Neutering My 5.0

[horseballz]

Hi Folks,
Here's the current set up in a 68 Coupe:

2000 5.0
GT40P heads
B303 cam
Performer RPM intake
QuickFuel HR-580-VS carb
Tri-Y headers
T5
3.80 rear gears.

Car runs great and is screaming fast, especially if I'm running it with the set of 1.7 to 1 ratio roller rocker arms! Problem is daily driveability! Fuel mileage is horrible (12-ish around town/15-ish highway), hot days (+115 degrees) with AC creates outrageous under hood temps, fuel "boiling" and stinky rich idle issues, etc, etc, and I rarely get to use the fun that's available under my toe!

Given that I drive this daily, I've decided to "neuter" the whole thing. I've already gone back to stock ratio rockers (that took the whole thing down a COUPLE notches), changed cam timing to lower the power band RPM a little. Still really too much engine for my use. The whole package doesn't really "wake up" until 3,000 RPM!

I've researched a lot and determined that likely my best bet is to go to a stock 97 thru 01 Explorer cam, to help lower the power band a bit more and provide better fuel mileage and still have some low RPM "grunt" especially if I go back to the 1.7 rockers. I really don't want the 5.0-H.O. cam as I don't like the response of it's power band, not to mention not stellar fuel mileage. My brother had a 97 Exploder with all wheel drive and even though it was a "tank" regularly achieved 23-25 mpg around town and nearly 30 mpg on the highway and it was not a total dog!

Anyway, after that long story, my point is that with the multitude of conversions of Explorer 5.0's into early Mustangs there must be at least a few Explorer cams sitting on folks' shelves. I want/need one. Anyone here who can help me out?

Thanks,
Gene

 

[horse sence]

The stone stock HO i put in my 78 Ford pick up got some where around 21 -23 mpg with an AOD automatic and 371.1 gears
I towed trailers and even used it as an prerunner on the race track .It could have used some more power but it never overheated ,even with the air on and it always started when i hit the key .
What tranny are you running ? And ,Howdy Gene !

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Keep the 1.7RR, put a stock HO cam back in the thing, swap out to a more highway friendly gear, tune that carb up and drive it. You're not going to gain much by changing any of the other parts.

The Explorer cam belongs in a truck, not a car. If you're OK with your car falling on it's face at 4,500RPM, go ahead an install it. Otherwise.....big mistake putting one in there. The HO cam is light years better and will retain a better power band and mileage.

And I hate to call your brother a liar, so I'll just say he's grossly mistaken. There is no way in hell his 5.0L Explorer got anywhere close to the mileage he claimed. Expect it to have gotten 15mpg in town and very low-20's on the highway. And that's driving it like you've got an egg under your right foot. What he's claiming is better mileage than a stock Fox body Mustang, in an AWD SUV with a 1,500lb heavier gross vehicle weight. Not a snowballs chance.

 

[horseballz]

A) Bro's Exploder had free flowing exhaust/no cat converter/was professionally tuned/chipped. I witnessed close to that mileage first hand!
B) It is extremely rare for my car to ever see the high side of 4,000 RPM, so no issue there. Lower RPM operation is not a downside for my situation! I have always been a big fan of "RV style" cams for bigger displacement engines and it seems that this combo will do a similar thing in a smaller displacement into my 2,700 LB coupe!
C) On the other hand, same brother had a Fox body McLaren convertible (pretty heavy at that) with a 5.0/H.O. that was generally a dog and maxed it's mileage out at about 17 MPG.
D) With all that said, I still want an Exploder cam!
Thanks,
Gene

 

[horseballz]

Just found one "New In The Tube" for $99 to my door! I'll let you all know how it works out!
Thanx 4 The Thoughts,
Gene