the ole pi swap

[vermilion]

im a newb. im on a learning curve or trying to so.. i recently bought pi heads, cams, and plenum out of a 04. aluminum crossover already drilled and tapped with sensor. :dancing6: .. im installing it soon and not getting a tune right away. i have to unlock a tuner i got from a friend who totaled his 98 vert. insurance company wouldnt let us "get things " outof the car. but with all that, will i have to use higher octane fuel? im not racing but wanna have a fun car. i do alot of highway driving but city driving when im in town. ive read alot of info on the swap and trying to figure it all out.

 

[Black97GT]

If you swap the heads on there you will have to run 93 due to the increase in the compression ratio. That also means an increase in horsepower though O0. When you say plenum did you mean the intake manifold? I thought the plenums were the same from 96-04. I think the throttle body size changed slightly a couple years though.

 

[vermilion]

yuh i mean intake manifold. well i figure if i get it tuned and have to run 93. its def gonna be a weekend car. prices are so expensive for fuel.

 

[AaRoN]

you shouldn't have to run 93. i have an P.I. motor and run 89. plenum is the same from 96-04 and so is the T/B

 

[reivaxtorres]

you shouldn't have to run 93. i have an P.I. motor and run 89. plenum is the same from 96-04 and so is the T/B

complete PI motor, or PI heads on NPI shortblock? either a stock PI motor or NPI motor can run 87 octane, no need to go higher. for an NPI car with PI heads, you cant run 87 octane because you will get pinging and knocking. (unless you get an 87 octane tune). ive heard of PI swapped cars (with a stock tune) get away with running 89 octane, but i dont want to take a risk so i use 91 octane (the highest octane fuel you can buy regularly out here in cali, next step up is either 100 octane or 110 octane).

 

[dojodragon]

I just finished my P.I. swap about a week ago. I would run the best gas you can find to get the most out of the swap. But to answer your question, you dont have to run 93 until you get the tune. I would get the tune as soon as you get done though, mine really wouldn't idle well until the tune. Also I picked up 45 horsepower just on the tune, with a 93 octane tune. It really woke up my 96 gt, but like drugs it had me craving more power. Maybe even a little nos. Goodluck keep me posted.

 

[Black97GT]

you shouldn't have to run 93. i have an P.I. motor and run 89. plenum is the same from 96-04 and so is the T/B

You don't get the bump in compression because its a complete PI motor though. So you are good to run 87/89.

 

[reivaxtorres]

I just finished my P.I. swap about a week ago. I would run the best gas you can find to get the most out of the swap. But to answer your question, you dont have to run 93 until you get the tune. I would get the tune as soon as you get done though, mine really wouldn't idle well until the tune. Also I picked up 45 horsepower just on the tune, with a 93 octane tune. It really woke up my 96 gt, but like drugs it had me craving more power. Maybe even a little nos. Goodluck keep me posted.

true, he doesnt have to run 93 until the tune, but he MUST run at least 89. running 87 means he just built a ticking (more like pinging/knocking) time bomb.

PI intake only: 87 octane is fine
PI Cams only: 87 octane is fine
PI intake and cams: 87 is fine
PI heads: 89-93 manditory, 91+ if you want to be on the safe side

 

[vermilion]

for right now all i have are the heads, intake manifold, cams and the stock 96 block. i got one hell of a deal. now as to all that im wondering what i really need without just changing everything as for the rest. but i guess ill get that all that figured once i get the funds. i got all that and a t-45 for 500$ with 2 extra stock t/bs and upper plenum which i dont need. i have the month off paid vacation coming up but trying to see what all i need . i read the write ups but like i said ima newb. and i have to find a place to unlock this tuner i have. my friend wrecked his car.

 

[AaRoN]

you shouldn't have to run 93. i have an P.I. motor and run 89. plenum is the same from 96-04 and so is the T/B

You don't get the bump in compression because its a complete PI motor though. So you are good to run 87/89.

that's the downfall to having the WHOLE PI motor

 

[FUK_N_JUNK]

So what can I expect from a cam/intake change HP wise??

So it's a 45-85+ withthe full heads/cam I have heard?

