Head Swap or Supercharger

98 BLK CONVT GT · 06-02-2001, 03:24 AM

Hey guys I'm a new member and I love the site. I have 2 questions, I would like to swap 99 and up heads on my 98 GT, is it worth the money or should I just get a Procharger? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I live in Northern Cali.

------------------
98 Blk Conv GT
Bassani X-Pipe, 70mm T.B.
Cold Air Induc.

91LX2Bfast · 06-02-2001, 06:56 AM

Well, of course a blower will make a lot more power, but it will also cost alot more too. Since you have a Convt, an intercooled prochager running 9lbs should put you in the high to mid 13's, and with a bigger MAF, gears, and slicks, your going to be closing in on 13.0's, maybe high 12's. But I think you really would need a good fuel system and 11lbs of boost to get 12's on street tires.

Now the head swap is also another great choice, especially if you want to stay N/A. Now, I am not sure if the 98's pistons are the same as the 96/97's, but when you add the PI heads to the 96/97, you are also bumping compression up to about 10:1, where as the 99+ GT's are running about 9.4:1 because of diferent pistons. So, assuming the 98 have the same pistons as the 96/97's, you should see at least a 40HP gain, but maybe more, especially if you do some very light porting and add a 3 or 5 angle vave job. Because of the higher comprssion ratio, you really should be making more power the a 99+ GT w/ the same mods. But, a 10:1 compression ratio is not too blower friendly, so if you are doing the head swap, make sure you do not want to put a blower on w/o making other mods.
You could of course change and upgrade the pistons if you plan on adding a blower in the future, of you could have the heads worked to lower the compression. Hope this heps.

------------------
1997 Thunderbird 4.6L: Dynomax exhaust, Lightning 80mm MAF with 7" powerstack cone filter, B&M 24,000GVW trans cooler, Inject-Tech chip, KVR Brake upgrade. 15.2 @ 91. Not bad for a 3800lb auto 4.6L

No Longer own: 91 LX 5.0L 5 spd

SMOKE · 06-02-2001, 03:31 PM

Frequent question fromthe 96-98 GTers.

Best Answer depends on your end goal.
Do the headswap!

If you want to go for a 12s timeslip and low ETs then be ready to spend some money and the 99+ HS is a good starting point.

------------------
K!
Personalized Black 98 SVO Blown Stage II ROUSH
without the side exhaust but some other cool stuff
Dyno 303rwhp 338rwtrq
Still working out the kinks!!!

46stang · 06-02-2001, 06:48 PM

do the head swap first. the 96-98 heads are crap! they will choke the blower down. it's like 10lbs of chit in a 5lb bag. most guys are gaining anywhere between 45-60rwhp from the head swap. you can still boost your motor but make sure you get a real good dyno tune, keep the boost down(don't get greedy), and use a intercooler, preferably.jmho. one guy on the net is running a 10lb vortech on a headswap car and is making 454hp & 457tq at the rear wheels

i pesonally would rather run between 6-8lbs on 10-1 compression but thats jmo. good luck.
leon

------------------
96 stang,ported 99 heads, 99 intake, 99 cams,Steeda power pullies,Kirban adj.reg.,Pro-m 87,24#inj.,70mm t/b,BBK longtube headers,Bassani x-pipe w/cats, Dynomax ultraflow catback,iat mod, home depot ram air, k@n,373's,cobra brakes,fms spings, tri-ax shifter.
best et 13.80
best mph 103.3
bfg street tires,bakersfield, ca

CountZero · 06-02-2001, 11:14 PM

Hi guys, I'm also a new member. Seems like everyone is all for the head swap. This was a major question I had as well. How do you guys feel about the intake swap? Claims say it'll add another 35+ hp with the new heads.

------------------
Black 96GT Coupe
BBK H-pipe Flowmasters K&N Air March Underdrives

98 BLK CONVT GT · 06-03-2001, 12:52 AM

Thanks for all the advice everyone. 46Stang who did your head swap and did you buy the heads straight from a Ford dealer. I understand the labor time to do the head swap is about 20 hours.

------------------
98 Blk Conv GT
Bassani X-Pipe, 70mm T.B.
Cold Air Induc.

SMOKE · 06-03-2001, 12:30 PM

CountZero
Are you talking the FRPP intake?

46stang · 06-03-2001, 06:04 PM

yea i work at a dealer, so i bought the heads at work and i did all the work my self!if you get a good manual a backyard tech. could do it. it's not hard, just time consuming. if it's your first time expect a week. it took me 2 1/2 days to do it. but well worth it. also shop around you can get it done for around $800. it's well worth every penny though

------------------
96 stang,ported 99 heads, 99 intake, 99 cams,Steeda power pullies,Kirban adj.reg.,Pro-m 87,24#inj.,70mm t/b,BBK longtube headers,Bassani x-pipe w/cats, Dynomax ultraflow catback,iat mod, home depot ram air, k@n,373's,cobra brakes,fms spings, tri-ax shifter.
best et 13.80
best mph 103.3
bfg street tires,bakersfield, ca

06-02-2001, 03:24 AM	#1
98 BLK CONVT GT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Patterson, Ca USA Posts: 7	Head Swap or Supercharger Hey guys I'm a new member and I love the site. I have 2 questions, I would like to swap 99 and up heads on my 98 GT, is it worth the money or should I just get a Procharger? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I live in Northern Cali. ------------------ 98 Blk Conv GT Bassani X-Pipe, 70mm T.B. Cold Air Induc.

