motor ?

[96TANGERINEGT]

o.k so i have a 96 gt with 139,000 on it i want to do a p.i. head/cam and intake swap, i looked around at prices of shit but for the money its gonna cost and the dicking around in my garage would i be better just going to a salvage yard and looking for 03-04 a p.i. motor or a lincoln markVIII motor (i know the lincoln motor dohc) . i am new to this mod. motor shit.. with my old 5.0L i didn't have choiceslike this.
this forum is awsome and everyone is so helpfull figued i would ask for some opinons ...

 

[Mustang Mark]

what are you asking? which is best?
a pi engine is drop in and go
the mark motor is a little more involved and your engine bay will be a little more cramped.
its all in what you want. both are good choices.

 

[justinschmidt1]

I would say the PI motor drop in is the easiest.

You pretty much use the longblock and pull the timing cover and accessories from your current motor and switch them over.

 

[96TANGERINEGT]

cool thanks help. i will go from there and check around and see what i can find. r there any better yrs for the p.i. motor ?
i thaught 03-04 maybe?

 

[justinschmidt1]

Actually the 99-00 motors are stronger IMO. They were made at the Windsor truck factory and seem to hold together better than the 01-04 motors.

But obviously grab what you can find.

I have an 04 explorer motor with an aluminum block and its holding together way above the "safe limit"

 

[96TANGERINEGT]

Actually the 99-00 motors are stronger IMO. They were made at the Windsor truck factory and seem to hold together better than the 01-04 motors.

But obviously grab what you can find.

I have an 04 explorer motor with an aluminum block and its holding together way above the "safe limit"

cool thanks for the help..

 

[rz5.0]

I wluld get one with the alluminum block... Or the mark Vlll I seen those super cheap..

 

[Marvin97]

if im not mistaken the 03/04 model pi motors have the higher thread count spark plug heads and aren't known for spitting out plugs like the earlier models

 

[MadStang]

Actually the 99-00 motors are stronger IMO. They were made at the Windsor truck factory and seem to hold together better than the 01-04 motors.

But obviously grab what you can find.

I have an 04 explorer motor with an aluminum block and its holding together way above the "safe limit"

There's really no proof of which is better, both have their strengths and weaknesses. Personally though, of go for a Romeo in his case. that way everything bolts up perfectly. Minute things like the valve covers will not bolt up on the Windsor if you are trying to swap parts from the Romeo over to it.

That being said, windsors are pretty nice other than the shallow spark plug threads that are prone to blow out. and certain things like the cam caps are an extra step that's a bit of a pain when you're changing cams out versus having girdles which or on the romeo.

If you're looking for a direct replacement with minimal to no modifications though get yourself a Romeo or WAP block...

 

[justinschmidt1]

Thus why I said IMO...your right though, there is no "proof" and ford wont admit it but I have met a lot of people that feel the same way and for whatever reason the windsor motors seem to hold up better, last longer, etc. Ive seen a few stock bottom end windsors making well over 500 rwhp as well.

It may just be me and a few others crazy theory and I actually have a romeo motor just because thats all I could find but I truly believe the windsor motors hold up better over time.

The spark plug thing sucks but if your careful when changing them, you should have no problems.

But yea, the romeo is definitely an easier option and will most likely be far more readily available to you.

 

[96TANGERINEGT]

Yea Fuck that spark plug thing . I will start looking around to see what I can find . I told the wife I was gonna buy another motor for the car she said why it runs fine so . I said fine ill make sure it don't . LOL. I got a blank stair from that . LOL

 

[justinschmidt1]

Yea Fuck that spark plug thing . I will start looking around to see what I can find . I told the wife I was gonna buy another motor for the car she said why it runs fine so . I said fine ill make sure it don't . LOL. I got a blank stair from that . LOL

Lol. I got an explorer motor with the alum block for.like 600 bucks with 30k miles on it. The spark plug thing is sketchy lol

 

[96TANGERINEGT]

the spark plug thing does frighten me a little . i work at a NAPA auto parts store, we have a machine shop and they do lots of plug rethreads to those motors. wife said so what did that mean ? I said if think it runs fine now wait till i blow the motor thrugh the fuckin hood . that got another blank stair . duh (some women don't understand the car thing)

 

[96TANGERINEGT]

Lol. I got an explorer motor with the alum block for.like 600 bucks with 30k miles on it. The spark plug thing is sketchy lol

where r u at just in case i can't find anything local?

 

[justinschmidt1]

where r u at just in case i can't find anything local?

Delaware but I meant thats what I paid for mine lol

I bought it from a junkyard but im sure you can find full PI motors for that or less out there depending on the condition.

My brothers got a 2000 and changes his own plugs and has never had a problem with near 160k miles on it now and probably 6 or so plug changes.

Use anti seize, only do the plugs when the motor is cold, and only crank them down to the spec. which is really low at like 15 ft lbs and your fine.

Yea, if you crank them down to 100 foot lbs and try to yank one out with the motor still hot, you will rip the threads right out of the head.

 

[MadStang]

Delaware but I meant thats what I paid for mine lol

I bought it from a junkyard but im sure you can find full PI motors for that or less out there depending on the condition.

My brothers got a 2000 and changes his own plugs and has never had a problem with near 160k miles on it now and probably 6 or so plug changes.

Use anti seize, only do the plugs when the motor is cold, and only crank them down to the spec. which is really low at like 15 ft lbs and your fine.

Yea, if you crank them down to 100 foot lbs and try to yank one out with the motor still hot, you will rip the threads right out of the head.

Exactly. The "better tight than right" method will ensure you are firing out spark plugs like a machine gun. If you have the spare cash, you could get timeserts for your windsor heads. I'm having timeserts installed on my 5-thread romeo heads from MHS and when I refresh the heads on my current block I'll be doing the same thing.

 

[vermilion]

theres no material difference in Iron romeo or windsor "blocks". just cast lettering differences. now, between romeo and windsor heads neither is better. however, bolt on cams are a plus over press on. I'm using a WAP block with romeo heads, romeo style cams and grand marquis timing chain guides. lastly, have fun.

 

[justinschmidt1]

4.6 blocks are the last thing I would worry about though. Its the weak rods and pistons that worry me.

 

[Dalamar]

NA it doesn't really matter either way.
GL with the swap, agree with Justin, it's easier than doing the head swap...

 

[justinschmidt1]

Ya, na it really doesnt matter.

But figured id post this info just cause I find it interesting. Not trying to say im right or anything, could just be purely a coincidence but I always find 99/00 cars that impress me with the numbers they make and seem to last the longest.

"Well, I don't want to jinx anything but I am currently at 511 rwhp 454 ft lbs on a stock '99 bottom end. I do have heads, cams, and a TVS blower. I railed on it all summer and just trashed the clutch. Am I scared a bit? Yes, but my tuner says "rail on it and have fun. I would get the rear end done first if I were you. It's not gonna blow up, it's conservatively tuned." (he is a close friend of mine with a lot of experience with SCT) I need to fix a leak on my meth kit to add some safety and there is only 13* of timing in it. I ran in an autocross event all day last summer and put probably 1500 miles on it over the summer with frequent stabs of the go pedal. Who knows how long it will last but it runs great, is a blast to drive, and I'm gonna see how long I can make it last. "

"Local guy around here was making alittle over 500rwhp on a stock bottom end and blower cams. He had it for about 3 years, and then sold the car. Last I heard, it was still on the stock motor a year ago...but dont know any more details

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq9n5Ry03dc"

Its the red car, says it was making 502 rwhp in the vid.

Maybe its all in the tune, IDK...im curious how long my car will last this way. lol