JUNKYARD GT40P HEADS-ADD 30+ HP TO YOUR 5.0L (FOR FREE?) 

ford stuff? instant thumbs up from me.

I scored some NOS Two-Bar (Marine) GT40 heads. A friend ported them, removed the EGR bumps, cleaned up the slag on the OE headers (40% larger at flange!) added a ported E4 intake, a recurved distributor, and 1.7 SVO rockers to my '85. Woke it RIGHT up and nobody knows it's modded. :-)

I'm real impressed by my stock 94 mustang short block with milled (.040) gt40 heads, Alex springs, comp nx264hr cam (adv 4deg), Mac equal length headers, ported explorer lower stock explorer upper and tb. Streetability is very responsive and fun. Plus still 20mpgs.

Great stuff again! By far my most favorite channel. Thx Richard!!!

I just got done doing this. Gt40p's from a 2001 Mountaineer. $39 each at my local yard. Ported them myself and had a friend mill them. Added an Alex's drop in spring kit and they work great! Awesome performance on a budget.

Every time I build a sbf I use gt40 or gt40p heads from explorers. 351w late. Model blocks with roller cam and gt40p heads work good for truck

Thanks Richard! We appreciate what you do!

The People’s head for me. For a budget street engine, it’s seems to make power in all the right places.

LOVE I know I have been busting your chops a lot about doing this video lol THANK YOU for doing it!!!! THIS is why you are awesome.....LITERALLY lol

I’m glad you did this. I have a 65 fastback mustang with a 327 SBF with red cornet ported gt40 heads and comp 25-246-3 cam. I love it. It was put together in 1998 and its a mix breed. I do not remember all the parts and have never had to rebuild it. I am hesitant to change heads but want more power. I have 190 cc edelbrock rpm heads and seeing this has made me decide to put them on. With the current engine I have beat in the 1/8 mile. late model 5.0 stangs challenger , charger and a 2016 corvette ( shouldn’t have won this one ) . I’m afraid to give up dependability.

Thank you for all of your help and testing Richard. I just purchased a 351 from a guy last week. I’m looking for a set of gt40 heads now. The yard is out of them. I will let you know what I think of the set up when I get it in my foxbody vert next year.

I would like to see a 351w with max ported gt40heads, milled down, bigger valves, roller rocker conversion, good race valves, polished chambers, It would be nice to see what the combo would do if you were to do everything possible to the gt40 heads. I have looked all over the internet and no one has done a video on a truly maxed out set of gt40 heads its really disappointing!

30 hp for real cheap. Like it. 🤘😎🇺🇸

Came here to find exactly this info, lines up with my research and bench racing. Thanks!

Richard, I have to say thank you for answering any and all questions I had regarding Ford 5.0 cylinder heads and camshafts. You compare apples to apples instead of testing what a set of heads are worth, but sneak in a different camshaft or intake to skew the results. Also, anyone else here wish they had HALF of Richard's energy??

Raced a 306 for 2 years. Had professional ported set of 65 289 on it. Bought a set of rpm heads on it! Picked up 1 tenth, that's it! The weight reduction was probably half that!! Went to a 351w with the ported heads! Picked up a whole second in the 1/8 mile! Paid $500 for the 351w short block! Solid lifter Fred Flintstone cam! If a 351w will fit!! The headers were really close to the floor boards, but didn't hit!

Good timing Mr Holdener. I am doing a gt40p swap this week. Waiting for the heads to come back from the machine shop. I nicked some of the valve seats while porting the bowl and had to have the seats re ground. I am upgrading the valve springs with the TFS spring kit and topping it off with 7.1 ratio roller rockers. The engine was using D8OE heads so I am hoping to get 50HP out of this swap.

I am loving all these videos

Running a 302 explorer swap from a running mountaineer I snagged for 400$ set up with a holley sniper is actually a pretty rowdy set up for my Miata swap. Haven’t done any dragy times but its all power to weight at this point for me

The great thing about this Channel is that makes you think that is very healthy

Well now you have to do a GT40 head on the 351 test Richard.

This channel Rocks!

