Difference in the mustang and explorer 5.0
- Thread starter Blaine
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I'm looking to make a little more power. I Some times tow trailers and go off roading looking for ideas of wat might be a good way to go I have already have been told to do torque monster headers, a cold air intake, exhaust system, and maybe a programer. But wat about internally wat might be some ideas have also been told a 347 striker kit might work to. Just seeing wat might be best
You're already about as good as it's going to get in 5.0L displacement if towing and off roading are your main goals. Don't bother with the little stuff, a stroker or supercharger would be your next best (and most cost efficient) options to increase torque production any significant amount. That's an awful big expense for a 14-year-old Explorer though.
She runs strong With only 100,000 on it no rust anywhere on the body just the factory step tubes i was Wounder about a supercharger and maybe a cam but wasn't even sure which to choose from and or wat size cam to get And thanks for the welcome and all the help cuz there for a while I couldn't anything for the v8 only the v6 And does anyone know anything about bully dog gt programers
mikestang63
SN Certified Technician
Any cam swap you perform will most certainly increase horsepower, but it will be at the cost of low end torque. If towing and off road used is truly what you're looking to improve, then I would advise against a cam swap. The bump stick that's already in it is ground pretty well for that sort of application.
Any supercharger you do is going to have to be custom, as I'm not aware of any company that makes a kit for the V8 Explorers. For your intentions, a positive displacement supercharger should be your "only" consideration. It will maximize torque and horsepower at all levels of the power band, with an emphasis in the low and mid range levels. At this point, your best bet is to look into the Kenne Bell 5.0L Mustang kit. It's about as close as you're going to get to bolt on and even then you're going to have to do some custom work with accessory brackets.
That being said, expect to pick up a very healthy dose of both horsepower and torque. Drivability will also improve dramatically. The X will feel more nimble in town and will really come alive when you slam the loud pedal.
That was actually going to be my first suggestion....but he seemed so attached to his Explorer, I didn't have the heart to tell him.
ratio411
Founding Member
What year is your Stang?
The HO 5.0 came with forged pistons up to 92.
The HO engine will have a better factory cam as well.
This stuff may not matter to you though if you plan on building it up custom.
The HO 5.0 came with forged pistons up to 92.
The HO engine will have a better factory cam as well.
This stuff may not matter to you though if you plan on building it up custom.
Better cam for making horsepower and torque at higher peak RPM in a lighter vehicle, but the Explorer grind will probably be better suited to the SUV's weight and his intended tow/off-road use, don't you think?
Indeed....which I surmise would be ideal for tow and off road situations in a 4,500lb SUV, where top end wouldn't be a factor.
mikestang63
SN Certified Technician
Agreed. HO cam isn't better in this case . Plus with the explorer motor, you get the better breathing heads,intake and larger TB. He's not racing this thing, It's all about low end torque and power. Guess that's why ford put that motor in their Explorer and not the HO.
Well, if you want to cam it, you'll need to upgrade your valve springs, and at that point, with over 100k on them, have them looked at to see if the guides and seats and everything are within spec. Also, youll want to do a timing chain and water pump while you're down there,have your intakes cleaned while they're off, check/buy new pushrods... etc. If you want things done right, you can't just have a part thrown at it and expect reliability, not to mention a cam wouldn't be so great for crawling and such, but also neither is an explorer without a lot of money invested. I've had a 98 mountaineer with about 200k on it. Those truck IMO are great all around. I've never gotten stuck anywhere, and it had plenty of torque to haul a 3500lb car with no problem. I'd personally just save my money if I was you and put it towards an xj for off roading or an f250 for towing
Towing and offroading is the use for your vehicle? Never offroad your DD, you should always tow your offroad vehicle in case in breaks on you. What type of offroading do you plan on doing? Trails, pre-run, crawling?
If it's pre-run/baja style your money would be better spent on a Ford Ranger long bed standard cab with the I-beam front suspension. Those front ends are near bullet proof, inexpensive to upgrade and the longer wheel base will help you out. Your Gross vehicle weight will be much less than the Exploder giving you a way better weight to HP ratio. Cram a 5.0 in it or super charge the 4.0 V6. You can't lose with that!
If it's pre-run/baja style your money would be better spent on a Ford Ranger long bed standard cab with the I-beam front suspension. Those front ends are near bullet proof, inexpensive to upgrade and the longer wheel base will help you out. Your Gross vehicle weight will be much less than the Exploder giving you a way better weight to HP ratio. Cram a 5.0 in it or super charge the 4.0 V6. You can't lose with that!
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