what are the big differences between mustang 5.0 and explorer 5.0

[85mustangman]

my engine is a 2001 explorer 5.0 with gt40p heads. I have been doing some research and i think im going to do cam, header and rockers next. does anyone know if the explorer 5.0 has 1.6 ratio like the old 5.0 ho or 1.7 like the cobra.

 

[Mac]

Explorer has the standard 1.6 ratio. I'd also upgrade the valve springs to match what ever cam you pick.
Dave of the Nord

 

[85mustangman]

ok, would you recomend going 1.7 ratio rocker or leave the 1.6 and just do cam and springs?

 

[shane96ranger]

ok, would you recomend going 1.7 ratio rocker or leave the 1.6 and just do cam and springs?

The factory 1.6's are stamped, and have a lot of friction. The Cobra 1.7's are machined aluminum, and are roller. I have just the 1.7 rockers (no cam) on my Mustang, and noticed some more pep. The valve train quieted down some as well. I personally am very happy with mine.

One thing you may want to be cautious on is the valve covers. I believe the factory Explorer valve covers have clearance issues with 1.7's. I had to cut the oil baffle out of my valve covers for clearance.

EDIT: Here are mine on my old E7TE heads. I've got them on my P's now.

 

[Scrambler82]

If you are going with a new cam, stay with the 1.6 Rocker, less rocker arm angle to deal with. The idea of changing over to a 1.7 ratio is to save overall work in changing the cam/lifters, etc.

Best bet when buying a cam/lifters/springs/pushrods is a complete kit form the same manufacturer.


Also depends on what your intended use is, racing where you take a lok after each pass or a DD, each engine should be addressed for its purpose.
If you already have 1.7 Rockers, when you call the cam manufacturer specify what the rocker ratio is.

The Cobra has a 1.7 because Ford didn’ want to chg the HO cam, just added the extra lift via the rockers.

luck.

 

[baddad457]

The Cobra has a 1.7 because Ford didn’ want to chg the HO cam, just added the extra lift via the rockers.

luck.

Nope, you're mistaken. The Cobra cam is different. The lifts are similar, but Ford played with the duration and overlap to give it a smoother idle. The HO cam's lobe lift is .278 (vs .282 on the Cobra or GT40 cam), the durations are different with the HO at 276/266 (this varies according to source, some list it as 276/276) LSA's are different at 116 for the HO vs 115 for the GT40 cam. The valve lift can nearly be equaled by using 1.7's on the HO cam (.473 vs .479) The HO cam makes more power though overall. The GT40 cam was also used in the 93 T-Bird 5.0.

 

[baddad457]

ok, would you recomend going 1.7 ratio rocker or leave the 1.6 and just do cam and springs?

The 1.7 full roller rocker upgrade alone will net you 15 hp.

 

[shane96ranger]

Nope, you're mistaken. The Cobra cam is different. The lifts are similar, but Ford played with the duration and overlap to give it a smoother idle. The HO cam's lobe lift is .278 (vs .282 on the Cobra or GT40 cam), the durations are different with the HO at 276/266 (this varies according to source, some list it as 276/276) LSA's are different at 116 for the HO vs 115 for the GT40 cam. The valve lift can nearly be equaled by using 1.7's on the HO cam (.473 vs .479) The HO cam makes more power though overall. The GT40 cam was also used in the 93 T-Bird 5.0.

FWIW, here are some figures I dug up a while back on the changes made over the years when I was thinking about putting a 93 Cobra cam in mine.

For comparisons sake, I found these as well:


85-88 HO:
Lift: .278 intake, .278 exhaust
Duration: 266 intake 266 exhaust
Overlap: 36 degrees, 9.04 factor
Lobe Center: 115 intake, 115 exhaust
Ford P/N: E5ZE-AA

89-90 HO:
Lift: .278 intake, .278 exhaust
Duration: 276 intake, 266 exhaust
Overlap: 39 degrees, 19.51 factor
Lobe Center: 116 intake, 115 exhaust
Ford P/N: E8ZE-CA

91-95 HO:
Lift: .278 intake, .278 exhaust
Duration: 276 intake, 266 exhaust
Overlap: 39 degrees, 19.51 factor
Lobe Center: 116 intake, 115 exhaust
Ford P/N: F1ZE-AA (91-94) F4ZE-EA (95)

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

Also, it appears the 93 Cobra and 93 Thunderbird had the same grind of cam.

 

[baddad457]

I'm going by the specs listed in Ford's "The Official Ford Mustang 5.0" by Al Kirschenbaum, published by Ford Racing. This book has got a chart listing the specs of all 7 of the factory rollers and the applications they were used in. This is the most complete book on specs I've seen/found regarding the 302/5.0 from 79 to 2001. It too lists the change in duration on the HO cam. I've seen the duration listed also as 276/276, but don't recall who or where I saw it (somewhere on the net though, for what that's worth)

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Here is what I dug up when I was comparing cams:

 

[85mustangman]

that sounds good. i think for now ill just get the 1.7 rockers and headers and by the sounds of it ill get some valve covers also. going to wait a little bit on those though, have to make sure it is problem free before dumping more money but so far so good and with 3.73s and 31s it smokes through 1st and a good bit in second. does anyone know if the headman gt40p headers will clear the rangers steering shaft?

 

[baddad457]

that sounds good. i think for now ill just get the 1.7 rockers and headers and by the sounds of it ill get some valve covers also. going to wait a little bit on those though, have to make sure it is problem free before dumping more money but so far so good and with 3.73s and 31s it smokes through 1st and a good bit in second. does anyone know if the headman gt40p headers will clear the rangers steering shaft?

The Explorer valve covers are the same ones used on the Cobra 5.0's. So they will work with the 1.7's. Crane made the 1.7's for Ford, they now sell them as their Energizer line.

 

[baddad457]

Here is what I dug up when I was comparing cams:

This is the page from the Ford 5.0 Mustang book I was referencing.

 

[jules82]

I own 2 mustangs race one the P heads are nice but your best $ is on ARF or TF heads. The 302 needs and wants better heads it's night and day lol

You can find heads used for $800 all day long the last pic is my 82 306 72mil turbo 18 lbs boost blow thru carb set up I have TF heads 575 HP 698 T I had P head switch to TF up it by 100 HP


Sent from my iPhone

 

[Scrambler82]

Nope, you're mistaken. The Cobra cam is different.

OK then I was wrong in my assumption.

But the idea is chg the rockers and exhaust as the OP said and start from there.