Love a man that makes sense... Thanks Richard

Gday. Mate ya videos are fantastic I went the lazy route a. Blueprint 306. They original stated 390 horse power and end up with 300 rwhp but I should have got the 347. Ohh well still tears the rear tyres up. Keep up the great. Videos. Blueprint. Heads. Seem to do ok. Also

Both 40 and 40p heads will need better valve springs for high rpm work but the biggest difference is the relocated spark plug and smaller exhaust valves on the 40p. Ford moved the plug for better fuel mixing and went with the smaller E7 size valves because the hardened seat inserts on the earlier GT40's were more expensive than induction hardening the seats on the p's. Ford made up for the smaller valves with a slightly better exhaust port on the latter heads. Both will support 375-400 hp with mild porting (mostly on the exhaust side) and the right cam but i think they more cost effective and durable for a 350 ish HP 302 400 HP 351 build.

I have GT40 explorer heads (not p) and explorer intake with throttle body, everything else is stock. Major difference in power 😮

Dang it Richard, you're giving away the factory lightning set-up to the dumb dumbs! Another awesome video sir! My hot street set-up has always been the f4 351w, gt-p's, trick flow stage two. Such a rowdy trash can engine!

Great stuff

You should redo this kind of test put upgrade the springs from the GT40/P heads. The engine is only designed to go to 5,000 rpm and you ended up with valve float

Answering your question, depends on what you want or are using the motor for. If it’s just a Saturday cruiser and you’re on a budget, the GT40(p) heads are perfect. If you want more HP and invested in other mods to support added HP, then a good set of aluminum heads makes sense.

Great video, the gt40 engines are gems

Hay Richard. On tonights live feed. Can you discuss oil control hacks. Re routing , plugs, and so on. In the last feed i mentioned rhoads lifter or bleed off lifters. Could you do some oil pressure test to see if these can be manipulated with oil pressure?

Good stuff good video! But what about compression? Gt40 has bigger chamber then gt40p or stock head has

For a 5k rpm and down engine, that is a good power curve

I’m actually upgrading right now from the Gt40p heads to the ProMaxx max series heads as we speak! 💪🏼 just in time! Thank you Richard!

Should make a video of the vortec head sbc with the 268 cam vs the gt40 sbf with the same cam.

Thank you!!!

Pertronix Pertronix 8561Ht-1 Black Ceramic plug boots fixed my header issues !

Right on

Awesome!

I have similar cam specs. But i have GT40 style intake and #24 injectors. Long tube headers too. Hoping for close to 275- 300 hp at crank. 🤞

Hey Richard, I’ve watched almost all your videos, even ones with motors I don’t have….just because you’re one of the sharpest with your data and breakdowns on giving us the best comparisons! Question, do have any cases where you compared an edelbrock or TFS intake with a professional products typhoon? I’m curious to know the difference. Edelbrock and TFS intakes (EFI) are around 1,000-1,300$ these days, and I picked up a polished Typhoon for $300.

AFR heads for the win!!

Thank you for sbf

L67 content soon?!? Building my motor now and wanting to see what’s best to do!

Got a set of home ported big valve e7's, a set of gt40 and gt40p's, and my Canfield 192cc's. All have homes save for the p heads. Got the Canfield's for $600 complete on CL. Rest came from cheap junkyard motors.

I’d love to see similar tests using the same motor with a good set of early 351w heads from 1969 or 1970.

Yamaha V6 or V8 from an old Taurus SHO with some boost would be cool. Maybe even the 24 valve Duratec V6 if SHO engines are non-existent in the yard.

Yes Buddy

I picked up a complete 96' explorer (GT40) engine and AOD-E for $200 a few weeks ago! Idk what I'm doing it yet haha

Seen your video about the turbocharged Buick 455. Really need help with what kind of setup and products you used.

Just finished installing gt40p heads on my 95gt working out some bugs but excited about the first drive hopefully this weekend

I always tell people if you want to make quality, streetable horsepower, invest energy and just a few bucks in getting the right heads.

