85 5.0 Mustangs

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by Sean Marconette

The 83-84 non- hydraulic roller is lumped in with the 85. It's apples and oranges. And its not anywhere close to .5 -.6 under with good parts and a lot of testing. I should have listened to Alex D several years ago. The 83 turbo 2.3 stick is a competitive combo, not sure of the 83-84 CFI 5.0 auto combo being competitive.

Sean

^^ Marty Buth does well with the 83-84 Mustang 2.3 Turbo. ( Auto trans tho)

83-84 CFI 5.0 automatics are way over factored. Too high for that tiny CFI throttle body.


1985 4 bbl Mustang 5.0 combo had the hydraulic roller cam and the heads were better than the 83-84 4 bbl Mustang.

[Sean Marconette]

Originally Posted by ALMACK

^^ Marty Buth does well with the 83-84 Mustang 2.3 Turbo. ( Auto trans tho)

83-84 CFI 5.0 automatics are way over factored. Too high for that tiny CFI throttle body.


1985 4 bbl Mustang 5.0 combo had the hydraulic roller cam and the heads were better than the 83-84 4 bbl Mustang.

Mark Walton ran the 2.3 stick combo in both a T-Bird and an 83 Mustang and set a few records.

The 83-85 heads, intakes and carbs are all the same except for casting numbers.

As for the author of this thread, everyone is here to help.

What trans and clutch are you going to run? Sorry if I derailed your post.

Sean

[Slickfoot]

The trans. is a stock T5 and the clutch as well. I'm leaning towards a C4, looking for a good price for a complete package. I'm still open to a stick package also. I put this season's money in the rearend.
I had fell off the roof of my Airstream in June and broke my left foot, the Doc. would not let me drive the Mustang , that's why I took the time to do the rear part of the car. I did race a Hemi quadcab and a Civic Si all summer just to try to stay sharp on the tree.
Jim

[Dan Fahey]

Originally Posted by Slickfoot

The trans. is a stock T5 and the clutch as well. I'm leaning towards a C4, looking for a good price for a complete package. I'm still open to a stick package also. I put this season's money in the rearend.
I had fell off the roof of my Airstream in June and broke my left foot, the Doc. would not let me drive the Mustang , that's why I took the time to do the rear part of the car. I did race a Hemi quadcab and a Civic Si all summer just to try to stay sharp on the tree.
Jim

Ouch !! on the foot !!

[Rory McNeil]

Originally Posted by ALMACK

1985 4 bbl Mustang 5.0 combo had the hydraulic roller cam and the heads were better than the 83-84 4 bbl Mustang.

Like Sean said, the 85 4 barrel heads are esentially the same as the 83-84 heads, in fact the same D8 heads were used on 302 2 barrel from 78 until Ford stopped making them. The only change for the 85s E5 casting was to add a clearance notch to allow the removal of the taller hyd. roller lifters without needing to remove the heads.
As for running a stick trans, I would not waste my time with a stock T5. When I first started running my 85 Mustang, I too thought it would be much cheaper than buying a good trans, by the end of that first year, I had 2 broken T5s, and a bent mainshaft that was replaced1/2 way thru the season. I put a Jerico and McLeod Soft Lok clutch in the car in 2004, and other than changing the trans oil occassionly, I have not touched the trans since. Same thing with the rearend, the stock Traction Lock and axles are not up to the task with a stick, although the axles would likely live with an automatic, the Trac Lock will let you down, and NHRA mandates aftermarket axles with a spool. Best to get some good pieces from the start.

[BRETV]

I ran an 87 GT from 2000 thru 2003. We went 11.90's in M/SA with more left in it. So not all 5.0's have to be 85's. But actually I think the 85 head flows better than the 87-93 E7TE head.





Bret Velde

[Capri]

We all know my 86 heads don't flow at all.

[black88coupe]

What about the Klacik Brothers?

[Slickfoot]

I don't know them , should I? I been out of racing for a long time.
Jim

[black88coupe]

Originally Posted by Slickfoot

I don't know them , should I? I been out of racing for a long time.
Jim

They race their 5.0's in Stock Eliminator.