Project_86GT

I've got an 86 GT. Currently the motor is out because I'm doing some minor work. I have every intention of building a fresh 347, but not until next year. For the time being, I want to put in a E303 cam that I have lying around. A couple questions I have are, I've read that the 86 5.0 HO used flat top pistons which my cause valve clearance problems on anything bigger than a stock cam. Can anyone confirm/deny this? I've also heard that the heads uses on the 86's we're basically junk using a shrouded intake valve. Is there a good set of stock heads that I can pick up cheap to replace these with? Lastly on the valve clearance issue, what about running 1.7 rockers on the E cam?

I'm hoping that someone has been down this road before and can help me out. I dont want to drop a ton of money on the motor, I just want to make it a bit more fun till I get my 347 built. (plus I have most of the parts lying around already)

Oh yes, and I do already have the MAF conversion stuff.

Thanks,

T

86inworks

yeah man why don't you do like a h/c/i setup?!? i have an 86 GT and heard that if you got new heads that a cam would work good in!! how about this:

Edelbrock Performer intake ( upper and lower w/ a spacer)
edelbrcok performer heads
and your choice of cam

86HOGT

I've heard of issues with the flat top pistons, yet haven't heard anyone that has actually had a porblem or not. To get some decent stock heads, get the E7 heads out of the 87-93 mustangs and/or trucks and clean them up a little bit.


BTW, what conversion did you use?

Project_86GT

I just bought an A9L, a stock MAF, and a conversion harness from Thunderbolt Motorsports. I figure by the time I'm done, i'll have about $200 or so in everything. I just couldnt bring myself to cough the 400-600 bucks for a Steeda kit or a Ford Racing kit even though they have their advantages.

Thanks,
T

vfast

the a9p works as well and can be had alot cheaper

86HOGT

Well, I bought a whole harness, MAF, and A9L and have compared the harness to mine, and was like, uhuh. On the wiring diagrams, the pins are all the same except for the VSS and MAF pins, so, I'll probably sell my harness and get the "Frankenstien" conversion.

Project_86GT

Same here. I bought the 89 Harness, and there were just too many differences to make it worth the entire swap. The other way suits my needs much better. I really didnt even want to cough the $40 for the maf kit because we have a deutsch connector supplier we use for work. I was just going to make my own, but I couldnt verify that the maf plug was deutsch through their catalog, so I kind of assumed it was proprietary. About two more weeks, and I'll be completeing the maf conversion. Hopefully all goes well.

BTW I like your stang! I hope to get mine looking that good some day. I've got a three or four year plan for it, and the body comes in somewhere near the end of that. This year my plan is to do the suspension, and roll cage (road race 10 pt) Next year a fresh 347 with steel crank, h-beam rods, afr heads and whatever stuff I can throw at it to get around 400-450hp NA. 3rd year is hopefully a full set of Baer brakes and the interior. Then the last year to finally do the body!

T