Love your videos! I picked up a junkyard high milage (200k)1996 explore 5.0 with GT40 heads. I took a chance and thru it directly into my 65 Fastback with AOD trans and lost the EFI and carbed it, put all the vbelt stuff on it and man I am happy. It gets on it when I smash that throttle. Probably have about $400 total into that engine swap (engine, gaskets, and conv harmonic balancer). My question is should I have ported my gt40 heads on exhaust side? Would there be noticeable more power and how much difference? Also now days I want to keep good MPG since I daily drive my car. Should I swap out the cam for like a TFS1 came and springs? Would that lose more MPG then the explorer cam? Currently intake is Performer 289 and exhaust mainifods are stock 65 289 ones and 3.55 rear end. Im not trying to make a track car, just a daily driver with great MPG and some wallumpf!

I’d like to see the GT40 head on a Windsor vs the Double Hump heads on the 350. I know that the double humps would have the advantage because of the fast burn combustion chamber design vs the GT40 semi hemispheric design with similar camshafts. Just another idea. Thanks again Richard for a great video.

I concur with gt40 over gt40p.

Thats one jagged power and torque curve. WTF!

So there isnt a big power difference between the standard 40s and the Ps? Currently cleaning up the bowls on a set of GT40 heads now. Exhaust looks to need the most work lol. Went with a super low buck combo, whole explorer 5.0, BBK LTs, lunati valve spring upgrade, 1.7 RRs and an E cam. Going into a 90 Tbird SC to be a drift learner car.

Aluminum heads are defenitely worth the investment, specialy in the long run. 302 parts = 302 power.

Richard, I remember seeing a video a while back that had one engine run a comp 266 cam but I'm having a hard time finding that clip in one of these vids. Could you help me? Looking at doing the 35-514-8 and afr165s in my 96 explorer

You'd be hard pressed to find a SBC 'junkyard' motor period over here when I last looked most guys that have a runner(probably suit rebuild would be upwards of $1500!) I was looking for good runner to put into my '69 while it's bottom end was in the machine shop.

My 89 f150 4x4 short box has a mean little 93 5.0 cobra engine and ZF5 speed.

GT40 heads are really attractive for the price, but a good cylinder head combo doesn't move my T-Bird while the engine is sitting on the dyno. The promise of removing 60lbs entirely by switching to aluminum heads is pretty appealing. Throw the battery in the trunk, and I'm getting closer to 50/50 weight distribution.

Should do a head test with a 351w

Have you ever tested the street heat heads the original aluminium ones ? 2.02 1.60 200 intake 90 exh 60cc chamber ? On a 351w stock bottom end ?

THE EDELBROCK E STREET WORK GOOD BUT SO DO EARLY 351 W HEADS WITH A PORT JOB

Already I have the '95 351 Windsor with the full ported GT40P heads, to finnish my homework I want to install the Z303 roller cam, and further like Richard put it boost, hahahaha (evil laugh)

Yes buddy

Just put a gt40 headed 302 stock bottom end on the dyno. Made 360hp and 360ft lbs of torque with the xe266hr camshaft. Edlebrock 600cfm with the edelbrock performer 289 intKe manifold. Ran clean out to 6500 still making 330hp at that rpm. Very happy with this combo

No specific peak HP/TQ numbers for the Edelbrock or AFR-CNC heads ?

Any chance that you will be able to test the AMC 390 or 401 to see how it stacks up against the other small blocks of that era? I think the 401 Randall Gremlins are the epitome of big engine little car although the early AMX's weren't very big either.

Alloy head with big valves and stock pistons is a pain. You will have to message valve pockets.

I got a set of gt40 from the yard I'm currently porting them out I just don't know which one of my foxbodies they'll go on 83,86 or 90

i built a 398w and put gt40 heads on it seems to run real good with plenty of power been wanting to put it on the Dino to see what it makes feels like 450 or 500 hp cant wait to see

My 1985 reverse rotation ski boat will need a freshening sooner or later. It was cursed with a 351W, the 350 Chevy was a $600 40hp upgrade back in the day (240hp vs 280hp). I bought the boat used in 1987 and had no choice. The GT40 heads seem like a solid cheap upgrade for an engine that only revs to about 4600rpm. An RV cam comparison would be helpful for us boat and truck guys.

