Hey guys I've been thinking about getting & installing a set of PI heads for my 96 GT now i have heard from peope (who know even less than me) that the PI heads cast to much money and effort to install with out enough horse power in return. now ive seen heads for sale in magazines saying they give you 30+ horses. thats worth it to me but the install time scares me. i can only have my car off the road for a day and im a novice mechanic. should i even attempt it? and for those of you who have heads did they make enough of a diff.?

 

highly recommended. If you are a novice, take it to a shop to get it done. Most if you tell them that you need it quick will schedule a day for you and get it done that day. Get if professionally installed and while you are at it, you could change the cams in there as well. If you get the pi heads, get the pi-intake as well.

 

My car came with pi head and intake from the previous owner. I was going to do the swap and was searching ebay for good deals. U can find some decent used and pull it off cheap.

I was racing my neighbors 2002 and somehow with the same gearing i was just killing him, from a dead stop to 20 or 40mph rolls. I was just out HPing. My car did have just a magnaflow exhaust and Cheap generic cold air. But i shouldnt of walked him like i did. First sign was a light ping with 87 octane, Then upon searching for PI heads and looking at mine and the codes and numbers i found i already had them.

I doubt i would pay $1200 for some of the kits plus installation. I can install myself so that helps. If i could get the heads and intake for $500 to $600 id of did it. i found quite a few sets on ebay with 20k or less miles. If I was going to spend $1200 plus install like some people, Then it would be so much easier and faster just to get a PI Motor and drop it in and sell my Motor. I only have 52k on it. But i guess it depends on your mechanical skills and if you have a garage and Motor replaceing or head replacing tools.

I bought a nice Cherry picker/motor puller 15 years ago. I lend it to friends and people for $40 and you make sure you bring it back clean and keep it a month if needed. Its more than paid for itself in probably 20 times ive lent it out.

Heads on a modular mustang are a lot more involved. I remember blowing head gaskets on my 5.0s and it not bothering me, and just waiting for the motor to cool to pull the heads. 3 hours later i was riding again. Not on a mod motor though!!!

U can do it in a day if your a novice mechanic, just make sure you have all your gaskets and everything you need. And take your time. Label your parts and if you have a digital camera, Snap a few pics for the wireing and reinstall of everything.

If this is your only ride you better make sure everythings done right, Nothing worse than blowing a head gasket at a light far from home.

Good luck and im sure that 30 plus is closer to 50hp with a tune when your done.

 

The PI heads are worth it. They have come down in price ALOT. You should be able to find a good used set over at modulardepot.com for $300. Get a PI intake and your good to go. You will need to replace quite a few gaskets which can get expensive. I replaced ALL the gaskets, timing chains, lifters and it was almost $500 for that stuff alone. The $1200 kit is a pretty good deal. People think its alot of money and it is. But trust me...you try to piece it together and replace all the parts that the $1200 kit comes with and you'll be well over $1200.
For example I paid:
Heads/Intake shipped---------------------$500
Gaskets/timing chains,lifters
new dipstick tube, coolant x-over tube
water pump gaskets etc etc---------------$500
-----------------------------------------------------
So that was $1000 right there and this was USED heads/intake
Not to mention if you try to piece it together ,you go to a Ford dealer and they don't know their a$$ from a hole in the ground about parts for these motors. As for being worth it....I did my headswap with VT stage 1 cams, and shorty headers and picked up 72rwhp...so yeah its worth it.


Adam

 

If you plan to be an all motor stang than yes if forced induction is a possiblilty then you will need to rebuilt the block as the Pi heads raise compression. PI stangs have a different piston than non Pi stang.

 

Different dish you mean? Same material...both junk...he he.

Adam

 

You are correct sir.