Swapping for a 351Windsor

[portdizzal]

Ok, i found a '97 ford explorer 5.0L with less than 50k with GTP cast heads for 1k delivered. is this what i should be looking for? The GTP cast?

[mrltd]

I paid $1750 for a brand mew motor delivered... I guess it's not too bad depending on how many parts are left on the motor and how far it's being delivered.

The P heads require a specific header, that's the only real issue with the P heads.

[Freshmeat]

I picked up my 1998 GT-40P motor for $650 out the door. It was complete from throttle body to oil pan. Even still had motor mounts, flex plate, and entire wiring harness on it. Not that I used any of those parts...
Keep your eyes peeled. If you have a local U-Pull-It, check there and you might get lucky.

[portdizzal]

Yes it is a full long block, shipped to my door. There may be one here local though. i have been calling salvage yards all day. i will go look at it tomorrow. it is a 97 explorer with a 5.0 ill see if it is a gt40p. It has "P" in the vin code doesnt it? What headers would i have use? they have to be short because there isnt alot of room between the ground and my car.

[Lincolnmania]

check out www.car-part.com

[mrltd]

The P is cast into the heads....Not in the vin number AFAIK.

Pretty much all 97+ are P, maight find an early model 97 that has the standard GT40's but I doubt it.

[Freshmeat]

www.car-part.com is how I located mine.
You need to look for FRPP shorty headers, they're designed specifically for the P motor. Honestly, it'll save a few more bucks if you go with a non-P motor, but the P motor is hard to argue, buck for buck. Trust those of us who fucked up- replace the valve springs before you install the engine.

[portdizzal]

Whats up with the valve springs?

[mrltd]

They are a bit soft for a performance motor. They don't let the car rev more than 5K...

[portdizzal]

I have so many options right now. i just had a full built performance 5.0 with 350hp for 1k. with everything from manifold to oilpan.

[DuceAnAHalf]

They are a bit soft for a performance motor. They don't let the car rev more than 5K...

pfft, my motor is useless over 5k any way

[Lincolnmania]

seriously guys the stock explorer valve springs suck ass......it breaks up sooner than 5 grand i can assure you of that

[packman]

I was going to get an F4TE 351W block for my mom's car, but the high cost of fuel pulled the plug on that one. I believe the 1st Gen Lightning motors were non-rollers, so a Lightning cam should work in your friend's 351W long block. Though I'd take my advice with a grain of salt because I was still in the research stage when considering the EFI 351W roller swap.

Would it be possible to get or leave the regular exhaust manifolds on the Explorer engine and save up for some better heads and exhaust in the future? I am considering making a side budget for a 5.0L rebuild in my mom's car. I was planning on going with a lopo block, AFR 165 heads, and a small cam. I am hoping this basic combination (lots of stuff that I left out obviously) won't split the block.


Packman

[gadget73]

Yes it is a full long block, shipped to my door. There may be one here local though. i have been calling salvage yards all day. i will go look at it tomorrow. it is a 97 explorer with a 5.0 ill see if it is a gt40p. It has "P" in the vin code doesnt it? What headers would i have use? they have to be short because there isnt alot of room between the ground and my car.

I found a complete one in Millville, NJ for 400 bucks. Not sure if you wanna drive that far. Same guy has a 351 roller motor for 400 bucks.

[1987cp]

Yes it is a full long block, shipped to my door. There may be one here local though. i have been calling salvage yards all day. i will go look at it tomorrow. it is a 97 explorer with a 5.0 ill see if it is a gt40p. It has "P" in the vin code doesnt it? What headers would i have use? they have to be short because there isnt alot of room between the ground and my car.

Couple of easy things to look for on the GT40P motor:


1) Ridges like these on the ends of the heads, but four instead of three:




2) Markings like these but they'll say GTP instead of just GT (and maybe just P by the spark plug, I don't know for sure):





Can't guarantee on your car since it's so low, but it's quite possible the standard Mustang header / Mustang H-pipe / S-10 midpipe / etc. exhaust system will tuck up high enough to work just fine. That's the simplest approach for performance exhaust and is easy to install at home. Lots of us have lists of part numbers for the exact parts we ended up getting. If you set the car all the way down on the frame, custom-bent pipes to hook the Mustang shorty headers to your mufflers might be the best bet, plus the appropriate 2" LTD or 2.5" Impala tailpipes as you choose.

Think it's been mentioned, but any shorty header designed for '86-'93 5.0 Mustangs should be fine unless you do indeed get the "P" heads, in which case the Motorsport headers will be the only ones guaranteed to fit.