 

[reivaxtorres]

for right now all i have are the heads, intake manifold, cams and the stock 96 block. i got one hell of a deal. now as to all that im wondering what i really need without just changing everything as for the rest. but i guess ill get that all that figured once i get the funds. i got all that and a t-45 for 500$ with 2 extra stock t/bs and upper plenum which i dont need. i have the month off paid vacation coming up but trying to see what all i need . i read the write ups but like i said ima newb. and i have to find a place to unlock this tuner i have. my friend wrecked his car.

damn, it sucks ur so far away, ive been looking for a spare t-45 to mess around with/practice rebuilding.

for right now all i have are the heads, intake manifold, cams and the stock 96 block. i got one hell of a deal. now as to all that im wondering what i really need without just changing everything as for the rest. but i guess ill get that all that figured once i get the funds. i got all that and a t-45 for 500$ with 2 extra stock t/bs and upper plenum which i dont need. i have the month off paid vacation coming up but trying to see what all i need . i read the write ups but like i said ima newb. and i have to find a place to unlock this tuner i have. my friend wrecked his car.

for the PI swap, you dont need much else. get the FRPP 2v head changing kit ($130), and then from ford get: 1) 2 PI intake manifold gaskets (2001 gaskets are the best, provide better flow for coolant), 2) PI heater return tube; 3) PI water pump nipple (goes to the return tube); 4) PI alternator bracket; 5) Timing cover gaskets and seal (3 gaskets, 1 seal). total on parts from ford it shouldnt run you more than $100-150.

So what can I expect from a cam/intake change HP wise??

So it's a 45-85+ withthe full heads/cam I have heard?

a big enough difference for it to be worth it. i havent dynoed my car, but you pick up about 12-15rwhp for the cams and then another 12-18rwhp for the intake. the heads are worth about 15rwhp or so (because of the bump in compression). still is if you just slap everything on and dont mess with the tune. if you get a tune while you are at it, you can prob get a little more power from it.

 

[DropTopPony]

So what can I expect from a cam/intake change HP wise??

So it's a 45-85+ withthe full heads/cam I have heard?

Cam/Intake = 30rwhp
Cam/Intake/Heads = 45rwhp

 

[vermilion]

ive decided im keeping the t-45. to rebuild and sooner or later when this one craps just swap them. i bought it reconditioned but i dont trust anyone unless a certified mechanic to tell me other wise. on the cams, ive found out that they may be stage 1 or 2 but theyre def pi cams and heads. im gonna find the part number if possible on the cams somewhere and look it up. cause i like to know these things. i wish i could get this dang tuner unlocked. too bad its new and i robably have to spend a fortune to do it. also... after when i do have the swap will i still be able to keep the front strut brace in? cause id like to keep it. im in the middle of chassis stiffing too.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

The strut brace can stay.

Any mail-order tuner can unlock you Xcal, probably about 100 buck's. You'll need the computer code off your ecu, in the kick panel on the passenger side.

Don't trust certified mechanics just because they are certified... Some of those guy's are the biggest retards ever. Trust advice based on your common sense, and what you can see of them.

 

[AaRoN]

The strut brace can stay.

Any mail-order tuner can unlock you Xcal, probably about 100 buck's. You'll need the computer code off your ecu, in the kick panel on the passenger side.

Don't trust certified mechanics just because they are certified... Some of those guy's are the biggest retards ever. Trust advice based on your common sense, and what you can see of them.

So true!!!

 

[96gt226410]

So what can I expect from a cam/intake change HP wise??

So it's a 45-85+ withthe full heads/cam I have heard?

I gained 72 rwhp with stock PI heads, cams, and intake manifold and a moderate tune. I'm putting down 260.7 rwhp and 302.0 rwtq after my PI swap and tune. It's a totally different car!

 

[AaRoN]

So what can I expect from a cam/intake change HP wise??

So it's a 45-85+ withthe full heads/cam I have heard?

I gained 72 rwhp with stock PI heads, cams, and intake manifold and a moderate tune. I'm putting down 260.7 rwhp and 302.0 rwtq after my PI swap and tune. It's a totally different car!

i really need to get a tune. probably next spring though.

 

[voidfinger]

So what can I expect from a cam/intake change HP wise??

So it's a 45-85+ withthe full heads/cam I have heard?

I gained 72 rwhp with stock PI heads, cams, and intake manifold and a moderate tune. I'm putting down 260.7 rwhp and 302.0 rwtq after my PI swap and tune. It's a totally different car!

Do you have the before and after dyno graph of it? did you do any other work on it other than the swap... i'm just wondering b/c 72 rwhp is more than i've ever seen or heard... was it a dyno tune or a mail order?

 

[96sohc]

Anyone know of any decent write-ups online anymore?
I wish I had saved the Boss Racing one, as the site won't work now.