Stock 5.0 intakes . . . wha...?

[King_V]

Ok, I'll admit to total ignorance on this one, but I've got a question....

If I'm using a lo-po 5.0, I know there's power to be had from swapping to a 5.0 HO upper intake - but that involves flipping it around, and dealing with the EGR spacer, adapting the throttle bracket, etc.

As I'm personally a fan of low-end grunt, I am trying to recall what's been said about the truck 5.0 upper intake.

I seem to recall that it's optimized for low end torque.

I also seem to recall someone mentioning that it's HUGE... quite physically bulky.

So, questions:
1) Is there a notable benefit to using a 5.0 truck upper intake on a lo-po motor?
2) How is it oriented on the trucks? If Fox-style (throttle body on passenger side), then the same flipping around and adapting will be required, I realize, but if it's oriented Panther-style (throttle-body driver side), then hey, skip that step!
3) Very important - will it fit under a stock box hood? If it's too bulky to fit, well, then that sucks...

I'm basically looking to do very minor tweaks as time and money permit. Emphasis on both time AND money, as heck, I haven't even started putting on the dual exhaust system I bought last month!

[1990LTD]

Pissing in the wind IMO.



They use a dual barrel throttle body oriented in a strange direction. AFAIK it won't fit under the hood whatsoever. I don't think panther accessory brackets would bolt up and clear everything.



I've obviously never flow tested them but from what I've been told they are as bad or worse than the lopo intakes.


Basically, lots of work for questionable gains. If you wanted to get rid of the stock intakes/throttle body, and use OEM Ford parts your best bet is something from an Explorer...but you'd need the lower intake for that as well.

[mrltd]

A truck upper won't work on a lopo lower.. And no, it won't fit under the hood.

Do a search for the truck intake on google. It will become quite obvious.

[86VickyLX]

Won't fit for one thing. And modding the the bs for the dual throttle bodies and stuff would not be worth while.

It's easier to do the HO upper, and have a machine shop bore out the stock spacer, and swap the tb linkages with the ones off of your old throttle body.

[turbo2256b]

The best low end grunt can be had using the LOPO upper and tapering the LOPO spacer to match up the 5.0 Mustang TB. The throat of the LOPO upper can be reworked a bit. I did a couple that way. One I had dynoed curve started at 2400 RPM @ 270 lbs of torq Got close to 300 lbs peaking at 3200. Got awsome fuel economy too.

I also did one boring the EGR spacer and bolted it with the 5.0 Mustang TB to the LOPO upper it did well to. Thats how the Mustangs did it untill the HO upper went into production.

[1990LTD]

Some modest gains can be had by porting the lower HO/nopo lower intake.

http://www.diyporting.com/intake_manifold.html

[King_V]

The best low end grunt can be had using the LOPO upper and tapering the LOPO spacer to match up the 5.0 Mustang TB. The throat of the LOPO upper can be reworked a bit. I did a couple that way. One I had dynoed curve started at 2400 RPM @ 270 lbs of torq Got close to 300 lbs peaking at 3200. Got awsome fuel economy too.

I also did one boring the EGR spacer and bolted it with the 5.0 Mustang TB to the LOPO upper it did well to. Thats how the Mustangs did it untill the HO upper went into production.

Ah, so basically use an HO TB, bore the Lopo spacer so that it has a sort of venturi thing going, conical-like diameter matching the HO TB at the TB side, and narrowing down to match the Lopo upper at the upper-intake side.

Intriguing.

Or, as alternates (if I'm reading what you've said correctly):
1) Bored spacer to match the HO stuff on both ends of the spacer, and stick with the Lopo upper anyway. Something of a bore-mismatch, but still improves things.
2) Bored spacer to match the HO stuff, and do the narrowing/venturi shape work at the throat of the upper rather than doing it in the spacer.

But the best, in your experience, is to do the tapered boring of the spacer only, matching one end to the Mustang TB?

Definitely giving me food for thought...

