CobraRed's Build thread - updated periodically

[CobraRed_96_GT]

Picked up some 2001 PI heads n' cams today from a guy who bought them to put in his 96 but ended up buying a mach 1. Was a local purchase so no shipping, and i pretty much stole em away for the price he charged. Rather low millage on em too. (these turned out to have too much problems, bought a re-machined new set from Allied Motor Parts - 1 year warranty).
Plans:

- Got a PI intake coming in the mail $90 shipped. (this fell through, intake damaged. Bought a new one)
- Soon to order FRPP head changing kit. Still need to order additional parts like valve cover gaskets (do i have to replace timing chain cover gaskets?) (Done)
- Take cams off head and and sell the PI cams.
- Wait on Hotmustang's hail2 VT stage I cams to be sent to me after he takes em out and i pay him.
- Order SCT II flasher tuned by MPH for one smog legal tune and a more aggressive tune. 10.3:1 compression (done, thanks MPH!)
- Find a place to hot tank heads + cams and make sure valves are in good order. (Total performance already did, and found problems with heads)
- Pay a friend/auto tech a lil dough and lots of beer to help me install all of these parts at my place.
- Dyno pull at DPR of San Diego, then adjust a/f ratio via my SCT accordingly
- New numbers
- Some 15" rims and some slicks later on
- Hopefully my stall converter and traction will get me to some 12.9's at Infineon when they open Wednesday night drags again.

Pics of (old) heads+cams. (second pic's pink areas are just a reflection):

 

[lazerred02]

Good luck with the build man, should be a pretty fun NA car. Good call on the beer to the friends helping you out, as long as you don't let them drink to many until after they finish working

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

I posted the last pic cuz i know in 01' some heads were windsor and i wanted to make sure these are romeo.

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

Good luck with the build man, should be a pretty fun NA car. Good call on the beer to the friends helping you out, as long as you don't let them drink to many until after they finish working

yeah "hey the exhaust ports are facing the intake on the head we just installed...maybe thats why it took so much drilling"

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

and it seems as though im missing a cam tower bolt. I can use one off of my NPI heads right?

 

[EPIK]

Good find chris....Its gonna wake that car up tremendously.....Already started the work too.....u move fast....Good luck

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

Good find chris....Its gonna wake that car up tremendously.....Already started the work too.....u move fast....Good luck

Yeah once i get my mind set on doing something i don't sit idly; but i dont just buy what i see first. I spent a good 2-3 weeks looking for low cost parts and figuring out how im going to put em on and tune em. By waiting and figuring out a plan and getting lucky on deals (hotmustang331 helped a lot on deals and info) i'm saving about $1225 or $1400 if you include buying used cams over new(no joke)

 

[mustangkid05]

12.9 is moving with an NA gt

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

12.9 is moving with an NA gt

yeah but it's optimistic too, if i get to 12.99 n/a im not going to install a 100 wet. But if i can't im definitely considering it due to No2 loving compression. I've had a good amount a practice getting my mostly NPI gt going as fast as she can - and the biggest problem has been traction although my 60's have been pretty good. Im hoping slicks + the consistancey of my tranny coupled w/ a cool night at the low altitude Infineon will get me there

 

[blkhorse]

I posted the last pic cuz i know in 01' some heads were windsor and i wanted to make sure these are romeo.

yes those are romeo's

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

yes those are romeo's

yeah, compared em to some ebay pictures of romeo heads and they looked the same. Thanks tho Should be a (rather) straight forward install w/ a tech to help

 

[Tim2002GT]

Congrats man! Should be a fun car when your done! Yours is one automatic I wouldn't mind driving! (I've seen your videos )

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

Congrats man! Should be a fun car when your done! Yours is one automatic I wouldn't mind driving! (I've seen your videos )

hey, thanks man Yeah i wonder what i'll put out at flywheel after Pi 10.3:1 head swap + VT stage I's + PI intake + every bolt on available + 3.73's (won't help)

 

[blkhorse]

you should do mild port work/gasket match and upgrade your springs before install(even if your cam selection doesn't require them)http://www.mustang50magazine.com/te..._stock_two_valve_cylinder_heads/photo_01.html

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

you should do mild port work/gasket match and upgrade your springs before install(even if your cam selection doesn't require them)http://www.mustang50magazine.com/te..._stock_two_valve_cylinder_heads/photo_01.html

dont have many of the tools or experience for that even though i have the time now with school being shut down for a week due to fires. And im keeping this a limited budget operation so i can justify doing it to myself, even tho i have the funds for a 2.6kb swap i'm in college and don't want to be too irresponsible. So non-required springs aren't on the books even tho it'll help.

 

[65fastback2+2]

12.9 is moving with an NA gt

theres a guy runnings 280 rwhp GT with suspension, clutch and slicks pulling the front tires running 12.1 in the 1/4

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

theres a guy runnings 280 rwhp GT with suspension, clutch and slicks pulling the front tires running 12.1 in the 1/4

good to hear, but im more a novice and not going to be too close to 280 through the auto.

 

[Poisoned Pony]

good plan and awesome local find on PI heads! More words of encouragement on the VT's: my uncle who's driving my GT right now, absolutely loves my car now with the cams in. He says the pull is amazing

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

i called Total performance about hot tanking my Heads and intake manifold. And the guy there recommended taking of the lifter/rocker arm w/ bearings off cuz you dont want water in those very long. Then he'd wash those w/ solvent separate. Is this not fun to do? I mean it looks simple to take them off once the tower/cam is off, but who about re-installation? Hard? The springs will stay stationary on head once i take off the rocker arms correct?

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

Update: Don at MPH said Tim's finishing up the tune tmw and should be sending it out tmw as well. The intake manifold i bought should be here tmw (guy stalled for 2 weeks sending it). So i still haven't hot tanked my parts. Cams have been off the head for a week, thought i sold em - guy was supposed to send me a paypal, but never got back to me - proly found a better deal. Also my GF who lives in long beach finally figured out what was under the towel, cat's outta the bag

all ready to go