Fairmont V8 - Next Power Steps

[Norton]

Hi All,

Just finished installing a new cam and roller rockers (along with springs, retainers lifters etc.) Nice power and sound increase.....but what's next?????

I have been doing some research and I would like to take the big step and replace the heads, I think a nice set of AFR165's or Twisted Wedge heads would suit the application, but I am unsure about replacing the intake.

I have a GRA gas kit on the car, with the restriction of the gas TB would it even be worth replacing the intake?. Would a Trickflow intake give me much of a gain over the stock explorer intake anyway? I have read many times that the Explorer is a decent intake for street applications. I can't change the TB so I'm thinking it will be a waste of time and money to continue to add performance parts that will improve flow if it still has a TB that has a limited flow. (SVI kit next time!)

What do you think? Get the heads and intake or just the heads and keep the explorer?

[Fireblade]

From what I've seen in the past, intake manifold by itself doesn't provide much gains but combined with an overall package would obviously help for end result. for just a cammer with heads explorer intake would probably suffice but if you stroke it and do it all it would be worthwhile and definitely use bigger TB and MAF.

[private9]

Hey mate, mind if I ask where you got the GRA kit installed, and what you thought of the installers?
Thanks,
Justin.

[CAT600]

The thing is with gas (my basic understanding) that it takes up a lot of space, and therefore requires a larger cross-sectional area of intake path to get the power back up to petrol level. Perhaps an intake like the TFS R Box upper would be on the cards, (provided the flow was there with the converter).

With heads, AFR 165's are an excellent choice, but I would get them custom ordered with an angle milled smaller chamber for more lpg-loving compression? 50cc chambers should see you around 10.2:1.

Daniel

[Norton]

Originally Posted by private9

Hey mate, mind if I ask where you got the GRA kit installed, and what you thought of the installers?
Thanks,
Justin.

Got the GRA kit at Swift Automotive in Dandenong. Apparently they don't do GRA installs anymore. Happy with it but if I was to do it again I would go SVI. GRA makes good power but is hard to tune well. Not many people have the knowledge or tune rods to tune it.

[Norton]

Originally Posted by GR8WITE

From what I've seen in the past, intake manifold by itself doesn't provide much gains but combined with an overall package would obviously help for end result. for just a cammer with heads explorer intake would probably suffice but if you stroke it and do it all it would be worthwhile and definitely use bigger TB and MAF.

No intentions of stroking it. I do agree with your comments, I think with the mods I am planning the explorer will be sufficient.

[StealthAu]

I thought your car was blown? What happened there?