I bought a set of pi heads and plan to put them on soon. Everyone here says go for it. Here in waco its a different story. Everyone says I'm gonna blow smoke like crazy even if my compression and leak down test reads good. They say get a low mile or brand new complete pi motor from a 03 or 04 and just drop it in and be done with it. I found an aluminum block brand new explorer pi motor for 1850. What should I do? I want the pi heads on there but I don't want to use oil like crazy. Please give me some feedback. thanks
People argue. Who's right?
- Thread starter Bluesn95
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bottlefed97
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I slapped on a pair of P.I. heads, cams, and intake on my 120,000 mile gt and it ran absolutely perfect. It def. felt like an additional 50 horsies!
Jrgunn5150
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People argue, but I am right.
That being said, a machine shop should only charge you 50-75 bucks to clean them, press new valve guides in, and pop seals on there. Figure another 75 bucks for part's, tops, and for 150 you have some piece of mind. I'd hate to change heads, and then have to do it again, you know?
That being said, a machine shop should only charge you 50-75 bucks to clean them, press new valve guides in, and pop seals on there. Figure another 75 bucks for part's, tops, and for 150 you have some piece of mind. I'd hate to change heads, and then have to do it again, you know?
Jrgunn5150
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I have no idea, if the car they came off from wasn't smoking, and they haven't been sitting for a year dry, they'll be fine. Of course, they'll wear like 150k heads, so expect to have them off in the next 50k or so.
rick focks
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i would go w/JR if someone was arguin' with him...he knows this kinda thing
Jrgunn5150
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Red said:
I read that and got confused, sorry :hammer:
Go for it, should work great.
DropTopPony
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No problems with the heads if you have them checked and new valve seals but a new explorer PI engine is a great idea also 
Aluminum block saves @ 75lbs
Aluminum block saves @ 75lbsI'm still debating. I the heads come tomorrow and will probably need a valve job and to be machined $200. Plus Pi intake new $200. Head changing kit $110. Also a dyno tune and software $550. And maybe some factory ford exhaust manifold gaskets $124 (they're the best) if I don't like the ones that come with the head changing kit. So what is that... That's $1180 call it $1200. The explorer engine NEW cpsts $1850, $250 for shipping and $150 for tax. So thats $2250 for an engine I know that will last me and weighs 70-75 lbs less. So I could save $1000 by just doing the swap but I could run in to some problems later on. I'm just not sure what to do.
reivaxtorres
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Bluesn95 said:
not quite.
- the frpp head swap kit includes Ford OE Head gaskets, Ford OE Head bolts, Ford OE exhaust manifold gaskets, Ford OE dipstick tube, all for $110. you will need to get from your Ford dealer: PI intake gaskets and all three front timing chain cover gaskets. expect to spend about $50 for these.
-you dont absolutely need the Dyno tune, or even a tune at all. i have just about every bolt on you can think of, plus PI heads, manifold, and cams, and im still running on the factory tune. all i had to do was switch from 87 octane gas to 91 (highest you can get in cali at the gas station. in texas, if i remember right, you guys can get 93, right?)
-for the intake manifold, you are 100% bent on getting a new one, then yeah, its about $200, the FRPP one. you can search around and find a used, low mileage PI manifold for cheap. i found one for my friend for $40, and it was in perfect condition. was removed from a low mileage 03 because the guy wanted a Typhoon intake. then all you would need to do is get a PI return tube from ford, which is about $20 or so.
-as for problems down the road......does your car have any problems as it is? the car that you are getting the PI head off of, did it have any issues as far as burning oil? i ask because i bought some used 03 PI heads, about 30-40k miles on them, and threw them on my car, which at the time had about 155k miles, and have had no issues at all. im currently on 169k miles, about 300miles away from 170k. the heads came off the donor car, got cleaned by me (with some autozone brake cleaner and water......in my bath tube. bad mistake, btw. fumes got to me), and then got installed on my car. didnt take them to anyone to get cleaned or re-done or anything.
oh, and put it this way. my entire PI headswap cost me about $700ish total, doing the labor myself (labor took about 22 hours total, spread over 3 days)
Used PI Manifold (from MPS, wanted to make sure i was getting the right one) - $200 shipped
Used 03 PI heads + Cams = $150
Used 02 PI Cams = $60 (i got these before i bought the heads)
FRPP headswap Kit = $109
New Ford OE: valve cover gaskets, PI intake gaskets, 3 timing chain cover gaskets, 1 timing cover chain o-ring, PI return tube, and PI alternator bracket = $110
Fuel line disconnect tools = $5
Lokar Flexible Dip Stick Tube (after i broke the stock one, and the new one that came in the kit because i installed it wrong :hammer
= $60I didn't mention that I live next door to latemodel restoration. Yes they have the frpp headswap kit. I didnt know that I needed timing chain o rings and gaskets. They guy that sold me the heads on ebay said that there was some galling on 2 of the pistons that the heads came off of. I assumed then that they needed a valve job and needed to be machined. Also he didn't know the mileage of the car. I just figured they'd need some work. They should get here today. So I haven't actually seen them yet.
reivaxtorres
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Bluesn95 said:
ooooo, that changes things. but first, the timing cover gaskets, you dont need to get new ones if yours arent leaking or anything, but i would recomend you get new ones. re-using gaskets hasnt always been a good idea, and its a lot cheaper to replace them now since everything is torn apart than reuse the old ones, having them leak, and then re-doing everything. as for the o-ring i was talking about, its also a gasket that goes on the timing cover, its right behind the crank pulley. likewise, you dont have to replace it, but like i said earlier, better safe than sorry.
as for the heads, yeah, take them to a machine shop and have them take a look at them. if the pistons were damaged from the valves hitting them, im guessing you might have to replace a valve or two, which the shop should be able to figure that out.
Jrgunn5150
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Now I'm lost, why even start this thread if you know a valve smacked a piston?
reivaxtorres
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Bluesn95 said:
you can, but i guess we were all assuming the heads you bought were take-offs of a car that had no issues whatsoever. if ur going to take them to a shop, have them replace whatever valves were damamged, replace all the seats, and do a valve job on them, then you will not be getting any "car burns oil" issues when everything is said and done
yeah uh.... just got the heads and the camshaft bearings are f&%ked. There's no saving them. I'm currently talking to the guy who sold me them and sending him pictures of the bearings. He obviously never looked at them. Guess I'm just going to have to put the all aluminum pi motor that I found in. Oh well. If someone has any ideas about what I can do with the heads let me know. And yes I know a scrap yard will take them, haha.
