How does it cost to get a PI headswap performed? How much did you pay if you got it?

[96_4.6]

Just wondering my 96 needs PI heads so if I can pick up some used heads out of a 99+ how much am I looking at for a shop to swap them in? Thanks just curious

[The Deuce]

I would guess between 8 and 16 hours quoted by Ford. At $60-75 an hour that's pretty steep

[96_4.6]

OUCH, looks like I'll be PI headless for a long time

[The Deuce]

well, you've done a bunch to your car already. A headswap on an ohc car isn't really THAT hard.

Find someone near you that's done it already, offer them a case of beer (or better) and ask for some help. If you have all the parts/tools you should be able to do it in a weekend.

[tireburner163]

The PI head swap can yeild some good gains, I just don't like it because it raises your compression to around 11:1. Making a blower or any other power adder not a option.

-Josh, aka the tireburner

[fiveohpatrol]

Making a blower or any other power adder not a option

yet another piece of bad advice by the tireburner

Is nitrous not a power adder? Nitrous loves compression you moron!

Also, the compression only goes to about 10.4-10.5:1, and staying within a reasonable amount of boost, and a good tune, you'll be 100% fine with that if you decide to boost it.

-Drew
aka, the tireburner-burner

[96_4.6]

No blower here, I'll be lucky to get the heads and I have NO FRIENDS anymore into cars so I'm on my own, grrrr anyone in Michigan?

[tireburner163]

Originally posted by fiveohpatrol
Is nitrous not a power adder? Nitrous loves compression you moron!

Yes it does, but the powder metal rods and the non-forged pistons of the first gen 4.6 don't moron!

[fiveohpatrol]

Yes it does, but the powder metal rods and the non-forged pistons of the first gen 4.6 don't moron!

Listen here punkass. The ONLY thing you mentioned in your post was the fact that you can't use a power adder with higher compression. I showed that you were wrong, as usual, so you completely change the area of focus to try to make yourself look smarter.
Well, try harder, cause its gonna be really hard to make you look smart.



Gotta love gettin burned huh?

[tireburner163]

Originally posted by fiveohpatrol
Listen here punkass. The ONLY thing you mentioned in your post was the fact that you can't use a power adder with higher compression. I showed that you were wrong, as usual, so you completely change the area of focus to try to make yourself look smarter.
Well, try harder, cause its gonna be really hard to make you look smart.



Gotta love gettin burned huh?

How did I change the focus? The weak pistons and rods of the first-gen 4.6 are the exact reasons that it's not a good idea to run a power adder on a PI headed first-gen 4.6.

Oh yea racers do it all the time, but racers don't have to worry about durbility, reliabilty, or crusing for extended periods of time in the middle of summer.

-Josh, aka the tireburner

[fiveohpatrol]

You changed the focus by saying the raised compression makes the use of any power adder not an option.

Your focus was on compression and power adders, not the rods.

Your original argument just doesn't stand up. Why not just state from the beginning that the first gen 4.6 shouldnt have a power adder, no matter what the compression, since thats probably what you were getting at anyway

[tireburner163]

Fine, I change my orginal statment to...

"A PI head swap can yield impressive gains. I just don't like it because it raises your compression to the point that it's not really fesable to run a power adder on a daily driven Mustang from a reliabilty standpoint."

Happy?

Originally posted by fiveohpatrol
You changed the focus by saying the raised compression makes the use of any power adder not an option.

Your focus was on compression and power adders, not the rods.

The higher compression of PI headed 4.6's PLUS the increased cylinder pressure of a power adder is directly related to the first-gen 4.6's weak rods and pistons. It's the weak bottom is that pretty much rules out a PI swap AND a power adder because the increased cylinder pressure is hard on the stock bottom end.

A PI swap AND a power adder isn't a good idea because it raises cylinder pressure to a area that is risky for a weak stock bottom end. Not to meantion the increased chance of detonation.

[fiveohpatrol]

See, now when you explain yourself you don't sound like as much of an ***. You still look like one though


My point was only that it can be done reliably, if done in moderation.
Added compression, and 7-8lbs of boost would be fine.

Stock compression and 15lbs of boost would not.

More compression and a 75shot would be fine.

Stock compression and a 200shot would not.


Its all in moderation, now go moderate your little sound forum

[tireburner163]

While I will admit that a small shot might work because it has a cooling effect, I still say a blower is very risky. All it's gonna take is a little detonation on one of those hot summer days. It's easy to detonate with 8lbs of boost with 9:1 compression, much less 10:5.

[The Deuce]

Josh,
Boost is not the end all be all of everyones Mustang dream. I'd rather run 11.1 and flow like crazy n/a than dump a blower on. It's just how I was raised, high compression and big flow.

The whole point was trying to find out what it will cost, not to have you jump on your freaking soap box about how you wouldn't do it.

Geez, I see that response anytime anyone brings up pi heads.

[Dark_5.0]

I plan on buying a 96-98 GT next year and doing the head swap.

If you can wait that long I plan on doing a step by step write up on the whole experience.