Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Engine Tech => Topic started by: GDawg148 on June 11, 2015, 06:28:17 PM

Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: GDawg148 on June 11, 2015, 06:28:17 PM
I figured I could just use my thunderbird spacer and the explorer throttle body, but my thunderbird intake had 4 long studs, and the explorer intake has 2 short studs (won't be able to fit thunderbird spacer on).  Will the explorer spacer work/fit when I swap?  Or is there something I can do to make the thunderbird spacer work on the explorer intake? Thanks!

I'll add pictures later.
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: vinnietbird on June 11, 2015, 07:01:33 PM
The Thunderbird spacer needs to be replaced, or, take it to a machine shop and have them open it to 65mm. It'll be 50mm.....y. Not good. Take the studs from your intake and put them in the Explorer intake, or use bolts like I am. No big deal on that matter.
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: thunderjet302 on June 12, 2015, 11:35:11 AM
Just use the Mustang/Thunderbird/Cougar/Mark VII style EGR spacer and throttle body. Bolts right up to the Explorer intake using the stock Mustang/Thunderbird/Cougar/Mark VII studs or bolts.

(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa33/thunderjet302/Thunderbird%20web/20150113_125625_zps37494262.jpg) (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/thunderjet302/media/Thunderbird%20web/20150113_125625_zps37494262.jpg.html)
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: GDawg148 on June 12, 2015, 01:32:31 PM
Thanks guys!
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: GDawg148 on June 12, 2015, 01:34:37 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;448805
The Thunderbird spacer needs to be replaced, or, take it to a machine shop and have them open it to 65mm. It'll be 50mm.....y. Not good. Take the studs from your intake and put them in the Explorer intake, or use bolts like I am. No big deal on that matter.

What side of the throttle body needs to be machined?
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: vinnietbird on June 12, 2015, 01:40:58 PM
Not the throttlebody. The EGR spcer. For some reason I thought you had a larger than stock throttle body already.

 No point in using the factory Thunderbird 50mm throttlebody. Time to upgrade. At least get a factory Mustang GT t-body and spacer. Theya re about 60mm. The next step up is a 65mm t-body.
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: Beau on June 12, 2015, 02:36:27 PM
^Correct, I wouldn't go to a 65mm TB unless you have something better than stock cam and heads. A 65 is about perfect for GT40 and an alphabet cam or equivalent.
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: vinnietbird on June 12, 2015, 05:46:48 PM
What is your engine combo? Is it all stock? Is it an H.O engine? If it's all stock at the moment, leave it that way. If you plan to swap heads and the rest, wait until you swap the heads and cam before you bolt on the intake. Do it all at once so you don't have to do it twice.
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: Haystack on June 12, 2015, 08:06:42 PM
A 60mm throttle body and an h.o. upper doesn't hurt anything on a s.o. motor, why would a 65mm throttle body hurt a s.o. motor with an explorer upper?
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: vinnietbird on June 12, 2015, 08:20:20 PM
Are you asking me?  I'm saying.....No reason to put a stock 50mm on an Explorer intake.
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: Beau on June 12, 2015, 10:58:10 PM
Because with 14 pound injectors, there's going to be a lot of extra air that the EEC doesn't account for, or have enough fuel flow...


Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. I wouldn't waste my time with a 65mm on a stock engine though, let alone a lowly SO.

I've got the 65mm on my my combo, and all I have are P heads and an E cam, while it's not yet been ran, it's probably more than enough for the level of power mine will be at.
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: V8Demon on June 13, 2015, 04:25:13 AM
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;448849
Because with 14 pound injectors, there's going to be a lot of extra air that the EEC doesn't account for, or have enough fuel flow...


Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. I wouldn't waste my time with a 65mm on a stock engine though, let alone a lowly SO.

I've got the 65mm on my my combo, and all I have are P heads and an E cam, while it's not yet been ran, it's probably more than enough for the level of power mine will be at.

With just an intake and TB/EGR spacer swap?    It'll be fine.
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on June 14, 2015, 11:49:46 AM
To answer the stud question, just swap the studs.  Otherwise, I'm with everyone else, the GT40 intake is for bigger builds than what you've got.  Get one, get 65mm spacer and TB, but sit on them til you're ready to HO convert, or it's only really going to add up to 10 HP and a hooty intake noise before you run out of fueling capacity, best case.  Worst case, you lean out and piss the motor off and the pistons clock out.  S.O. speed density isn't going to be happy with you either.  Unfortunately there's not really a safe half-way between where you are and where we're trying to guide you to.  Incremental upgrades are a way of life, and that's fine, but first, you're going to have to pay the cost of entry; and that's a H.O. swap/conversion.  After that you can move up at whatever pace you're comfortable with.
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: GDawg148 on June 15, 2015, 10:41:24 AM
Quote from: vinnietbird;448839
What is your engine combo? Is it all stock? Is it an H.O engine? If it's all stock at the moment, leave it that way. If you plan to swap heads and the rest, wait until you swap the heads and cam before you bolt on the intake. Do it all at once so you don't have to do it twice.


I'm doing the explorer intake swap, gt40p head swap, and I will be installing a cam.  I'm also getting a double roller timing chain and gears, and replacing my water pump.
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: GDawg148 on June 15, 2015, 10:43:03 AM
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;448849
Because with 14 pound injectors, there's going to be a lot of extra air that the EEC doesn't account for, or have enough fuel flow...


Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. I wouldn't waste my time with a 65mm on a stock engine though, let alone a lowly SO.

I've got the 65mm on my my combo, and all I have are P heads and an E cam, while it's not yet been ran, it's probably more than enough for the level of power mine will be at.

I'll be installing 19 pounders from an explorer along with the P heads, explorer intakes, and cam.
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: thunderjet302 on June 15, 2015, 07:12:46 PM
Quote from: GDawg148;448898
I'm doing the explorer intake swap, gt40p head swap, and I will be installing a cam.  I'm also getting a double roller timing chain and gears, and replacing my water pump.

With a GT40 intake, GT40/GT40P heads, and a cam a 65mm or 70mm throttle body will be fine. Either one should match up well with an Explorer/GT40 upper.
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: Beau on June 16, 2015, 12:05:25 AM
Cliche as it sounds, but..yeah, what he said. ^

;)
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on June 16, 2015, 11:00:06 PM
Just make sure to have enough exhaust.  2 1/4 minimum, 2" will be just about maxed out on that combo, so will 19# injectors.  Think about 24# and MAF maybe a Cobra PCM (X3Z iirc, to make things easy, no tuning)
Title: Explorer intake swap, which spacer to use?
Post by: thunderjet302 on June 16, 2015, 11:58:06 PM
When I was running GT40P heads and a GT40 intake I had (still have) 2.5" exhaust on the car.