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  1. #1
    FEP Power Member
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    Cool Are E7 heads worth swapping in a 82GT

    Just looking at upgrades to do over the winter. I have a basically stock 1982 5 liter with Edelbrock RPM intake and Holley 1850, 600cfm carb. Dual exhaust with 87 stock headers and H pipe. I just installed a Flowmaster Force II catback with 2.5" pipes. Also has a newer T5 with 8.8 rearend and 3.73 gears.

    This will be mostly a cruiser and may take to track to see what times I can get.

    What heads would be recommended? Are the E7's a direct bolt on? Which cam would be good for my setup?

    Thanks,
    Joe

  2. #2
    FEP Senior Member rob342's Avatar
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    i have e7's(stock on the 92 i just picked up). i'm saving up to get a real head in the spring. in the meantime, i was planning to get some GT40's. then i decided for the small power increase, there'd be easier ways to go about it. if you're going through the trouble of swapping heads, wouldn't it be nice to get a more noticeable increase out of it than the e7's (or GT40's)would provide?

    -not saying not to do it, just doesn't seem worth the effort (to me) to make 225hp and have a head that runs out of steam at 5500rpm.

  3. #3

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    If you find E7's truly ready to bolt on, I think it's worth it. GT40/ GT40P's are a better choice but usually more $. Trade/ sell/ swap your way into a 600 or 650cfm Holley or similar mech. sec. carb and tune it and the advance curve on your Duraspark.

    I did largely the above along with a small hyd. flat-tappet cam and the end result was a big 'ole difference!

    Funnel
    '64 Comet
    ---
    No Fox's at present but an '82 GT or Notch is always a possibility - though hands are pretty full with the kids and Comet!

  4. #4
    Mike Croke
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    If you can do everything pretty cheap, then the E7s can be a worthwhile upgrade. Keep in mind the costs of just removing your heads and re-installing. Typically, with gaskets, oil/filter change, new spark plugs, etc., the swap can quickly exceed $250 or more if the heads are free. The second the heads require any machine shop time, they're not worth it. Used heads can often be a money pit. Milling the decks to get them flat, new valve seals, shims under the worn springs to extend their life, valve job, etc. can turn "free" heads into $600 stock E7 heads not including the previously mentioned gaskets and such.

    For comparison, you could swap an entire explorer 5.0 in for less than $1K and you'd have GT40 heads, roller cam, 3G alternator, and higher compression.
    Last edited by Mike Croke; 08-25-2014 at 11:22 PM. Reason: spelling

  5. #5
    FEP Super Member Travis T's Avatar
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    And if you shop around, you can get it even cheaper than that. I got one just like in the picture of the ad Mike posted with 8k less miles on it for $410 from an LKQ yard.
    1984 Mustang GT owned since 1991 (first car). Mercury Mountaineer GT-40P engine, some suspension mods, currently undergoing a five lug SN95 brake upgrade and more suspension mods. Some minor body and interior mods have been done as well.

    2004 GT convertible, 2001 Taurus LX, 1994 F150, 1950 F-1 Ford Pickup

  6. #6
    FEP Member brianj's Avatar
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    I paid $350 for my Mountaineer motor from the boneyard. At 180,000 miles, it still had pristine crosshatching. I swapped cams, regasketed the motor, and have beaten it like a red headed step child ever since. It has seen many strip passes and daily drives, and cost less than a grand including the cam. Using dragstrip weight/ speed/ distance calculations, it is putting around 275HP down at the rear tires. Not bad!
    1983 Mustang G.T. No-option stripper- I like strippers.
    5.0, GT40P heads, Comp Cams XE270HR-12 on 1.6 rockers, TFI spring kit, Weiand 174 blower, Holley 750 mechanical secondarys, Mishimoto radiator, Edelbrock street performer mechanical pump, BBK shortys, T-5 conversion, 8.8 rear, 3.73 gears, carbon fiber clutches, SS Machine lowers, Maximum Motorsport XL subframes, "B" springs.

  7. #7

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    ^ What they all said.lol A lot of minimal gain for the effort even if they are free(I hope). There are some better deals out there for some that will outperform E7s for the effort.

  8. #8
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    Thanks all. I guess I'll be looking for some GT40 heads or an explorer motor in the junkyards...I'm looking to make close to 300 RWHP.

  9. #9
    FEP Member brianj's Avatar
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    Well, as I said, I am at 275 to the tires. Finding hp by track times is actually pretty accurate.At that hp range, it is far more than a cruiser only needs, and with decent tires instead of the Sears and Roebuck crap I have it would be deep in the twelves. Not saying that to say how great my junk is, just saying that a GT40P motor makes plenty for what you want. The jump from 275 to 300 RWHP is actually fairly steep ( insert expensive here) involving heads, RPM'S , and associated parts to support it. For a cruiser, probably not worth it. Just to put it in perspective, I believe that your 82 made around 150HP-- at the crank. I am making double that, once you figure driveline losses. For a grand!
    Last edited by brianj; 08-27-2014 at 05:06 PM.
    1983 Mustang G.T. No-option stripper- I like strippers.
    5.0, GT40P heads, Comp Cams XE270HR-12 on 1.6 rockers, TFI spring kit, Weiand 174 blower, Holley 750 mechanical secondarys, Mishimoto radiator, Edelbrock street performer mechanical pump, BBK shortys, T-5 conversion, 8.8 rear, 3.73 gears, carbon fiber clutches, SS Machine lowers, Maximum Motorsport XL subframes, "B" springs.

