New adventure, wish me luck.

[Brian]

Got my valeo king cobra kit in today.....ordered headers and gaskets.....have everything I need by friday (I hope)

 

[Purple97GT]

Sweet! So hows the progress? ccasion14:

 

[Brian]

Sweet! So hows the progress? ccasion14:

My headers came in, I'm waiting on my gasket set. As soon as it gets here, I'll update with pics/problems/progress

 

[Brian]

 

[Brian]

 

[justinschmidt1]

Looks good!

Im actually doing the same swap

 

[NERD]

Can you explain the Coolant Temp Sensor position for me please? I just went to my heads and found the spot where your sensor is place. I tried blowing into it but it is blocked although it is threaded. With your heads, does it open to a coolant passage? I wouldn't imagine a temp sensor getting the correct readings from only being in contact with the metal. Thanks,

Mike

 

[WarHorse]

what type of headers are those? i had no idea the explorer had an aluminum block, how much power does that have over an original PI, or NPI?

Good luck by the way.

 

[Willis_98GT]

what type of headers are those? i had no idea the explorer had an aluminum block, how much power does that have over an original PI, or NPI?

Good luck by the way.

i didn't know that either, good luck man that shit is going to be killer..

 

[windsordeath]

Coolant sensor in the head is not used though the plug will connect..DO NOT USE IT!!
keep your sensors in the coolant crossover..

Explorer swap is awesome...I've done two so far for guys.. Best way to get P.I. heads and a low mileage block..THAT IS ALUM.! you'll notice the weight.. You'll suprise a New Edge and run with a N/A cobra/Mach1...

The second car got Hitech Stg 2's/longtubes,3.73's, No tune... and we had a best of 8.50 in the 1/8th.. Just not consistent yet It still 60's terrible..

Biggest thing I can recommend is get a tuner atleast to bump the rev limiter up...once this swap is done you won't stay off the factory 96-98 rpm limit...

 

[NERD]

Coolant sensor in the head is not used though the plug will connect..DO NOT USE IT!!
keep your sensors in the coolant crossover..

Why?

 

[windsordeath]

Gives incorrect reading and if you goof and hook the ECM coolant temp plug up to it you'll overheat the motor cause the fan will come on too late or not at all.....

Shouldn't have to though...you already have a P.I. intake on your car right? well you already drilled and tapped that intake for both temp sensors I assume?

 

[NERD]

Gives incorrect reading and if you goof and hook the ECM coolant temp plug up to it you'll overheat the motor cause the fan will come on too late or not at all.....

Shouldn't have to though...you already have a P.I. intake on your car right? well you already drilled and tapped that intake for both temp sensors I assume?

No, mine is inline with the heater core return.

Is the explorer head opened coolant passage opened up?

 

[windsordeath]

The head is not opened into coolant...
It's nothing to get the Drill bit and tap for the coolant boss on your P.I. intake..Once you have the pieces it's all of about 10 minutes work...

I don't know...I guess It doesn't matter..you got it mounted in actual coolant already...

 

[Dalamar]

nice work so far!
Just curious, Do those headers fit?

 

[Brian]

nice work so far!
Just curious, Do those headers fit?

They fit good, car sounds really good. I have 4.10 gears and I need to go back down to like a .373 or something, it wraps up so much faster than stock. I run well over 100 MPH in 4th gear, and a good deal before the 1/4 mile mark, need to have some longer legs! Here are a few more pictures:

Oh, and temp sensor in head is NOT used at all. Car runs just as smooth as it did before.

 

[Brian]

Also, I can answer anyones questions about this swap. Total cost for me:

king cobra clutch: 200$ shipped
new flywheel: 70$
headers: 260$
longblock w/PI painted valvecovers = 770
Complete gasket set = roughly 160$
waterpump = 42$

Just a hair over 1500$ add another 100$ for misc. stuff I may have forgotten.

 

[NERD]

Will also be installing a spec 2 clutch. (Few people hate them though, any insight?)

go with the ram powergrip 300 / 900 (not the HD) and a freshly surfaced flywheel (the RAM ones are balanced)

edit - as long as you are making 500 RWHP or less. forgot to mention that.

Read here if you like, but make sure you read it all!  http://www.ramclutches.com/Clutch%20U/cl_u_1.htm

there's NO break in period necessary if all the surfaces are flat - machined pressure plate, disk manufactured correctly, surfaced flywheel. 

always choose you clutch so that its weaker than your transmission.

 

[windsordeath]

You have a good choice in clutch man...Folks are getting wrapped up in the hype over these race style clutches and just making life hard on theirselves in their 200 hp cars.. KC's and HD's will take you on up to 400HP...Just can't slip it at that power level!

 

[NERD]

nice work so far!
Just curious, Do those headers fit?

Oh, and temp sensor in head is NOT used at all. Car runs just as smooth as it did before.

That makes me sad, lol. I thought I'd figure something out that millions of Mod owners before me didn't, haha. At least I tried.