[turbo2256b]

The tappered one worked best. I used a Mustang TB gasket marked the EGR spacer then tappered it to the lopo opening and ran it that way. Later I figured what I could do to the opening and up into the thoat of the LOPO upper. Hogged it out a bit. Some can be shaved off the bolt bosses inside. This increases the plenum volum a bit. Then bolted the EGR spacer back on and matched it up to how much I opened up the LLOPO throat.
I will search for some pics later.

[1990LTD]

Why not just use the HO with the bigger inlet already?

[turbo2256b]

Why not just use the HO with the bigger inlet already?

1. I have tested the LOPO using EGR spacer just modded enough to install a 5.0 TB.
2. Tested the more radical tappered EGR spacer on the LOPO.
3. Tested the even more radicaly tappered LOPO EGR spacer with a ported LOPO upper.
4. Tested a LOPO EGR spacer bored to fit HO upper and 5.0 TB.
5. Tested a ported HO upper and bored LOPO EGR and 5.0 TB.
6. Have also tested these with a almost fully ported lower. More fully ported one would involve some welding around several runners before porting. I have done several that way but they were for some Mustangs.


What I determined was no. 3 had the best economy and low end.
Builds 4, 5 and 6 lost a bit on the low end, economy a bit better than stock possible, pulled about 200 RPM more than no 3. I couldnt determine that the extra 200 RPM was any help.

[pantera77]

Just for added info, my 91 Marq, bone stock with duals ran a 11.53 in the 1/8th every single time. (I made over 10 runs with it, very consistently slow). Doing nothing but throwing on a HO upper/bored EGR spacer/HO TB, it ran a 11.41 and 11.39.

[turbo2256b]

Just for added info, my 91 Marq, bone stock with duals ran a 11.53 in the 1/8th every single time. (I made over 10 runs with it, very consistently slow). Doing nothing but throwing on a HO upper/bored EGR spacer/HO TB, it ran a 11.41 and 11.39.

Would be a good idea to post tire size, rear gear and any other mods in posts like this. as it can better compare with what others have.

I understand no other mods to yours except 5.0 upper and TB.

I hope to baseline my other stock 80K 87 2door in the near future. Then add the different intakes ..still have them. Base line them with the 2.73 rear in it. Mostly looking for economy and performance assoated with better efficency. Before mostly was looking at what gave me the highest top speed over a measured distance.

[King_V]

Definitely let me know the results of that - as mine's an 87 with the 2.73 rear. Based on what you've said, I'm liking the idea of the stock lopo upper, the Mustang TB, and the tapered lopo spacer....

[turbo2256b]

If I remember correctly the LOPO upper inlet throat opening can be hogged out a bit but might not be enough material to take it to the dia of the HO dia EGR or I would have done it. In the final tappering of the EGR spacer I bolted the spacer to the upper and with the gasket installed and ground it out a bit more. I will dig the parts out when I havce a chance to help figure what I did.

The real issue is the plenum size of the LOPO is a bit smaller than the HO. The inlet throat is opened up on them too.
The plenum size of the LOPO is beter for low end and mid range especally on a heavy vehicle. The Throat of the LOPO is restriced. Opening it up as far as possible and thinning down and removing draft from around the long bolt bosses inside the throat helps. I do some tricks on the runners from the plenum to the lower mating face also.
Some minor port work to the lower can help too just to help even air flow to the end cylinders can be done for low budget low end power builds.
I a few cases I have welded up areas knowing I would bust through if I didnt in Higer HP setups mostly on Mustangs were they eanted or were required to keep a stock lower. Have cut open some HO plenums to hog them out then welded them back togeather. Costly mods.

[turbo2256b]

I spent some time gathering the parts used on my modified LOPO set up. Its been a while since the parts have been on the back shelf for a few years. This triggured some memorys of what can be done. I have 4 intakes stock LOPO, Ported LOPO to 60mm, Stock HO and ported HO to 65mm. The ported HO hasnt been located yet might be up north in storage. Will be posting up some pics and some info.