opie_803

i have a 69 stang and am considering swapping a 5.0 into it due to the fuel injection and roller cam setup.

my question is, what years are best and what are the differences in the 5.0 H.O between the mustang - thunderbird and explorer? i know the explorer comes with a gt40 style intake.

i am currently running a 351c 4v with an aod and 3.55 tru-trac rearend. will i notice much of a difference in drivability and performance?

thanks for your help.

mjr46

I'd leave your car the way it is, but if you want a 5.0 in it.......89-92 are the best years = forged pistons and mass air, the explorer motors have slightly lower compresion and the heads are what you'd want off them

67mustang302

If you already have a Cleveland you'd be WAY better of investing in some good C heads if you're willing to spend the money. Aussie 2V heads with smaller intake ports, or some CHI heads and a good cam would wake that thing WAY the hell up, to the tune of 150-200hp over stock. The 351C is a way stronger block than a stock 5.0 anyway. Just do a roller cam conversion.

opie_803

i recently went through the motor and put a stronger cam in it. i may have gone too strong thou. the bottom end is not the best. before the stall was installed, it didnt want to spin the tires over.

cam specs... intake .310 @cam valve .536 lift
exhaust .325 @cam valve .562 lift

advertised duration @ .005 lift in. 290 ex. 300
@ .50 in. 224 ex. 234

rpm range is 2000 - 4800ish


this is for a flat tappet / hydraulic cam. looking back i wish i had done a roller conversion but money was an issue.

are my heads hurting me? they are the 4v open chamber.

opie_803

sorry for the double posting... i tried to delete the post in the general discussion but couldn't.

mjr46

no worry I took care of it........for the 351c , if you could find the 4v closed chamber heads, they'd be the ones you'd want, not the open

92tealcp

Just to throw one out there, if you look at some used Nascar sites you might be able to find an old set of C heads from them that have a crap load of work done and have all the best parts $$$ can buy. We built one for our restored 69 351C Torino Winston Cup car and found the heads at a shop in NC, 2K for a set of complete heads.

67mustang302

4V heads aren't going to make jack for bottom end in stock form, unless they're on a stroker. They don't make velocity at low rpm. That's why you need better heads. With that cam if you put something like CHI 3V heads on it, you'd make wild torque everywhere and would barely be able to keep the tires planted on the street.

opie_803

thanks for the reply guys. i have checked the prices on the chi heads and think i will have to wait awhile on them since i have just built the motor. my particular cleveland has the 4-bolt mains also. i guess i was thinking of the convience of fuel injection and other bolt on mods that can be done with the 5.0.

i will keep my ear out for some closed chamber heads also.
thanks again.

mjr46

built right, a 351 c with closed chamber heads is a 10.50's car all day long, seen plenty of them at the track