1987 stock 5.0 options

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1987 stock 5.0 options

February 27, 2008, 07:39:15 AM

I have recently purchased a 1987 thunderbird with a 302 for an engine swap into my 1988. The engine runs good, but its just not powerfuul. Stock, as most of you know is only about 150hp. I've heard a lot of good about gt40-p heads. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm looking to get around 300hp. I was told the major differences between our cars and the mustangs are the heads. Any ideas would be welcome, although I dont want to spend a fortune.

John

1987 stock 5.0 options

Reply #1 – February 27, 2008, 08:08:27 PM

get some e7's, an ho cam shaft, upper intake manifold, and throttle body, as well as exhaust headers, h-pipe and tails, sd ho computer, 19# injectors and you'll be looking at 225hp for prolly around
$500...

1987 stock 5.0 options

Reply #2 – February 27, 2008, 09:45:42 PM

Quote from: jpc647;206550

I was told the major differences between our cars and the mustangs are the heads. Any ideas would be welcome, although I dont want to spend a fortune.
John

That's mostly wrong... The '86 Mustang HO 5.0s used the same heads as the Birds, a std upper intake and slightly smaller(58mm) throttle body than the '87-'93 HO...

Result??? 200HP... Most of the difference is in the cam, injectors, computer and wimpy dual exhaust system the Stangs used(The Bird/Coug exhaust system is totally asthmatic in stock form)...

Using the HO intake and later 60mm TB should be worth 5hp, so the heads give maybe 20HP at approx 4800 rpms... A set of 1.7 rockers and free flowing exhaust system are worth more than 20 horsepower...

1987 stock 5.0 options

Reply #3 – February 28, 2008, 08:07:29 AM

Thanks for the advice.

Do you guys recomend keeping the fuel injection set up, or ditching it for a carb setup?

Tbird50: Do you recomend the gt40 heads or those off of a mustang or lsc? Anyone know where I can get a good set of stock headers for a mustang dirt cheap?

1987 stock 5.0 options

Reply #4 – February 28, 2008, 08:28:46 AM

I would stick with the fuel injection. You already have everything there so now it's just swapping to better parts.

If you want the stock Mustang style headers, you can grab them off of a LSC. They are the exact same thing but may be cheaper in the eyes of a junkyard being a Lincoln part verses a Mustang part.

1987 stock 5.0 options

Reply #5 – February 28, 2008, 08:49:44 AM

Quote from: jpc647;206741

Tbird50: Do you recomend the gt40 heads or those off of a mustang or lsc? Anyone know where I can get a good set of stock headers for a mustang dirt cheap?

The GT40 heads are probably worth 25-30Hp over the stock Mustang/LSC head(assuming the other up grades I mentioned are performed)... Those are used on the the 5.0 Explorers(Most have the GT40P)...

If you go stock E7TE, watch out with the LSC parts, as they used the 200HP HO in '87 as well... BUT if you are serious about the 300 HP figure better forget the Mustang/LSC heads ...Frankly I wouldn't wast my time with the E7s...

Just remember for 300HP, you need a good exhaust system with better headers and larger pipe size than stock Mustang pieces...
I have 1 5/8" headers and a full 2 1/2" exaust system... Heads are Trick Flow...

1987 stock 5.0 options

Reply #6 – February 28, 2008, 06:56:25 PM

What years explorers had the 5.0 with the gt40p heads? From 87-88 and on what was changed about the lsc to give it more power? What did your headers come off of? If i could get around 250hp I would probably be happy. The stock 5.0 just isnt enough. :)

1987 stock 5.0 options

Reply #7 – February 28, 2008, 09:50:43 PM

I believe the GT40p are on the late '97 up, that's mostly what's out there... For HP reread my posts, it's all in there, but basically the '86 & '87 LSC used the same engine as the '86 Stang......

My headers came out of a box from Summit racing... BBK 1 5/8" shorties... Exaust system is a Hooker 2 1/2" from Jegs, lers Flowmaster...

1987 stock 5.0 options

Reply #8 – March 04, 2008, 07:17:07 PM

Finding an early model '96 5.0 explorer is your best bet...comes with the F3ZE heads...a.k.a. iron GT-40's...same as used on '93-'95 Cobra's. Larger exhaust valve then the GT-40P heads...they're few and far between though...good luck finding a set.

-Don