  10. #10
    FEP Senior Member rob342's Avatar
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    if you go with junkyard GT40's, you may find this link useful.
    http://www.alexsparts.com/categories...GT40P%2C-GT40/

    you should at a bare minimum do some research about a gt40 spring upgrade. old stock SUV valve springs aren't up to snuff.
    Last edited by rob342; 08-27-2014 at 06:00 PM.

  11. #11
    FEP Power Member STL79Coupe's Avatar
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    GT40p motor here and making good power running in the mid to high 12's. It's a good cheap head that works well with mild upgrades. I just milled mine, new valve seals, and reassembled with a set of Alex parts drop in springs. The cam is an E cam 1.7 cobra rockers. I have $350 or so in my heads and valve gear ,but no labor paid.
    Keith formerly STLPONDS
    '79 V8 coupe in the works!
    Build thread http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=89153

  12. #12
    Mike Croke
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    Just to add a little more, since the OP is carb'ed, he could buy the Explorer engine and sell the manifold and EFI bits to help offset the costs.

  13. #13
    FEP Super Member Travis T's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Croke View Post
    Just to add a little more, since the OP is carb'ed, he could buy the Explorer engine and sell the manifold and EFI bits to help offset the costs.

    That is what I did. $410 for the engine, sold the intakes and injectors for $255 so I got a roller long block with P heads for $155.
    1984 Mustang GT owned since 1991 (first car). Mercury Mountaineer GT-40P engine, some suspension mods, currently undergoing a five lug SN95 brake upgrade and more suspension mods. Some minor body and interior mods have been done as well.

    2004 GT convertible, 2001 Taurus LX, 1994 F150, 1950 F-1 Ford Pickup

  14. #14
    FEP Member mcavalear's Avatar
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    i never find deals like this on craigslist. i had an 89 with gt40 heads and manifolds back in the day... great combo for cruising around town. Now i drive a stock 82 that feels like it cant get out of its own way
    82 Capri T-Tops

  15. #15
    FEP Super Member Travis T's Avatar
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    I found mine on car-part.com.
    1984 Mustang GT owned since 1991 (first car). Mercury Mountaineer GT-40P engine, some suspension mods, currently undergoing a five lug SN95 brake upgrade and more suspension mods. Some minor body and interior mods have been done as well.

    2004 GT convertible, 2001 Taurus LX, 1994 F150, 1950 F-1 Ford Pickup

  16. #16
    FEP Member mcavalear's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Travis T View Post
    I found mine on car-part.com.
    how many miles did it have on it? theres a bunch near me with 100k plus on them
    82 Capri T-Tops

  17. #17
    FEP Super Member Travis T's Avatar
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    Mine had 90k. That website led me to a local LKQ breaking yard, it was on a pallet in the warehouse.
    1984 Mustang GT owned since 1991 (first car). Mercury Mountaineer GT-40P engine, some suspension mods, currently undergoing a five lug SN95 brake upgrade and more suspension mods. Some minor body and interior mods have been done as well.

    2004 GT convertible, 2001 Taurus LX, 1994 F150, 1950 F-1 Ford Pickup

  18. #18
    FEP Member mcavalear's Avatar
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    what did you do to the heads before you ran the motor?
    82 Capri T-Tops

  19. #19
    FEP Member brianj's Avatar
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    All I did was the Trickflow spring upgrade. I also hand lapped the valves, but my heads had 180k on them!
    1983 Mustang G.T. No-option stripper- I like strippers.
    5.0, GT40P heads, Comp Cams XE270HR-12 on 1.6 rockers, TFI spring kit, Weiand 174 blower, Holley 750 mechanical secondarys, Mishimoto radiator, Edelbrock street performer mechanical pump, BBK shortys, T-5 conversion, 8.8 rear, 3.73 gears, carbon fiber clutches, SS Machine lowers, Maximum Motorsport XL subframes, "B" springs.

  20. #20
    FEP Super Member Travis T's Avatar
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    I didn't do anything to mine, but now I am going to change the valve springs.
    1984 Mustang GT owned since 1991 (first car). Mercury Mountaineer GT-40P engine, some suspension mods, currently undergoing a five lug SN95 brake upgrade and more suspension mods. Some minor body and interior mods have been done as well.

    2004 GT convertible, 2001 Taurus LX, 1994 F150, 1950 F-1 Ford Pickup

  21. #21
    FEP Power Member bridgener's Avatar
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    I did a budget rebuild of the 302 in my 1982 Capri about 4 years back. I used a set of E7 heads that I got for free, cleaned, hand lapped the valves and ground down the thermactor humps. Stock cam, no AC, full (2.5") exhaust, Edelbrock Performer 289 and Edelbrock 600CFM carb. I don't know how much power my car makes, but it was enough to run a 13.9 on slicks. The power gain was very noticeable! I'd say if you can do it cheaply, they are a good set of heads to wake up your car a bit while saving up for something bigger and better.
    Brian

    1982 Capri 5.0L
    1965 Fastback project car - more rusty than not

  22. #22
    FEP Member mcavalear's Avatar
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    i have hooker equal length headers and i don't believe they will fit the gt40p heads
    82 Capri T-Tops

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