Anybody with a 79 5.0 engine do any performance mods???

[BlackMamba]

Hi everyone. So i've been messing with my 79 5.0 coupe lately and took the stock heads, intake, Carb off.
I have some GT40 heads, Hooker equal length headers, X Pipe with dual flows, Eddy intake and Eddy 600 CFM carb and was wondering if its worth putting on the original 79 5.0 engine as it only produced about 140 horses and its a Non roller engine.
I know it's best to get a roller engine and use the parts i already have but the stock engine was rebuilt about 10k miles ago.
Has anyone here upgraded a 79 5.0 engine with similar parts?
Any noticeable differences?
Worth doing or should I just cough up the money on the used roller block?

[79cobrasnake]

I had a 79 cobra with a 5.0 in it... I pulled the stock top end off the car and had the bottom end bore to a 306. I added gt40p heads that had some porting done to them, along with a cam, edelbrock performer intake, holly 600 cfm carb, prw 1.6 roller rockers, longtube headers, full 2.5 inch exhaust w dual 40 series flowmasters.. I ended up selling the car shortly after I completed the build so I only put about 300 miles on it after the upgrades.. but I could tell a great improvement over the stock setup and I will prob end up doing the same setup on my 83 which is also a flat tappet setup.

[BlackMamba]

What Cam did you use?
I'm thinking of adding one too while the engine is going to be out.

[79cobrasnake]

the cam I used was an elgin pro stock cam.. cam lift was int .325 exh .340... ADV DUR 300 int 310 exh.. .050 DUR 234int 244exh... I don't think that was the best cam for performance, I think there may be a better cam choice.. I wanted something that sounded nasty, and it def sounded awesome.. but like I said I don't think id go with a cam that size again... im actually asking around for the best cam to go with the gt40p heads.

[79FOX302]

I freshened up my 302 with rings, bearing, oil pump, etc. I have a holley 600 VS, Edelbrock cam with .448 intake and .473 exhaust, edelbrock 289 manifold, GT 40p heads, Ford Racing headers, 2.5 H pipe and flow master cat back going through the SROD trans and an 8.8 with 3.73 gears. It's a nice little combo and since I bought the car completely stock from the original owner, it made an incredible difference. I have no idea of the HP and torque of the motor but it does get out of its own way now and I'm happy with the performace.

[BlackMamba]

Any idea on what flywheel to use? I'm currently swapping a t5 and heard mixed opinions about a 50 oz and the 28oz flywheel when matted to this engine?
Thanks for the responses guys. I think I'm going to stick with the stock engine for now and just add the bolt ons.

[BMW Rider]

A 79 will need the 28 oz flywheel, the 50 oz was not introduced until around 82.

[BlackMamba]

A 79 will need the 28 oz flywheel, the 50 oz was not introduced until around 82.

Thanks for the info. Is the 28 oz flywheel specific to a 10" clutch or can you get at 10.5" 28 oz flywheel?

[grabbergreen84]

Absolutely those parts should all be good to put on there, and you will probably realize a considerable HP/torque gain.

Although to really make the most of it, you'll want to swap out the stock '79 2 barrel cam.

If the factory block has been in it for 36 years, then I would want to leave it in there - especially if it's been rebuilt well. You can still get an aftermarket roller cam upgrade kit for it.

They do sell 10.5 28 oz flywheels, but they might be a little pricey. But if I'm not mistaken, you can have your existing 10" SROD flywheel resurfaced to accept the larger 10.5 clutch.

[BlackMamba]

Absolutely those parts should all be good to put on there, and you will probably realize a considerable HP/torque gain.

Although to really make the most of it, you'll want to swap out the stock '79 2 barrel cam.

If the factory block has been in it for 36 years, then I would want to leave it in there - especially if it's been rebuilt well. You can still get an aftermarket roller cam upgrade kit for it.

They do sell 10.5 28 oz flywheels, but they might be a little pricey. But if I'm not mistaken, you can have your existing 10" SROD flywheel resurfaced to accept the larger 10.5 clutch.

Is there a particular Cam you suggest?
I'm not really familiar with auto transmissions but is the SROD the same as a C4? I believe thats the trans that my 79 5.0 coupe has.
Will the stock C4 flywheel fit a 10" clutch?
I guess I have a little bit more research to do.

[grabbergreen84]

C4 in an automatic, and the SROD is the 4 speed manual. The flywheels are not cross-compatible.

[BlackMamba]

Thanks for clearing that up, I knew the c4 was auto but wasn't familiar with the SROD. So it looks like I'll be in the Market for a 10" 28 oz flywheel and clutch pretty soon.
Another question, is there a cut off date as to when the 28 oz flywheel was discontinued? Did all the 82s with a T5 use a 50 oz flywheel or was it introduced at a certain month?

[82GTforME]

Have any luck with your bolt on parts Mamba? I'm doing some "into the future" planning for a 79 302 and now have some GT40 heads myself to hopefully plan around.

[ToddMcF2002]

If you can do it incrementally. 373 gears are optimal for these cars in my opinion and the best place to start. My 85 has 373's and a 306 and a Motorcraft cam, cast pistons. My 82 has a stock 1991 motor with forged pistons and 355's. The 85 feels amazing while the 82 is OK. I can certainly make more power but I am hesitant to touch the 85 because the car is so balanced and a joy on the street. Power doesn't always translate to street friendly.

[BlackMamba]

Have any luck with your bolt on parts Mamba? I'm doing some "into the future" planning for a 79 302 and now have some GT40 heads myself to hopefully plan around.

Sorry for the late reply.
I ended up buying a cammed 306 for the 79 coupe at a very good price so It looks like i'm not going to bolt on the parts to the non roller 5.0 engine now.
Working on 4 four eyed mustangs can get very challenging and hard to focus on just one thing.

[BlackMamba]

If you can do it incrementally. 373 gears are optimal for these cars in my opinion and the best place to start. My 85 has 373's and a 306 and a Motorcraft cam, cast pistons. My 82 has a stock 1991 motor with forged pistons and 355's. The 85 feels amazing while the 82 is OK. I can certainly make more power but I am hesitant to touch the 85 because the car is so balanced and a joy on the street. Power doesn't always translate to street friendly.

I agree, my 84GT has a 306 with a small cam, GT40 heads, 355s and it is well balanced. I don't think i'll do too much more to it as it's a nice daily cruiser.
373s was my first option for the 79 coupe but I need to find an 8.8 rear end first.

[brian84foxbody]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Ford-SB-289-30...002?nav=SEARCH

There's the flywheel you need, it'll do a 10" or 10.5" clutch. That's what I've got for my 351

[BlackMamba]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Ford-SB-289-30...002?nav=SEARCH

There's the flywheel you need, it'll do a 10" or 10.5" clutch. That's what I've got for my 351

Thanks, I bought a good used one months ago and now I'm not going to use it since I'm upgrading to a roller engine. Now I'll need a 50oz

[BlackMamba]

I pulled the engine and trans during the weekend. The top of the pistons had a lot of carbon build up. I noticed a number on top of the piston so i decided to clean it up a bit and realized it was bored out to a 308. Score! Now I'm debating on using this engine again and using my 306 for another car.
Anyone recognize what type of pistons they are?

[bazementdoor]

Should be some numbers on the underside of the piston. That will tell you. Some times there are more numbers on top. Clean off completely and look.

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