explorer 5.0 questions

[v8nick]

If the GT40p heads and GT40 intake make so much more power than the stock H.O. intake and E7 heads, then why does the explorer 5.0 only mkae 210hp? There isn't a whole lot of difference between the cams either. I have seen claims of 45 horses by just bolting on the GT40p's. How is that possible? What is killing the power of the Explorer? I have a 5.0 swap in my truck now, but the mileage is high. I was thinking of doing the explorer swap, but I would like to have a little more power. What am I missing here? I know that the GT40p heads flow way better than the E7's do but I am still stumped on the horsepower issue. My swap is from a 90 Mustang and is EFI. If I won't benefit from the swap i will just freshen up the 5.0 I already have. Does anybody have any ideas as to why the explorer 5.0 is down on power?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The cams are not much different, but they are different. Exhaust manifolds/headers are different between the two also.

And there is a couple years worth of emissions crunching in there, probably could chaulk the rest up to a "greener" tune in addition to a tune to make peak power at a lower RPM.

 

[JoshT]

85 pretty much nailed it. Cam is different enough, the Explorer exhaust is also extremely restrictive. The tune is very different, mustang is tuned to be a sports car, explorer is tuned to be a SUV. I think those power numbers you are seeing are at the wheels, if so then you also have the drive train to consider. Explorer's transmission is designed more for pulling/towing than what you would find in a mustang, same goes for gearing.

 

[baddad457]

AS the other's have said, the difference is in the cam and the exhaust. Most of it is the exhaust though. Ford vastly improved the exhaust ports on the GT40 heads, but put a cork on it all with the Explorer manifolds. If I'm not mistaken, the Explorer long block was rated at around 275 horses in the crate motor catalog

 

[Mac]

Just looked in the handy 2001 FRPP catalog and they still list the Explorer crate long block at 215 hp. Opposite page shows a long block with "Ford Racing CI high flow cylinder heads" (what ever those are). It uses the "E" cam and is rated at 270 HP. MM & FF did a head comparison couple years ago and they saw a max gain of 30 hp with the "P" heads over the E7's. The '93' Cobras had all the good stuff and were only rated at 240 hp, probably way under rated. Stay with the block you have and build it up the way you want.
Dave of the Nord

 

[v8nick]

The biggest reason I am asking is because next spring I am going to completely rebuild my truck. Right now this thing could the win ugly rangerof the year award. I am trying to get all of the big stuff bought so when I start on it I don't have to wait for parts to come in. So this brings me to my next question, should i throw a stock ho cam n the explorer motor? Is really worth the hassle? Or should I just throw some 1.7 roller rockers on and call it a day?

 

[baddad457]

The Cobra motor also had a different cam from the rest. So you cannot really make a comparison to the Explorer motor. The Cobra cam fell between the HO and the Explorer (F4TE cam) in power numbers up top. If you have an HO cam, by all means use it. The full roller 1.7's are good for an extra 15 horses (Ford's numbers) As for the FRPP numbers ? Those are the same figures that the Explorer motor in full dress used (with the crappy exhaust. All that said, the F4TE works great with ported E7's and fed with a highrise dual plane (Ford A321) and a Holley 570 carb. More than enough "oomph" to melt 275/60 tires with traction loc with a 4 speed transmission.

 

[shane96ranger]

The F3ZE (Cobra) cam was also found in the 93 Thunderbird.

Here's some specs:

93-95 Cobra:
Lift: .282 intake, .282 exhaust
Duration: 270 intake, 270 exhaust
Overlap: 33.5 degrees, 15.24 factor
Lobe Center: 115 intake, 121.5 exhaust
Ford P/N: F3ZE-CA