Is that just carbuerator that is falling off at higher rpm on the good heads? Need a 750 or 850?

GT40/P for a street car that you want some pep in it I'd skip the eddie heads AFR heads would be my go to. Almost 400hp (roughy, an extra 70hp) for an additional $800-900. If I get the Eddie heads for $1100, how much more would I have to spend on the short block to make 400hp? A set of pistons is about $600 to raise the compression and even then, it may not be enough. So for a weekend warrior, AFR would be the best bet and they would still lend themselves nicely if I were to build a short block or go to a high comp, big bore 351w.

I would like to see c9ve or D0ve heads on a built 460 vs trick flows or edelbrocks someday please 🙏

I just sourced a set of gt40p heads for a friend. I grabbed some 99 tumbleport dual overhead cam heads for my Mustang while I was at it.

Clevor ... for the Win.

Loving the"budget" builds. That's how we doos it. VW, Honda, whatever. You're the man. I think your new mane should be "Dr. Richard".

I'm still wanting to see a GT40 vs D0OE head comparison, those were the old school go to heads. I have 1 set on my truck, 1 set on the shelf, and a set of GT40P heads on a old explorer engine.

Dang, i was really hoping to se what the gt40p heads do on a 351

Bro I’ve seen a budget minded oem spec 351w build that used these p heads making over 100hp more than stock! They’re crazy for what they are

In the process of adding ported gt40 heads, tfs1 cam and explorer intake

It should be mentioned the GT40p does have a smaller exhaust valve than the gt40 which once you get past .500 lift has a dramatic effect on flow. If you go with a gt40p you should probably stay around .500 or less unless you do some valve work to open them up. If you want a high lift cam you should probably get the GT40 instead.

I like how you're thinking with the in yard swap of the GT40s onto a roller 351. The funny thing is the intake for that would cost twice as much as the rest of the motor. Any decent cheap intake options?

Richard have you ever tested the factory lower intake VS ported? I was always curious what smoothing out those bends on #1 and #5 was actually worth, if anything.

I clicked “Like” before the video even started.

I run a set that I massaged on a 331 with AMF N41 cam. Runs like a scalded dog

What roller rockers fit gt40p

Richard is there anyway you could talk to a Tuner to give us tips on tuning tips for idle

I picked up a 91 Foxbody with a .030 over 5.0 with gt40p heads and f303 cam. Dont know much else. Is this a decent combo? Will be mostly street driven, third car. Was thinking adding a turbo. Thoughts? Great content by the way!!!!

Pick and Pull is your friend.

Would you mind trying truck-oriented combinations for the 5.0/5.8? On this power/torque graph, none of the rpms plotted are relevant for a truck for towing, pulling its own heavy weight and offroading, where a truck needs a lot of torque in the lower rpms. Maybe 1000 to 4000 rpm gains? Stock intake versus Edelbrock? Stock heads versus GT40(p), AFR 165? Sorry if I'm asking for a lot. OBS Ford Bronco here.

Thanks for the great info here. I picked up a complete Ford explorer with a GT40 engine for $300, a complete set of unused, ported, milled, valve job gt40p heads with Ford racing a50 adjustable 1.7 rockers for $250, a B303 cam $50, performer RPM air gap intake $125, basani long tube headers that fit with the gt40p head spark plug location $150 and a like new Holley 670 CFM Street avenger for $10. If I'm not mistaken the GT40 heads on my combo will bump up the compression almost half a point to around 9.5? With the T5 transmission it should be a good combo for my 1946 international harvester K1 with the 3:73 posi disc brake rear from the Explorer.

I need to do a GT 40 head and explorer intake swap on my 86 Bronco. The stock motor is such a dog. It has 4.11 gears and 33” tires with an AOD trans. A cam is in the future to. Whats recommended for a 4x4 looking for mid range power?

I need to k ow what Ford motorsI need to look for

i just got a reman set of p heads ,did you change the springs on the p heads or did you just run em, from what i am hearing on the web .450 lift is max on the stock spring.going on bone stock 1995 5.0 bottom end.1968 mustang with aod

Hey Richard, roughly what was the compression ratio with those pistons, camber, gasket combo?