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06-02-2001, 06:56 AM	#2
91LX2Bfast Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Warrington, PA Posts: 694	Well, of course a blower will make a lot more power, but it will also cost alot more too. Since you have a Convt, an intercooled prochager running 9lbs should put you in the high to mid 13's, and with a bigger MAF, gears, and slicks, your going to be closing in on 13.0's, maybe high 12's. But I think you really would need a good fuel system and 11lbs of boost to get 12's on street tires. Now the head swap is also another great choice, especially if you want to stay N/A. Now, I am not sure if the 98's pistons are the same as the 96/97's, but when you add the PI heads to the 96/97, you are also bumping compression up to about 10:1, where as the 99+ GT's are running about 9.4:1 because of diferent pistons. So, assuming the 98 have the same pistons as the 96/97's, you should see at least a 40HP gain, but maybe more, especially if you do some very light porting and add a 3 or 5 angle vave job. Because of the higher comprssion ratio, you really should be making more power the a 99+ GT w/ the same mods. But, a 10:1 compression ratio is not too blower friendly, so if you are doing the head swap, make sure you do not want to put a blower on w/o making other mods. You could of course change and upgrade the pistons if you plan on adding a blower in the future, of you could have the heads worked to lower the compression. Hope this heps. ------------------ 1997 Thunderbird 4.6L: Dynomax exhaust, Lightning 80mm MAF with 7" powerstack cone filter, B&M 24,000GVW trans cooler, Inject-Tech chip, KVR Brake upgrade. 15.2 @ 91. Not bad for a 3800lb auto 4.6L No Longer own: 91 LX 5.0L 5 spd

06-02-2001, 03:31 PM	#3
SMOKE Old School ROUSH Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Stockbridge, GA Posts: 531	Frequent question fromthe 96-98 GTers. Best Answer depends on your end goal. Do the headswap! If you want to go for a 12s timeslip and low ETs then be ready to spend some money and the 99+ HS is a good starting point. ------------------ K! Personalized Black 98 SVO Blown Stage II ROUSH without the side exhaust but some other cool stuff Dyno 303rwhp 338rwtrq Still working out the kinks!!!

06-02-2001, 06:48 PM	#4
46stang Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: moorpark ca Posts: 340	do the head swap first. the 96-98 heads are crap! they will choke the blower down. it's like 10lbs of chit in a 5lb bag. most guys are gaining anywhere between 45-60rwhp from the head swap. you can still boost your motor but make sure you get a real good dyno tune, keep the boost down(don't get greedy), and use a intercooler, preferably.jmho. one guy on the net is running a 10lb vortech on a headswap car and is making 454hp & 457tq at the rear wheels i pesonally would rather run between 6-8lbs on 10-1 compression but thats jmo. good luck. leon ------------------ 96 stang,ported 99 heads, 99 intake, 99 cams,Steeda power pullies,Kirban adj.reg.,Pro-m 87,24#inj.,70mm t/b,BBK longtube headers,Bassani x-pipe w/cats, Dynomax ultraflow catback,iat mod, home depot ram air, k@n,373's,cobra brakes,fms spings, tri-ax shifter. best et 13.80 best mph 103.3 bfg street tires,bakersfield, ca

06-02-2001, 11:14 PM	#5
CountZero Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Austintown, OH USA Posts: 4	Hi guys, I'm also a new member. Seems like everyone is all for the head swap. This was a major question I had as well. How do you guys feel about the intake swap? Claims say it'll add another 35+ hp with the new heads. ------------------ Black 96GT Coupe BBK H-pipe Flowmasters K&N Air March Underdrives

06-03-2001, 12:52 AM	#6
98 BLK CONVT GT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Patterson, Ca USA Posts: 7	Thanks for all the advice everyone. 46Stang who did your head swap and did you buy the heads straight from a Ford dealer. I understand the labor time to do the head swap is about 20 hours. ------------------ 98 Blk Conv GT Bassani X-Pipe, 70mm T.B. Cold Air Induc.

06-03-2001, 12:30 PM	#7
SMOKE Old School ROUSH Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Stockbridge, GA Posts: 531	CountZero Are you talking the FRPP intake?

06-03-2001, 06:04 PM	#8
46stang Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: moorpark ca Posts: 340	yea i work at a dealer, so i bought the heads at work and i did all the work my self!if you get a good manual a backyard tech. could do it. it's not hard, just time consuming. if it's your first time expect a week. it took me 2 1/2 days to do it. but well worth it. also shop around you can get it done for around $800. it's well worth every penny though ------------------ 96 stang,ported 99 heads, 99 intake, 99 cams,Steeda power pullies,Kirban adj.reg.,Pro-m 87,24#inj.,70mm t/b,BBK longtube headers,Bassani x-pipe w/cats, Dynomax ultraflow catback,iat mod, home depot ram air, k@n,373's,cobra brakes,fms spings, tri-ax shifter. best et 13.80 best mph 103.3 bfg street tires,bakersfield, ca