Explorer P heads...

[GilroyRacing]

looks good

[88grandmarq]

got the fan controler installed and hooked up, it works well and Is keeping the engine cool.
need to find a good place to permenantly mount the temp gauge.

I did discover the engine is using oil since the head swap. pretty sure I messed up a couple valve stem seals when I installed them. I tried taking them back off and re-installing, but guess it didnt work.

[Pirate]

got the fan controler installed and hooked up, it works well and Is keeping the engine cool.
need to find a good place to permenantly mount the temp gauge.

I did discover the engine is using oil since the head swap. pretty sure I messed up a couple valve stem seals when I installed them. I tried taking them back off and re-installing, but guess it didnt work.

Do a leakdown test before you attempt another seal install, as I suspect something else being amiss with the increased engine oil usage since the head installation....

In addition, I wouldn't stress too much about the exhaust-side seals (I leave mine off); it's the intake side you need to worry about.

[88grandmarq]

Do a leakdown test before you attempt another seal install, as I suspect something else being amiss with the increased engine oil usage since the head installation....

In addition, I wouldn't stress too much about the exhaust-side seals (I leave mine off); it's the intake side you need to worry about.

I had planned on doing a leak down test, However the engine didnt use a drop of oil until the head change and I know I botched up at least 4 seals on the first head I did.
oil usage is not significant, just enough to be annoying.

[1990LTD]

I see you mention tubular headers from a TC - What advantages would these have over Mustang headers on an otherwise stock 302? Would there be any difference? I want to put a set of Mustang headers on it when I do the dual exhaust upgrade but a friend said it may not be as simple as bolting them up (which is what I'm looking for, pulling a lot of stuff out just to do this isn't something I want) so I'm looking at other options.

[87gtVIC]

I see you mention tubular headers from a TC - What advantages would these have over Mustang headers on an otherwise stock 302? Would there be any difference? I want to put a set of Mustang headers on it when I do the dual exhaust upgrade but a friend said it may not be as simple as bolting them up (which is what I'm looking for, pulling a lot of stuff out just to do this isn't something I want) so I'm looking at other options.

The tubular TC manifold will bolt directly to your current exhaust, the mustang ones will not. And if you manage to get them bolted together the exhaust will leak.

[1990LTD]

Gotcha. Would not be doing it with my current exhaust system, if that matters. I'm buying all of the parts for duals and either taking my time and learn how to do them myself, or being impatient and paying a shop to do it in an afternoon


I'm not sure I understand why everyone uses Mustang manifolds but it won't bolt right up? What is everyone doing?

[87gtVIC]

I'm not sure I understand why everyone uses Mustang manifolds but it won't bolt right up? What is everyone doing?

They are also installing a mustang H pipe.

[1990LTD]

They are also installing a mustang H pipe.

I'm hunting for one but the hunt does not go well. What's the difference between a mustang h pipe and the h pipe for one of these boats that an exhaust shop would sell me?

[1990LTD]

sorry for the n00b questions in your thread btw...but i know both jack and shit about these things. they'd bolt to the engine fine, right, just not the stock exhaust? since i don't need cats around here i might just go with a catless mustang h pipe.

[87gtVIC]

From my understanding everyone goes with the mustang pipes because that is the easiest way to bolt headers to both the car and exhaust.

[gadget73]

pipes are totally different. Mustang H pipes contain the converters, and have a crossover behind the cats. Our cars have individual down pipes with converters, and the H or Y bolts up behind the cats. The routing is different, and the flanges are different. You can't bolt a Mustang pipe in place of Panther downpipes or H pipes, or vise-versa.

The tubular manifolds probably offer some flow advantage over stock iron logs, but I doubt its huge. Weight savings is probably every bit as useful. The bigger problem with the exhaust is the stock mufflers and small tailpipes. The manifolds and the stock downpipes on a stock motor aren't much of a choke point. Headers help, but its not a make or break deal. Usually people add them because they bolt up to the Mustang H, and that allows relatively easy upgrades of the rest of the parts. If you had the stock style exhaust modified to have a larger pipe size for the H, and upgraded the mufflers and tailpipes you'd have a very nice setup that fits better than Mustang parts. Phayzer has a custom H and downpipe arrangement (all one piece) thats basically a drop-in replacement for everything forward of the mufflers on his Towncar and its really nice. Couple that to nice mufflers and the Impala tails and you'd have a super system. Nobody does that because a lot of exhaust shops would charge a small fortune for such custom work if they do it at all, and it has no off the shelf parts. The Mustang stuff you can order everything you need from Summit and hang it yourself in a weekend.

[1990LTD]

Forgive me if I'm reading this wrong, but it looks like it's either all Mustang stuff, all stock Panther stuff, or custom, right?

Sorry for n00bing up your thread..starting my own now