kc1983

In the next 6-8 months I will be purchasing a 1988-1995 5.0 Stang. I have a competent mechanic who will be doing the modifications for me.

As of now I am just doing all the research I can. I've decided to save up for Heads, Cams, Intake, Headers, Mid pipe and exhaust as my mods.

When it comes to picking an intake, headers and an exhaust I know what I want. I'm just not sure what kind of heads and cam I should go with. A lot of the technical specs are kind of like chinese to me. What should I be looking for when picking a set of heads and a cam? Stage 1 cam? Stage 2? Stage 3?? Huh??
I've found a few sets from Trickflow which are pretty affordable.

Also, when doing a heads/cam install will I need to purchase anything else for the installation? Or will these parts bolt right on in place of the old parts?

Lastly, roughly what kind of an increase would I be looking at from all of these modifications? I know this will not be accurate but I am looking more for a ballpark figure. I estimate that with Heads, Cam, Intake, Long tube headers, X pipe and exhaust I'm looking at about a 40-60hp gain (at the wheels). Is that reasonable? Conservative? Or optomistic?

Dazzalad

Get a set of reworked e7's from thumper performance.. It will run you about $700 bucks and you get $100 back after you ship your core. A Stage 1 cam is plenty for a mild street car.

FivePointOhh

if your budget allows it, the systemax kit yeilds approx 350hp and it is by far the best out of the box HCI on the market.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...1&autoview=sku

1984Fox

I wouldn't recommend the stock E7 heads, even if they're reworked... Still too restrictive. Patriot Performance makes some good heads, they'll run about $950 for a set. I say drop a E or an F bumpstick in it.

SteveSkal

+1
I don't know who in their right mind would waste the time and money on the stock E7 heads, heck if thats all you wanted you could get yourself some used GT40's for under $400 and just bolt those on and save yourself a few hundred bucks.

kc1983

Thanks for the help so far.
The Holley Systemax kit is definitely pricey, but it seems to be worth it.
I took a look at the Patriot Performance heads too, great price.

I should have mentioned that I am in Canada, so I'm not sure if all of these companies that everyone has mentioned ship to Canada. I did find these on a Canadian site -
http://www.themustangshop.ca/product/300789/300316

Any comments on these?
Also, and I'm gonna come off as a Noob, but are these the prices for a set of heads? I'm going to assume yes.

FivePointOhh

summit ships to canada so check them out for sure! you can always peice together a HCI cheaper than any kit. but if you want to take out all the guess work check out, trickflow top end kit, edlebrock top end kit, holley top end kit, also world head windsor JR's are pretty sick heads and kind of cheaper than most.

those TFS highports have pretty big runners for a fairly stock application(assuming you're stock 302 bottom end)

kc1983

Awesome. Thanks.
With the list of mods that I have mentioned, is there anything else I should be getting when I do a Heads/Cams job? A lot of the kits include intake manifolds. If I piece together my own kit and get a set of Trickflow heads with a stage 2 cam, will it make sense to run it with a stock manifold or is an after-market intake manifold prety much a must after installing heads and a cam?

FivePointOhh

after heads and cam, the intake is really holding you back, it would almost feel like a waste not to upgrade. but if budget wont allow it...you gotta do what you gott do. the intake is super easy to swap to where heads arent. so if you have to limit yourself to heads and cam and hold off on the intake, i say it'd be a smart move.

however if funds permit i'd deff not skimp out on the intake once you've upgraded everything else.

kc1983

It seems as though an intake manifold would be a real smart upgrade when doing the kind of mods that I plan on doing. I found a Trickflow manifold for $480.
So far, here is what its lookin like -

TFS High Ports Cylinder Heads -$ 1,411.88
Trickflow Stage 2 Hydraulic Roller Camshaft -$ 185.70
Intake Manifold TFS 5.0L Street EFI - $480.73
Flowmaster Catback System - $369.00
Mac Long Tube Headers 1 5/8" Plated - $ 289.21
Fenderwell System Cold Air Intake - $157.00
Mac H-Pipe Off Road 2.5" HTS Coated - $182.24

Grand total - $ 3,075.76
Without the Intake Manifold I'm looking at $2595

Man I wish I could get the car and do all of this NOW! Waiting is always the hardest part.