Originally Posted by
fuelie327
Here's my next question . the car is a 97 ,the motor I just put in came out of a 98. It's a single cam engine,but when I got valve cover gaskets they said that it is a dual cam. So I bought the matching intake gaskets that are supposed to go with those valve cover gaskets and they werent even close.The vcg's that they gave me for a 97 single cam werent even close. Both motors are exactly the same , what gives? The engine code is X the year is V.X is supposed to be a sohc and V is 1997 . Sorry if this is rambling . In other words the vcg's are for a dohc and intake gaskets are for a sohc
The 96 - 98 GT engines used the weaker NPI heads. Not the same at the 99 - 04 PI heads.
Dont say single cam,.. as they have either 2 cams (dual cams) or 4 cams (quad cams). SOHC = 1 cam on top of each head,.. 2 heads = 2 cams. DOHC = 2 cams on top of each head,.. 2 heads = 4 cams. Commonly just referred to as 2v or 4v. DOHC valve covers are huge compared o the valve coveres on the 2V. The 2V resembles a SBF valve cover. The DOHC look more like a hemi valve cover.
If you have an engine out of a 98 GT,.. just order the gaskets for a 98 GT. Even if the engine came out of something else other then a Mustang,.. the intake and valve cover gaskets will be the same. The differences with be in the different plenum and TB styles used.
If you want to pick up a quick and easy 50 - 70 RWHP just throw on a pair of PI heads, PI intake, some long tubes and an off road mid pipe and your in business. Should dyno around 240 - 260 RWHP after that. Stock 96 - 98 2v engines typically only put down 165- 175 RWHP.
EDIT: If you do a PI head swap (Can find them cheap from $75 - $200 pair) while you have the heads off the motor you need to decide then if your going to do cams or not. Most all of the 'Stage 2' rated cams usually have some kind of PTV issues and need to fly cut the pistons. They are worse then the 86 HO motors when it comes to cam choices and PTV issues. How ever you can do your flt cutting easily using the head as a template and then sacrificing 1 intake and 1 exhaust valve by using a small dremel or similar with a thin cutting wheel and cutting notches around the edged of the valve and then using an extension connecting it to a drill press or even a cordless drill could work. If you dont fly cut the pistons,.. you will kick your self later if you decide to get a pair of cams.
If you need a hand I can come look at what you got and tell you exactly what you have. I'm not as up on the later 4v stuff like BVH and CBRTRX are,.. but I am very good with the 96 - 98 cars.
Hurst