldproducts heads.
I guess what i need to know is what this truck will be used for? is it 4wd or 2wd.
I guess what i need to know is what this truck will be used for? is it 4wd or 2wd.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
also the stock fuel pump, injectors , distributor are all fine and will perform what you need. you might look into an msd coil and a good set of plug wires a basic copper autolite or motorcraft plugs. dont waste your time on those platinum fufu crap.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Maggie Valley, NC
I would go with one brand for your fuel system. Such as Edelbrock heads, intake, fuel pump, etc. They are all dyno matched for maximum preformance. As far as ignition, MSD is the best bang for your buck. They have different stages that you can buy for performance. Good luck!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 203
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From: Anderson, SC
A hydro roller cam requires a different dizzy gear than the the flat tapet cam, so you will need a dizzy out of a 92 or newer 5.0 truck. Also the stock ignition with a msd coil and a good set of wires will be more than enough for your truck. The stock fuel system will also be more than adequate. Your headers wont fit gt40p heads but they will fit the gt40's. There are a lot of heads better than the gt40 heads(AFR, Trick Flow, Edelbrock ect...) but you will pay a whole lot more for them even if they are used. The cobra intake is gonna be the most bang for the buck and is proably the best choice. Like Kemical said your cam choice will be limited with the speed density efi, and depending on the size of the cam you want to run you might want to convert to MAF.
Is that a technical term? lol
platinum fufu crap.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Destin/Ft. Walton Beach,
The GT-40 tubular intake flows better then the cast Cobra intake. The bends are smoother, and have a better runner shape. Have the Cobra intake extrude honed though, and it will outflow the GT-40 intake. The thin wall tube runners of the GT-40 can't be extrude honed. However, I don't know if the Ford performance intakes be used with speed density? Dont' the truck intakes use a two butterfly (for the lack of better words) throttle body? How could you adapt this to the single style that go with the two Ford performance intakes?
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Anderson, SC
Easy, take the dual bore tb and throw it in the scrap pile with the stock truck intake, then buy a single bore tb to match the intake.
The gt 40 does out flow the cobra but it also cost $200 more than the cobra, and it is easier to find a used cobra intake. (its even easier to find an explorer intake)
The gt 40 does out flow the cobra but it also cost $200 more than the cobra, and it is easier to find a used cobra intake. (its even easier to find an explorer intake)
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Prairieville, Louisiana
Hey Fellas
The truck is 4wd and i plan to take it off road alot, but i still want it streetable. And wow thats a lot of info. So what I can gather is that I should go with the gt 40s instead of the gt 40p's so my headers will fit. About the cam, i talked to the big ford guy at my local performance shop Thunder Racing and he said the cam will work. And go with the cobra intake. But I do think I'm gonna go with 21 or 24lbs. injectors. The msd ignition sounds good too.
Any other advice or things im not thinking of?
The truck is 4wd and i plan to take it off road alot, but i still want it streetable. And wow thats a lot of info. So what I can gather is that I should go with the gt 40s instead of the gt 40p's so my headers will fit. About the cam, i talked to the big ford guy at my local performance shop Thunder Racing and he said the cam will work. And go with the cobra intake. But I do think I'm gonna go with 21 or 24lbs. injectors. The msd ignition sounds good too.
Any other advice or things im not thinking of?
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Cincinnati
I do not believe the block you have is machined for roller lifters. I mean that there are 6-8 tapped holes that hold a bracket that retains/maintains the roller lifters in your block. Being an 87 block could mean that the holes are there and all you need is the retainer/bolts/lifters.
I've actually seen flow numbers that say the explorer flows better than the cobra or gt40 manifolds.
I would stay with 19 lb injectors.
Do some research on you heads as these will be the best performance choice you can make. The cam is just as important as the heads.
Also remember the more power you make, the more power your tranny and suspension will have to handle. More wear and tear on components that were not design to handle the power increase.
I've actually seen flow numbers that say the explorer flows better than the cobra or gt40 manifolds.
I would stay with 19 lb injectors.
Do some research on you heads as these will be the best performance choice you can make. The cam is just as important as the heads.
Also remember the more power you make, the more power your tranny and suspension will have to handle. More wear and tear on components that were not design to handle the power increase.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Destin/Ft. Walton Beach,
An 87 truck block IS machined for the roller lifter retainer spider. It's possible that the holes aren't drilled and tapped though. Not a tough job to do.
No offense, but I'm going to have to ask for proof. The GT40 outflows ANY factory Ford 5.0 intake. The Cobra is close though. Don't you think that the Explorer manifold would be on the 5.0 Cobra Mustang if it flowed better? The Explorer or GT/HO manifold would be my third choice, since they flow nearly the same. Some say the Explorer flows better then the GT/HO, but I've seen no proof. Several of the aftermarket upper intakes use the truck intake as a lower. The GT40 heads will make more horsepower then the GT40P, but the P heads have good torque numbers at lower RPM's. Too bad your headers wouldn't work with the P heads, because they work well on a 4wd. Sounds like you have a pretty good understanding of what you need.
I've actually seen flow numbers that say the explorer flows better than the cobra or gt40 manifolds.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Cincinnati
See link for intake info.
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...xplorer+intake
I bought a cobra intake since I don't like the looks of the explorer intake and couldn't swallow the $600 price tag for the GT40. Another thing to consider is just porting a standard mustang 5.0 upper and lower.
Another head to consider is a ported E7 head which may or may not perform better than GT40P or GT40's I have not done any homework on that comparison. www.powerheads.com for ported E7's.
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...xplorer+intake
I bought a cobra intake since I don't like the looks of the explorer intake and couldn't swallow the $600 price tag for the GT40. Another thing to consider is just porting a standard mustang 5.0 upper and lower.
Another head to consider is a ported E7 head which may or may not perform better than GT40P or GT40's I have not done any homework on that comparison. www.powerheads.com for ported E7's.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 50
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From: Cincinnati
The one article shown about the ford family of intakes
AFM dyno Cobra-Explorer-GT40.jpg is from february 2000 Super Ford magazine.
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...xplorer+intake
AFM dyno Cobra-Explorer-GT40.jpg is from february 2000 Super Ford magazine.
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...xplorer+intake
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