Looking for opinions on the 5.0's in both my vehicles.

1. My 87 Mustang 5.0 has GT40P heads I swapped a couple of years ago (they were 70K ones I had the local head shop tear down, inspect, etc...stock valve springs kept). The motor already had an E303 cam in it that I had swapped years ago with the stock valve springs so I didn't sweat the ones on the Explorer heads trying to save $$ (E cam lift is .490 as I recall) but have been told I should swap in Crane Beehives or similar. This is a street toy and gets wound up sometimes, but rarely sees over 5000 RPM or for very long...how important would the spring swap really be? I don't look forward to swapping them in car, but will if I have to.

Thoughts? Also, anyone have a suggestion for a good valve spring compressor for use when the heads are installed on the car?

2. My 95 F150 5.0 has close to 150K, is healthy and bone stock but a bit soft (can't afford to do a 351 swap right now). Have the stock intake off my Mustang laying around, can buy good used condition stock Mustang H.O. cams for next to free (mine is long gone). Is a light duty daily driver, no towing, only occasional light hauling..sees mix of city and some highway regularly...looking for a torque bump without a MPG penalty (or great expense). Will do longtubes and exhaust, probably gears someday far down the road (when $$ allow) but, for now, would swapping this stuff be worthwhile for the effort?

Sorry this got long, probably should be two threads, but thanks for reading and your input!

 

1. Springs aren't necessary unless you notice the power really drops off above 5000rpm, this would be the sign they are getting weak. And even if they are you don't need high pressure double springs just a fresh set of 120-130psi seat pressure replacements.

2. Swap on the mustang intake with a 1" spacer between the upper and lower, the smaller volume runners build more air velocity at lower rpms which helps make more TQ. With 1.7 rockers and the stock cam you'll have a better TQ combo than the HO cam. Valve lift will be 0.448"/0.476" versus 0.444"/0.444", and duration of 256/266 deg versus 266/266 deg. Longtubes with a 2.5" single, smaller tubing if you want duals. 3.73 or 4.10 gears will top it all off and you'll have one very potent F150.

 

Thanks for the info. I really didn't want to get back into the Mustang motor if I didn't need to. As for the truck, with limited budget right now I think I will end up doing the headers and 2 1/4" duals. I kept the 3 chamber Flowmasters that were on my Mustang when I updated the exhaust on it and since they are in good shape yet, plan is to re-use them on the truck when I have the exhaust bent up (save a few bucks and I like how they sound anyway.) Have some body and paint touch up to do this summer too, so, along with the gears, the 1.7's may have to wait for now but will go that route when the time comes (sure would be alot easier than a cam swap anyway and your numbers make alot of sense).

 

Hmmm 1.7 rockers.. Should I put a set of 1.7 ratio rockers on my '86 F150/302?

I have the LMC true dual kit on my truck. It's a decent kit for only around 230 bucks with the turbo mufflers (although your Flowmasters would probably be better). Hooker and Dynomax also make good true dual kits that are "header-back."

 

There has been alot of posts on hear about 1.7 rockers lately . Alot of people have installed them but havn't heard back ..Its a easy way to get lift out of your stock cam with out going into the motor . It will help performance . Lew

 

The cheapest set I could find was Comp Cams from Summit for 160 bucks for a set of 16. That's enough to buy a nice cam or a set of headers. Which is better?

 

Yeah i think long tube headers help a lot & thats were i would start . A good cam will help to . I use a cam with 1.72 rockers to give me more lift . Lew

 

get the headers! I have used scorpion 1.72 rockers on a 331. It open the valve faster, creates more midrange. As for a stock motor, i wouldn't spend the money. The best part about aftermarket rockers is consistency with the ratio vs stock stamped steel.

 

The reason a lot of people have been talking about 1.7 rockers is the limitations of the speed density system. SD really limits the cam you can put in. If you do the math the 1.7 rockers with the stock cam gives the same lift on a cam that can be used with a SD, so why get a different cam.

The crane 1.7 rockers are the same rockers sold with from Ford Racing, even has the parts numbers and ford logo on them.

Wayne

 

Well not exactly.. and especially not on the early 5.0 motor, they have a puny little cam with 244 intake duration and way under 0.400" lift. Compare those specs with the SD friendly XR264HR with 264 duration and 0.512" lift and you'll see 1.7 rockers won't get you even close.