Alright so now that the engine is purchased I will let yall know what the plans are..I figure since its a prolonged process I cant do some cool touches.

Break down to Bottom end.
Clean and Paint the block,heads, accesories, pully's, intake.
New Gaskets
Gasket port/polish match Intake/exhaust ports
b-cam
Proform 1.7 Pedistal Mount Roller rockers
1" intake space
Tall Valve Covers or Cobra Covers
Torgue Monster Headers
70mm throttle body.
Mac or simlar intake (minus the filter they are all the same)
M50dr2 Manual transmission
Hurst Shifter to match.
Replace U-joints in driveshaft
Finally get rid of my 7.5 and get an 8.8 possibly 9" need input on that.
custom tuned ECM for new add ons also to remove PATS

Also will need new springs for Coilover's anyone know what lb rate i should switch to? im guessing 750's

As far as Color scheme. I was debating on the traditional Ford Blue and Chrome, but since my truck is yellow, Maybe to a black/aluminum/ chrome look.. any input on that or anything else is more than welcome. and I will be doing a complete photo and write up through the whole thing.

 

whered you get the donor? or you just bought it seperately? And after you do this youre gonna do mine right? haha

 

Careful on this one. Some valve covers won't fit with the Torque Monsters because the headers come up above and tuck in tight on the driver side. I had a nice set of tall, fabbed sheet aluminum covers I was going to use but they wouldn't fit. I'm back to stock Explorer now but it doesn't matter that much anyway because they are 90% buried under the upper intake manifold, throttle body and elbow. Some tall covers may fit with the TMH but not all.

 

Thanks Bob, i knew they were gonna be close. Thats why i was thinking Cobra covers too.

 

Victor. I got it from Basic Car Parts.com.. they are basically a broker that deals with about 4000 salvage yards.

 

i wish i was back in south florida to help with it lol

 

Any reason for the alphabet cam? They're good and proven well, but there are more modern cams out that not only produce more power in a more specific range but are also a bit more computer friendly. Also if doing an aftermarket cam and 1:7's you could run into valve spring issues, not sure what the stock springs will take on GTPs.

 

Kyle, thanks for the info. And yes you are correct my mistake i would be better off sticking with the 1.6 RR. As for the cam, the reasons you mentioned "good and proven well" and the fact that I already have one in my garage for free.

Any more tips or Suggestions are def welcome to all!

 

um, yeah.. Give it to me when your done! lol

 

AFAIK, there is no 70mm throttle body available for the 5.0 Explorer. Stock is 65mm (same diameter as the 5.0 Cobra) and that's what I'm using although modified with half shafting and a little smoothing inside the bore.

The aftermarket 86~93 Mustang part has similar outside dimensions and the same bolt spacing as the 5.0 Ex but the linkage setup is different. Probably adaptable but definitely not bolt on.

 

I did a BBK 75mm throttle body a while back (2004ish) for my explorer engine. Had to cut the ball stud off and mount it reverse, so the throttle body would work in pull forward explorer arrangement vs pull rearward mustang setup. Had to also make a custom 90 degree elbow to get full benefit, as the stock elbow can olny be opened a little, due to thickness of casting.

I may still have this. PM me and I will see if I can dig it up. I ultimately changed to a 75mm Accufab, as the BBK had a whistle noise. The accufab is much more expensive, but tighter tolerances and not whistle at idle / part throttle.

 

yeah but the whistle is cool factor! lol


good luck with the swap, should be badass

 

F-150 Springs. theyll take the weight but may raise the truck an 1" or 1.5" but since youll have the added weight may sit normal

 

im coilover'd so bit diff...

afa the throttle body. i knew it would take bit of fab work but if the stoke is 65mm ill just smooth it out. thanks!!

 

By Cobra covers, do you mean the production steel Mustang Cobra covers or aluminum accessory covers like Ford Racing sells? The 5.0 Explorer valve covers are the same double wall steel parts used in the 94~95 Cobra.

