there's a new junkyard that just opened up about a half hour from me, not a mustang junkyard, but a junkyard with a few mustangs here and there.

i was planning to go there this weekend to see what kind of mustang parts i might find and thought about grabbing some stuff for my motor while i was out there (in the cold). which brings about some questions

what heads would fit a 289 and provide a worthwhile increase in performance that i could find on later model 5.0's or like engines?

which headers or manifolds would fit on those heads? (not particularly from junkyard, but wanted to make sure they existed before getting the head)

what else could i find on later 5.0's or 302's (or even a 289 if i'm lucky, but i doubt it) that would work on a 289,that is worth pulling at a junkyard?

if i happen to find a 4 barrel intake and carb, does it directly bolt on, or is there more to the switch?

edit: shortly after posting i found soaring on another forum in 2005 (that he was also banned from) ask the same question seems like everything between 5.0 and 289 is the same except roller cam? there wasnt musch of a response there.

 

i beleive everything is the same accept a roller cam. if you want fairly good heads. GT40 heads are good. or even the GT40Pheads (but they require special headers cause the plug angle) i cant remember what year they come off of, but go into the 5.0 section they have atleast 1 thread a day that has to do with gt40 heads

 

wow i never even thought about going to the 5.0 section i've always regarded classics as the only section on here lol

 

haha, there nice people and very helpful

 

oi, there's a lot more involved in changing heads than i thought, and i don't even need a ton of power ill just wind up hurting myself.
i guess stock heads that worked for 41 years will hold me over till i know how to control a rear wheel drive car.
and since i know there are no 289s there, i think ill just skip the trip and work on cleaning my intake up some, any insight on how to do that?

 

Soak in carb cleaner. Then repeat. good luck.

 

where's the new yard located? I'm north of Annapolis near Bowie.

 

If you go, I need the upper mounting brace that holds the steering wheel to the dash for a 65/66. Mine's fubar.

 

you want to look for 1996-1997 5.0 explorers they have the GT40 heads the 98-2001 have the gt400 p heads.

the regular gt40 will have gt cast near the lower head bolt holes. and you can use your factory exhaust manifolds or regular 289 headers

gt40p's will have GTP cast near the lower bolt holes, some long tubes can be used but they make a specific swap header. these also make a few more hp 3-5 over the gt40's



they are a great upgrade, and are the same heads the 5.0 cobras and 351w 1st generation lightnings used. they have a little larger combustion chamber than the cobra part but easily fixed by milling them down





idk if you plan on going efi in the future, but if the explorer has the intake pick it up if so. actually id get it even if you dont :P you can sell it on ebay and recoupe the costr of the head probably. it flows the same as a cobra intake although its not as pretty.

 

the new junk yard is Crazy Ray's "parts garden"
its on Pulaski highway in edgewood md

and as i far as i know there are no old mustangs there so unless the upper mounting brace that holds the steering wheel to the dash for a 65/66 is the same as something else i won't be able to get one for ya snakes, elsewise id be glad to get it for you.