Question about the GT40 heads

[The Man]

Hi all,

I am looking at dropping a 302 into my Ranger. Now what I am looking at is how much more will the GT40 heads give me. I am going to build a 302 with a mild cam and around 9.0:1 -9.5-1 compression. This will be a carburated engine with around 600 to 650 cfm carb with a dual plane intake more than likely, although I havent bought any parts yet.

How much more will the GT 40 heads give me?

I dont want to spend $1000 plus on a set of after market heads.
Thats why Iam looking at the GT40's

Thanks

 

[shane96ranger]

Compared to what? Are you talking about E7TE heads? In comparison from E7TE's and GT-40's you are looking at 25-35 horsepower depending on your cam and intake. You can get them relatively cheap if you get them off of a 96 or 97 Explorer. They are worth that to me. I got a set of GT40P's off of a 98 Explorer for 225 bucks.

Don't know if you want an opinion on the 302, but I would get a roller HO motor if you haven't bought one yet. Or just get the whole motor out of an Explorer and put a cam and your carb setup on it.

 

[fordmike1]

We have used the stock Mustang 5.0 HO short blocks and added the GT40 heads with upgraded springs a E-cam, Explorer GT40 intake, 65mm T-body, 73mm mass air, 19# gen 3 injectors and long tube headers and made just shy of 300hp at the tire which should be about 350hp at the crank. The GT40 heads are a great set of heads for a set of stock castings. With a good aluminum intake and carb a good exhaust system you should be able to make the same power carburated.

 

[shane96ranger]

1/20/13
Change we all can belive in !

I like that!

 

[shane96ranger]

We have used the stock Mustang 5.0 HO short blocks and added the GT40 heads with upgraded springs a E-cam, Explorer GT40 intake, 65mm T-body, 73mm mass air, 19# gen 3 injectors and long tube headers and made just shy of 300hp at the tire which should be about 350hp at the crank. The GT40 heads are a great set of heads for a set of stock castings. With a good aluminum intake and carb a good exhaust system you should be able to make the same power carburated.

I have the things done listed below and I am in the 285-290 RWHP range.

 

[fordmike1]

I have the things done listed below and I am in the 285-290 RWHP range.

Alot of people dog them GT40 heads but they work great for what most guys are looking for. I swear by them and best of all I can pick them up here in the wrecking yards for 40 to 50 dollars a set. Talk about a great bang for your buck upgrade.

 

[shane96ranger]

If you are using Explorer exhaust, I would get the GT40P's. They have the revised plug angle which steers some people away from them. I had to use a shorty plug on cylinder 7 on mine and plug wires for an 89 Blazer (90 degree boots) to get mine to work without buying the P specific headers. GT40P heads outflow a regular GT40 head as well. Plus the GT40P heads don't have the emissions holes on the back so you don't need to worry about blocking them. I really like mine, I'm very happy with them.

Here's a pic of cylinder 7: You won't have this issue if you use Explorer manifolds though, this is my Mustang.

 

[fordmike1]

If you are using Explorer exhaust, I would get the GT40P's. They have the revised plug angle which steers some people away from them. I had to use a shorty plug on cylinder 7 on mine and plug wires for an 89 Blazer (90 degree boots) to get mine to work without buying the P specific headers. GT40P heads outflow a regular GT40 head as well. Plus the GT40P heads don't have the emissions holes on the back so you don't need to worry about blocking them. I really like mine, I'm very happy with them.

Here's a pic of cylinder 7: You won't have this issue if you use Explorer manifolds though, this is my Mustang.

Yea the GT40P's are a great set of heads to and yea the plug angles do scare off some guys but if your headers clear the plugs and that is what you find then run them and dont pass them by. I have two sets of them right now and always looking for more of either sets.

 

[The Man]

Where do you find the GT40p heads?

Also what kinds of mods do you need to work out for useing the Explorer exhaust manifolds?
When you install them into a 1984 Ranger.

Thanks for all of this info!

 

[shane96ranger]

Yea the GT40P's are a great set of heads to and yea the plug angles do scare off some guys but if your headers clear the plugs and that is what you find then run them and dont pass them by. I have two sets of them right now and always looking for more of either sets.

Nice! I want to start going down to the wrecking yard and start pulling a few sets. I may want to have these on the shelf someday!

Where do you find the GT40p heads?

They came on 98 and newer Explorers, and I hear some late 97's had them as well. They are easily identifiable by the 4 bars on the ends (see pic) or the GT40P under the valve covers (see pic). There is also a "GTP" near the bottom right head bolt.

Also what kinds of mods do you need to work out for useing the Explorer exhaust manifolds? When you install them into a 1984 Ranger.

I've never done a swap, but I believe (correct me somebody if I'm wrong) all you need is to have some parts off of an Explorer. Like motor mounts, etc. For the exhaust you just cap off the EGR port on the passenger side (see pic). You may also want the pipes after the exhaust manifolds off the Explorer.

 

[fordmike1]

Nice! I want to start going down to the wrecking yard and start pulling a few sets. I may want to have these on the shelf someday!

Yes go and get them soon as they are getting harder and harder to find now. At one time there was so many that it was imposible to get them all but now when they pop up they are usally gone within a couple of days or right after the truck is put out in the yard.

 

[The Man]

Well I will start to look for them right away?
Sure is hard to belive that Ford would put something like this on an Exporer!

Thanks again for all the info.

 

[Teddyzee]

I've never done a swap, but I believe (correct me somebody if I'm wrong) all you need is to have some parts off of an Explorer. Like motor mounts, etc. For the exhaust you just cap off the EGR port on the passenger side (see pic). You may also want the pipes after the exhaust manifolds off the Explorer.

For his older truck ('83-'97) he'll want to use plain old Mustang motor mounts (typically '87-'95 5.0), not Explorer mounts. The Explorer mounts work on 1998+ Rangers with either 4wd or Edge-type torsion bar suspension.

The Early Explorer 5.0's had internal EGR, so it's 1998 (late '97?) and later that had external EGR.

And for anyone who has the slightest interest in performance, you won't want to use the stock Explorer manifolds/headers on anything. You couldn't fit a finger in some of the tubes.

 

[shane96ranger]

Will the 96-97 manifolds still work on GT40P heads with the revised plug angle?