 

But i read somewhere that they will allow you to run the RR where the stock ones rub... am i wrong?

 

I believe that stock non-Cobra Mustang covers hit any kind of roller rockers.

I did a quick test fit of the 1.7 Ford/Crane F3ZE-6529-AB factory pedestal roller rockers under the Explorer valve covers and they seem to be OK. That was a static test, not running. Actually, they should be just fine because those are the stock rollers from the Cobra and the 5.0 Explorer reportedly shares the 94~95 Cobra covers. I can't comment on the fit of any other type of roller rocker under those covers but you could run into clearance problems especially with most stud mount rollers.

 

This is gonna be badass when its done

 

^ should be! lol

Bob, thanks man. I know what all is involved with the sutud mount rockers and the hassle just isnt worth it. going to stick with the pedestal mount rockers. Luckily since im in no real rush I'll get to try a few different valve covers. The GF is already asking me what parts I want for Christmas so thats a good sign!

 

Also, heres a few more additions to the list.

New timing chain and sprockets
High pressure Steering Hose
Clutch Kit
Flywheel (not sure which one to use)

Paint Scheme Final..Gloss Black/Aluminum,Chrome.

Any suggestions on wether to go 8.8 or 9" I have to replace the whoe thing anyway ya know.

 

I see, can't beat free, maybe also why I have an E-303 in mine, lol.


Just a suggstion, but (assuming you have the 7.5" which is why you're upgrading) the Explorer 8.8" might be the best choice for two reasons. 1) Being the obvious disc brakes (which you would have to buy for a 9") and 2) you won't have to shorten the 8.8" like you would the 9" (which isn't much stronger than a 31-spline 8.8", unless it's custom built [unless there is a Ranger/Expo width 9" I don't know of]), which can be costly. Just my $0.02.

Good luck with the parts gathering, it can be an agonizing process.

 

so bob, you are saying the 1.7 crane roller rockers that comes on the 94-95 cobra's will fit under the 99 explorer 5.0 valve covers with no rubbing issuses? If this is the case i want to get me a set of these. I heard they open up ALOT of power thats restricted because of the crappy cam in the motor.

 

If you dont mind me asking, how many miles were on the engine and how much did it run you?

 

I'm saying that I have a good reference book that says the 94~95 Cobras and the 5.0 Explorers used the same valve covers. When you add that to the fact that the Cobras had the Ford/Crane 1.7's, it would imply that they should work under the Explorer covers equally well. Like I said, I put one under my stock 99 Ex valve cover for a test and it seemed to clear OK. Again, I have not run the engine with a full set in it yet.

The cam in the Explorers is not a hot rod cam but it is not that bad either. It was released in the 94+ 5.0 E/F/B for improved idle quality but it also makes a few more ponies and is freer revving than the previous 5.0 truck cam.

Keep in mind that the Explorer made a peak advertised HP of 211~215 compared to 205~225 in the injected Mustang HO over the years. Not too shabby for a soccer mom / trailer tow engine. The Ex cam has a little less intake lift compared to the HO but actually has slightly more exhaust lift. Intake duration is less but exhaust duration is the same as the HO.

I'm going to go with the stock Cobra cam and 1.7 rockers in mine. That cam was designed to be used with those rockers and also with the GT-40 type heads and intake manifolds that the Cobra and Explorer share. This combo should have good idle quality and work well with a manual trans. The 94/95 Cobra was advertised at 240 HP but that is considered by many to be a conservative number for that engine.

 

nicely put.

I got a steal 70k $600 shipped to my door

might be a stupid question but since I have to make my exhaust and im not being blessed like Chris' and have the exhaust included can i reuse my o2 sensors? better off just shellin out for new ones huh... on that note. mustangs run catless... since im basically building a mustang engine, would I be ok with running none or 1 cat? def not runnin those stock 4!