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Topic: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use? (Read 5095 times) previous topic - next topic

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

I figured I could just use my thunderbird spacer and the explorer throttle body, but my thunderbird intake had 4 long studs, and the explorer intake has 2 short studs (won't be able to fit thunderbird spacer on).  Will the explorer spacer work/fit when I swap?  Or is there something I can do to make the thunderbird spacer work on the explorer intake? Thanks!

I'll add pictures later.
'88 Thunderbird LX
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Engine:  FR B303 cam, GT40P heads w/ Trickflow valve springs, Explorer upper/lower intake, SR cold air intake w/ MAF
Exhaust:  shorty headers, BBK O-R X-pipe, glasspacks w/ turn downs
Misc:  8.8 rear, Saleen SC replicas 17x8/17x10, Mach 1 front springs/SN95 rear springs
&
'74 F100 Custom 351W

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #1 –
The Thunderbird spacer needs to be replaced, or, take it to a machine shop and have them open it to 65mm. It'll be 50mm.....y. Not good. Take the studs from your intake and put them in the Explorer intake, or use bolts like I am. No big deal on that matter.
'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..

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #2 –
Just use the Mustang/Thunderbird/Cougar/Mark VII style EGR spacer and throttle body. Bolts right up to the Explorer intake using the stock Mustang/Thunderbird/Cougar/Mark VII studs or bolts.

88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #3 –
Thanks guys!
'88 Thunderbird LX
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Engine:  FR B303 cam, GT40P heads w/ Trickflow valve springs, Explorer upper/lower intake, SR cold air intake w/ MAF
Exhaust:  shorty headers, BBK O-R X-pipe, glasspacks w/ turn downs
Misc:  8.8 rear, Saleen SC replicas 17x8/17x10, Mach 1 front springs/SN95 rear springs
&
'74 F100 Custom 351W

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;448805
The Thunderbird spacer needs to be replaced, or, take it to a machine shop and have them open it to 65mm. It'll be 50mm.....y. Not good. Take the studs from your intake and put them in the Explorer intake, or use bolts like I am. No big deal on that matter.

What side of the throttle body needs to be machined?
'88 Thunderbird LX
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Engine:  FR B303 cam, GT40P heads w/ Trickflow valve springs, Explorer upper/lower intake, SR cold air intake w/ MAF
Exhaust:  shorty headers, BBK O-R X-pipe, glasspacks w/ turn downs
Misc:  8.8 rear, Saleen SC replicas 17x8/17x10, Mach 1 front springs/SN95 rear springs
&
'74 F100 Custom 351W

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #5 –
Not the throttlebody. The EGR spcer. For some reason I thought you had a larger than stock throttle body already.

 No point in using the factory Thunderbird 50mm throttlebody. Time to upgrade. At least get a factory Mustang GT t-body and spacer. Theya re about 60mm. The next step up is a 65mm t-body.
'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..

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #6 –
^Correct, I wouldn't go to a 65mm TB unless you have something better than stock cam and heads. A 65 is about perfect for GT40 and an alphabet cam or equivalent.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #7 –
What is your engine combo? Is it all stock? Is it an H.O engine? If it's all stock at the moment, leave it that way. If you plan to swap heads and the rest, wait until you swap the heads and cam before you bolt on the intake. Do it all at once so you don't have to do it twice.
'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..

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #8 –
A 60mm throttle body and an h.o. upper doesn't hurt anything on a s.o. motor, why would a 65mm throttle body hurt a s.o. motor with an explorer upper?
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

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #9 –
Are you asking me?  I'm saying.....No reason to put a stock 50mm on an Explorer intake.
'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..

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #10 –
Because with 14 pound injectors, there's going to be a lot of extra air that the EEC doesn't account for, or have enough fuel flow...


Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. I wouldn't waste my time with a 65mm on a stock engine though, let alone a lowly SO.

I've got the 65mm on my my combo, and all I have are P heads and an E cam, while it's not yet been ran, it's probably more than enough for the level of power mine will be at.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #11 –
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;448849
Because with 14 pound injectors, there's going to be a lot of extra air that the EEC doesn't account for, or have enough fuel flow...


Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. I wouldn't waste my time with a 65mm on a stock engine though, let alone a lowly SO.

I've got the 65mm on my my combo, and all I have are P heads and an E cam, while it's not yet been ran, it's probably more than enough for the level of power mine will be at.

With just an intake and TB/EGR spacer swap?    It'll be fine.
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #12 –
To answer the stud question, just swap the studs.  Otherwise, I'm with everyone else, the GT40 intake is for bigger builds than what you've got.  Get one, get 65mm spacer and TB, but sit on them til you're ready to HO convert, or it's only really going to add up to 10 HP and a hooty intake noise before you run out of fueling capacity, best case.  Worst case, you lean out and piss the motor off and the pistons clock out.  S.O. speed density isn't going to be happy with you either.  Unfortunately there's not really a safe half-way between where you are and where we're trying to guide you to.  Incremental upgrades are a way of life, and that's fine, but first, you're going to have to pay the cost of entry; and that's a H.O. swap/conversion.  After that you can move up at whatever pace you're comfortable with.

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #13 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;448839
What is your engine combo? Is it all stock? Is it an H.O engine? If it's all stock at the moment, leave it that way. If you plan to swap heads and the rest, wait until you swap the heads and cam before you bolt on the intake. Do it all at once so you don't have to do it twice.


I'm doing the explorer intake swap, gt40p head swap, and I will be installing a cam.  I'm also getting a double roller timing chain and gears, and replacing my water pump.
'88 Thunderbird LX
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Engine:  FR B303 cam, GT40P heads w/ Trickflow valve springs, Explorer upper/lower intake, SR cold air intake w/ MAF
Exhaust:  shorty headers, BBK O-R X-pipe, glasspacks w/ turn downs
Misc:  8.8 rear, Saleen SC replicas 17x8/17x10, Mach 1 front springs/SN95 rear springs
&
'74 F100 Custom 351W

Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?

Reply #14 –
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;448849
Because with 14 pound injectors, there's going to be a lot of extra air that the EEC doesn't account for, or have enough fuel flow...


Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. I wouldn't waste my time with a 65mm on a stock engine though, let alone a lowly SO.

I've got the 65mm on my my combo, and all I have are P heads and an E cam, while it's not yet been ran, it's probably more than enough for the level of power mine will be at.

I'll be installing 19 pounders from an explorer along with the P heads, explorer intakes, and cam.
'88 Thunderbird LX
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Engine:  FR B303 cam, GT40P heads w/ Trickflow valve springs, Explorer upper/lower intake, SR cold air intake w/ MAF
Exhaust:  shorty headers, BBK O-R X-pipe, glasspacks w/ turn downs
Misc:  8.8 rear, Saleen SC replicas 17x8/17x10, Mach 1 front springs/SN95 rear springs
&
'74 F100 Custom 351W