pi head swap or complete motor?

[Gregor185]

so i bought a set of pi heads and just recently bought a block from an 01...my question is this, i have a 96 conv gt and i wanna do some sort of swap but im not sure what? i dont plan on putting on any kind of power adders but i do want a decent amount of power from the engine. what do you guys suggest i do as far as a complete motor swap or should i just take a non pi block and put the pi heads on? i dont mind doin some mods to the motors so thats not the issue but still... :icon_salut:

 

[gt96stang]

How's the npi motor doing?? compression and leak down test???

For me, if "I" were to do it... I'm swapping the whole motor... and adding a power adder...

But if the npi motor is healthy, swap the heads and go with the higher compression with some nicer cams, and have fun....

 

[Willis_98GT]

1. do you want to use nitrous

2. do you want to use a blower later on

3. do you wanna cam it and pimp around?

 

[mikey94gt]

I just helped do a head swap and cams on a NPI 4.6, and it runs much better with the NPI 4.6 bottom end and PI heads. much better compression, it pulls hard and put the car sideways thru 1-2.

 

[Gregor185]

no poweradders at all...EVER...its a vert so i figure what for? even if i do use a npi bottom end im gonna rebuild it anyway to at least freshen it up

 

[mikey94gt]

I would do the NPI bottom end so you get the compression, if you are not doing poweradders, and a set of cams. If I was to do it all over with a Mod motor, I would save for teh Trick FLow heads, a nice set of cams, a Trick FLow intake and see what happens.

 

[Gregor185]

ok so i think im gonna pick up a npi block now and sell the pi block...anything you guys recommend that i do to the block or heads??ex. cobra crank or anything like that?

 

[justinschmidt1]

Yea, def. go with the NPI block if your gonna stay n/a, the compression bump is nice.

Would be a good time to do cams...should have some balls with the higher compression and a nice set of cams.

 

[mikey94gt]

If you are not gonna do any forced induction, you wont need the cobra crank or anything, just a nice set of bearings, possibly timing chains and guides, then put it together and drive it!!!

 

[Gregor185]

anywhere you guys would recommend for that kind of stuff? i mean i might do a lil bit to the motor to give me some power but im not gonna go insane

 

[mikey94gt]

well, I would take it apart and look at everything, if the journals look okay, i would order up a set of standard bearings with the full groove, preferrably coated. a set of Total Seal gapless piston rings for your stock bores, hone it out,(if they look good) put it together and have fun!!!

 

[Willis_98GT]

I just helped do a head swap and cams on a NPI 4.6, and it runs much better with the NPI 4.6 bottom end and PI heads. much better compression, it pulls hard and put the car sideways thru 1-2.

helll yeah..

 

[Gregor185]

alrighty

 

[duff daddy]

if you want some cams and ported heads let me know........ (see numbers in sig, i could sell you my set up)

 

[Gregor185]

i have a set of pi heads already just gotta set them up. any suggestions?

 

[atrainsgt]

I would definitely go with the PI heads on a npi block. You will make a decent amount more power that way rather then just going with a full PI engine. Looks at Will's car. It's decently quick.

 

[MustangChris]

no power adder = 1996-1998 block with 1999-2004 heads. higher compression ratio.

other options with no power adder:

perhaps have the heads decked for an even higher compression ratio.

port and polish the heads for a "stage 1" upgrade. many companies offer basic CNC jobs that are cheep and effective (Livernois)

High compression pistons

 

[atrainsgt]

no power adder = 1996-1998 block with 1999-2004 heads. higher compression ratio.

other options with no power adder:

perhaps have the heads decked for an even higher compression ratio.

port and polish the heads for a "stage 1" upgrade. many companies offer basic CNC jobs that are cheep and effective (Livernois)

High compression pistons

I was originally going to use 96-98 cobra pistons in my npi block. Now I think I will just get my heads decked a little since the gasket surface isn't great anyway, not that decking will help much because it probably won't.

 

[MustangChris]

no power adder = 1996-1998 block with 1999-2004 heads. higher compression ratio.

other options with no power adder:

perhaps have the heads decked for an even higher compression ratio.

port and polish the heads for a "stage 1" upgrade. many companies offer basic CNC jobs that are cheep and effective (Livernois)

High compression pistons

I was originally going to use 96-98 cobra pistons in my npi block. Now I think I will just get my heads decked a little since the gasket surface isn't great anyway, not that decking will help much because it probably won't.

depends on how much you deck. i doubt the amount you can deck with stock pistons will make a HUGE difference, but if you plan on keeping stock pistons, no boost, pump gas.... hell, i would deck it. lol.

 

[vermilion]

a nice set of naturally aspirated cams would help the compression do its magic. a basic gasket match port/polish on the intake and exhaust side will help them flow even better. the rough casting on them are nasty. if you plan to keep it N/A, flat top pistons would utilize the compression ratio the best. i also recommend to upgrade the fuel pump if it doesnt have it done. i think thats a nice setup.