Max Bang for Buck Top end swap for stock 5.0L

[mrhtwls]

I have an '89 5.0L LX with a stock bottom end that recently burped a head gasket. I am taking advantage of the sitation to do a top-end swap to wake the engine up a bit while keeping it very streetable.

My first thoughts was a Motorsports GT-40 EFI intake kit, AFR 165 heads, 65mm throttle body, and E-303 cam.

Anyone have any better ideas?

Anyone have a spare GT-40 EFI setup laying around?

~MrHtwls

 

[RydeOn]

I would step it up on the intake and cam with those heads. And don't forget roller rockers.

 

[mrhtwls]

1.6 Roller rockers, right?

 

[Cobra1741]

fti cams are good with the afr165 heads i see. or anderson ford motorsports.

 

[mrhtwls]

I was told comp cams has a more modern grind hydraulic extreme energy cam, or perhaps a trick flow stage 1 cam would work well. Any feedback?

 

[steelie4u]

im just completing my swap on my 93 5.0 it has the following. AFR 165, trick flow street heat upper and lower intake, 1.6 rockers new roller lifters, stage 1 cam. new 24lb injectors, 70mm throttle body, pmass 73mm MAF calibrated for 24lb injectors, 255 fuel pump, adjustable fuel regulator, fuel pressure gauge and new pushrods, timing chain, it should rock , will let you know next week when its complete, just remember to check PTV clearance, and degree the cam good luck

 

[steelie4u]

well im finidhed with the swap and took her for a few rides and changed oil twice and all i can say is WOW! what a difference, she pulls really hard after 1500 rpm and gets rubber on the shift from 1st to 2nd ( didnt do that before) but the swap is well worth the money for the performance

 

[GTNBY2]

If your wanting a matched kit without any guess work, use either the holley systemax or trickflow top end kits for sale at Summit. I have trick flow components on my car and have had great luck with them. Heres a link...cant go wrong when they do all the matching for you!
Trick Flow® 360 HP Twisted Wedge® Top-End Engine Kits for Ford 5.0L - SummitRacing.com

 

[InfernoGT]

I strongly second the trickflow kit! Everyone is on teh afr bandwagon these days, but they really dont seem to make much (if any) more power even with a magical "ed cam" than the TFS top end kits do out of the box. I have a 89GT that made 313rwhp and 303rwtq with nothing but the tfs track heat top end kit bbk headers and generic 2.5" exhaust. and that was on a mustang dyno (they read a bit lower than dynojets).

 

[DucatiRdr]

No recommendations for Edelbrock Performer? I was thinking a Performer upper and heads with my stock '88 speed density cam and 1.72RR.

 

[89drop]

No recommendations for Edelbrock Performer? I was thinking a Performer upper and heads with my stock '88 speed density cam and 1.72RR.

i have the preformer on mine, but thats really about it, i need to cam it, and roller rockers...the guy i got it from had just installed it... i really cant tell you if i noticed a difference cuz it was there already when i got it.

 

[FobraR]

"Bang for your buck"? Explorer/Mountaineer iron gt40 or P heads and manifold from same vehicle (explorer/gt40/cobra manifolds are nearly identical). Upgrade springs on the heads among the regular things.

 

[93GTStang]

The TFS kit works well, either of them. The Holley kit would be better if used a different cam.

 

[FastDriver]

Eddy Performer or RPM would be a better choice than the GT40. Get 'em ported too. Find Tom Moss. FTI cam did really well for me. Good luck.

 

[Gunn331]

trick flow heads r great if you notch your pistons other than that they r do do.
the street heat intake is for girls and your e cam will kill any power you hoped to make. strongly suggest call james fry at comp cams and go with the R series or preformer 2 intake. and if you dont wanna go over 550 at the flywheel those heads work great but would go with a 205
or procomp 190 if your budget is tight

 

[93GTStang]

It doesn't take an overly complicated setup to make power, just the right combination of parts and some good tuning. This is an example...

This a 9:1 306
TFS heads (out of the box)
F303 cam
Holley intake
75mm TB
85mm MAF
24lbers
1 5/8 LT's
3" x-pipe w/cats
spintech mufflers

YouTube - AGP Dyno Engine Bay