Talking cylinder heads.
Reply #40 –
Here's where I am at.
Did a full HO swap with a motor from a '88 Mustang GT that already had aftermarket shorties on it($260). Installed an Explorer upper and lower intake ($80). Then I traded a nitrous kit (worth $250) for a BBK H-pipe, Edelbrock 70mm TB, EGR plate, BBK FPR and gauge. I also converted the car to MAF for about $150. With this and a T5 I have a super fun driver. All I have planned to do yet is a set of P heads to match the intake and maybe 1.7 rockers. I'll lap the valves and maybe a DIY P&P job. After that I'm done. It will pick up some more hp/tq yet still be all stock-ish Ford parts that can be fixed or replaced from any parts store when roadtripping it.
At the track w/ launching too low and shifting too late (was used to driving my 351W Ranger) it still managed 98.5mph and 14.05. It's easily capable of 13.60 in the current configuration. Then two weeks ago we took the 'bird on a couple hundred mile trip with two adults and three kids in the backseat. It averaged 24mpg. To me, that's hard to beat for a car I have less than $3k in including the purchase price and all the mods......motor, brakes, suspension, T5, complete fuel system, etc, etc!