tkbaby13

Hey guys, i'm looking for advice and I figured what better place than a forum.

I have a 1999 Mustang GT 70k miles. It has a 2003 romeo short block due to a blown oil pump (previous owner). I'm guessing when he had the block changed he decided to install long tube headers. He decided to keep his stock 99 Windsor PI heads. I've had 2 spark plugs shootout on me, cylinder 8 and 3. Turns out he had already heli-coiled #3 and it ripped out the heli-coil making it the hole too big for another one. I just have a few questions.

1. Is it possible to perform a head swap keeping the engine in with long tube headers? Any personal experiences?

2. There is a scrapyard that has 2004 left cylinder head which is the side of the over sized hole. And if i'm not mistaken the 04 heads have 8 threads instead of 4. Would it be bad to bolt on a 04 head on left and stock 99 on right?

3. I'm debating whether or not to buy aftermarket heads. Which brands are recommended? I only know of Patriot (cheaper heads) and trick flow which are a little out of my budget. I've heard of VT heads but can find much information on them.


Thanks guys, I appreciate your time. I'm looking for any advice, personal experiences/opinions. All is welcome.

87dtna

Are you sure it still has the windsor heads? Windsor heads have 13 bolts on the valve cover, Romeo's have 9 IIRC.

All PI heads (99-04) will use the same headers. Windsor or romeo doesn't make a difference. However, I recommend replacing both heads not having one side romeo one windsor.
I was pretty sure the timing cover holes were different, atleast in size if not location. Thats why I ask if you are sure it has windsor heads. You may need to snag the timing cover with the heads.

Be sure the heads come complete with cams and valve covers, as they are different. Romeo uses a bolt on cam gear, windsor has press on gears....and as mentioned before the valve covers are different bolt patterns.

tkbaby13

I took a look at the valve cover to make it has 13 bolts and it does. So if I wanted to replace the heads with windsors everything would bolt back up the same as now? But romeos would require new cams and valve covers as far as major things?

87dtna

Yup, I'm not sure about the timing cover though.

02GTman

As far as your plugs blowing out, this just happened to me, I feel for ya bro. Good luck.

BlackMage

Im just gonna throw in my .02 about changing the heads in the car. I think it would be easier to just pull the motor with trans and lt's. Then everything is right there and you wont be fighing the headers.

tkbaby13

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-6L-...#ht_500wt_1182

I was looking at these heads. They came off of a 2000 F150 and by looking at the valve cover they would appear to be Windsor. If I purchased these, they would be a direct swap with cams, lifters, rocker arms. He selling all the gaskets and seals with the heads? Would there be anything else needed to perform the replacement?

87dtna

They should work, although I'm not sure about the cams. Obviously the cams will work, but you may want to swap them with the cams in your car now. I'm pretty sure the mustang cams were more aggressive than the truck cams, BUT it was on a 5.4 so I'm not really sure. Maybe start a different thread asking which cams are better.