89cobra5.0

so about 2 or 3 weeks ago my car starts making this weird tapping sound like a rod or something is knocking, but isnt loud enough consistently for it to be that. It was running terribly and would make a metallic raspy knocking sound through the exhaust at about 2500-3000 rpm, right before I shift. I took my car to my mechanic for a compression check, and find out not only did I have a spark plug that was cracked in half, but I had a blown gasket between the #2 and #3... so, that being said, Im having that replaced and fixed, but also having my 250,000 mile e7's rebuilt, exhaust side ported, and a 3 angle valve job, along with an e303 cam. I already have 3.73's, full exhaust, 255/45/17's out back, and underdrive pullies, but I got used to how the car felt. what im asking is, will I notice a big difference when I get it back in a few days? The mechanic there said I would feel a huge difference, not only in sound, but in driving. I was running on 6 cylinders for about 3 weeks before I took it in. Hopefully the problem is fixed and ill have a nice peppy 5.0 to play with in my non-working hours [8D], ill let ya know how it runs! Btw its an 89 5speed gt with 250k on the ticker.. Im hoping mid/high 13's?

mjr46

honestly ..your not gonna notice a huge difference and IMO rebuilding the e7's and porting them??= waste.. how much are you spending to do that?? probably could get a decent set of heads for the cost and with e-cam you'll need to upgrade to matching springs...I'd look for some ready to go gt-40's then you may feel somewhat of a difference

89cobra5.0

ya I know its not gonna be like jumping into a 300whp car. the estimate to fix all my car's probs, was like $1000-1150, and to get my heads worked on and cam installed it was like $325 more or so, and Ive been waiting to do it for a while and have had the cam lying around, so I figure why not. I plan on starting with a new motor on the side so when that thing is built ill just have to swap out motors, wont be for a while though. I live in cali though so I need to stay smog legal, you think gt40's, e303, and say a trickflow or eddy intake would pass smog with cats on?

mjr46

gt-40 is a factory ford head so you shouldn't have a prob passing emissions with that set up there....but for an extra 325.00 I guess it's not bad

89cobra5.0

heh ya, I figure I might as well drop some extra cash so I dont sit in my driveway for a month with my haynes manual trying to do the swap and porting myself . and I like the place, the guys are great and will help ya out with questions and they specialize in 5.0's, so im happy to give them my business. I just want that extra sound and an extra kick in the pants sort of speak. and btw Ive been looking into gt40's, I just have been havin to put cash elsewhere... sucks being 19 with a car like this, so many things you want, but payin for it yourself sucks. haha [8D]

mjr46

try 3!! I know what you mean mine have been draining me for the past 10 years...always something[:@]