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302 upgrade decisions

Need some help with my 88 SO 5.0

Currently is all stock with 113K.  My goal is mostly driver with good performance, must have ALOT of torque and stock drivability.

I have most pieces for the HO upgrade, but E7 heads,

Do I  1. Use SO block and put on E7 heads (stock Mustang headers)  Do I do some home porting on the heads? Will this benefit with the stock HO cam?  Do I do any porting of the HO intakes? Again, will this benefit with the HO cam?

(I will be swapping to a 2.5" offroad H-pipe and some aftermarket lers also.)

Do I  2.  Buy a used 5.0 HO motor (notched forged pistons) and upgrade the heads to GT40/GT40P along with Cobra/Explorer intakes?

Should I spend money on shorty headers, or use the stock Mustang?

I guess it comes down to......what is the most torque/dollar way to go?  I plan on keeping this car for a long time and dont antite forced induction any time soon. LOL, but I would like to do it right the first time.

I plan on eventually going to 3.27 or 3.45 gears in the 7.5 rear.

I know this thread is long, I just need some advise from you guys who have done this before with these cars.  Thank you

Mike
Mike

302 upgrade decisions

Reply #1 –
Option 2 will get you more power but you will not be able to easily use stock HO headers with GT40P heads. The plug angle is different on them. Trust me I know ;)
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

302 upgrade decisions

Reply #2 –
I guess I was asking if I use E7's, would aftermarket shorty headers make much of a difference?

I know GT40P's require a little different setup.
Mike

302 upgrade decisions

Reply #3 –
What is the most power for the money?  Any advise
Mike

302 upgrade decisions

Reply #4 –
I would get the e7's. They cost the same as a stock head at a junkyard. And almost if not all headers will fit it okay as long as you have a floor shift. The stock mustang headers will work fine with a colum shift. at the u-pull it yards around here, a set of heads is 40 to 75 dollars each, and a full motor is 125 to 150. With the H.O. upper cam and fuel injectors, you'll prolly be cheaper with the hole motor.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

302 upgrade decisions

Reply #5 –
Will the stock HO cam allow enough airflow to justify a more expensive setup? (cobra intakes/gt40 heads)
Mike

302 upgrade decisions

Reply #6 –
Your motor is a big air pump. Lowering restrictions will gain you more power. The stock upper/lower is the worst flowing part of the H.O. setup.

You could always go for a different cam. They can be found used for a decent price.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

302 upgrade decisions

Reply #7 –
I have an H.O cam in the garage I'm not using.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

302 upgrade decisions

Reply #8 –
Ive already got everything but the intake tube and the E7's, thanks though Vinn.
Mike
 

302 upgrade decisions

Reply #9 –
You can find CAI's (cold air induction) pretty cheap if you look around.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..