I have a 1990 f-150 4x4 project I'm working on. I bought a rebuilt 5.0 h.o. longblock but would like to go with a different intake and maybe heads. I have heard some things about switching to an explorer or gt40 intake but I don't know exactly what you have to have to make it work. If anybody knows of a website or has tried it themselves any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

I did some looking into this, and though my knowledge of the matter is still not great, here is what I know.
There are a few versions of the gt-40 heads, but you want to go with the regular gt-40 as opposed to the gt-40P or gt-40x heads. Not sure about the x heads but I know the P heads create issues with spark plug access and exhaust(IIRC).
You will find the heads on the 96 mountaineer & explorer's with the 5 litre engine. The heads will be stamped GT and will also have 3 bars on the front, whereas the "P" heads have 4....not sure about the "X"
They are also found on mustang cobra's...I believe 93-95 models.
I will let more knowledgeable people pipe in on which intakes to use, but I believe that the explorer intakes are more suited to trucks, but again, will let others pipe in.
Apparently the heads appeared on the explorer's in 95 but have not been able to verify this and also the very earliest 97 models( I believe I confirmed this), but they switched to the 'P' heads early in 97, but '96's are a sure thing.
Hope this helps a little.
There is all kinds of info out there on them and for a mild buildup, they will work just fine.

 

Davey has it covered(is that your real name?) pretty good. Either of these intakes is a bolt-on, the part that involves some DIY is connecting the TB to the airbox, throttle cable, and tranny linkage/cable depending what gearbox you have. I believe an explorer or Lightning throttle cable will work though I'm sure it's possible to use the stock truck cable too, and either a mustang or explorer cable bracket to retain it. If you have access to a welder you could make anything work. The intake tubing will have to be DIY but with so many CAI kits on the market it can't be that hard to fine a piece of tubing that will fit decently. I'm thinking an S shaped piece with rubber couplers on each end would do the trick. Substitue an airbox with a single opening from something in the scrapyard. Outside that some adjustment to the wiring and vacuum lines that attach to the upper intake will be necessary.

 

well that sounds simple enough, the cables look to be the only thing really. I've got a 4speed so that won't be a problem. Thanks guys

 

Close....Dave is my name.
I used to love the show when I was a kid and my grandfather used called me "Little Crockett". Not sure why...but I've been called worse.

 

what are mthe gains with the explorer intake and is it the whole intake or just the plenum?

 

Both the explorer and HO intakes are smaller than the truck intake in terms of internal volume, the individual runners have a smaller cross section while total runner length is about the same. The smaller runners increase intake air velocity which will produce more TQ over the better part of the rpm range.
The whole intake has to be changed, all 3 use very different designs. Below are left to right the 5.0HO, 5.0 truck, and Explorer/GT40

 

Would the Exploder gt40 intake work on the 351W, I like the idea of the shorter runners to make more TQ, after all thats more what I want, TQ

Sorry for the stupid question, just not real familiar with Fords yet

 

Just to be clear the runners on the HO and Explorer intakes are not shorter, they have a smaller cross section. The 5.8 GT40 lower is hard to find.. not produced anymore and expensive when you do find one used, and the stock 5.8 intake is much better suited to the 5.8 anyway, as you can see below it's runners are smaller than the 5.0 intake, that's the 5.8 truck lower third from the left.