Cam Timing with Milled Heads

[robsMarkVIII]

Got my Mach1 manifolds today. As shown in the pictures it is a far better piece. It can be ported out to 2.5" to match exhaust pipe. The ports that mate the heads are bigger also, if you see the Mark VIII ports are smaller. Instead of modifying my steering shaft I am going to get a j bend tubing and go around the steering shaft. This will be cheaper and easier for me.
Cut the driver side cat off the Mark VIII manifold and placed it in the approximate position. I am using the egr tube to hold it. The openings in the cat is 2.25" as seen on my caliper. I will weld the new tubing to it over the outside. I can open it up to 2.35" That is the id. Of 2.5" tubing so everything will work well together.

 

[robsMarkVIII]

Checking fit of 03 Mach1 windage tray. Will need 4 main bearing bolts with studs and it will fit perfect. Easy 15 HP bolt on.

 

[robsMarkVIII]

In an effort to improve cooling of my engine I did the cooling mod discussed on some other forums. I used my old coolant passage and installed it in the driver side head as shown in the pictures. I will tie it into the passage on the passenger side head with a tee fitting. I had to relocate the IRMC as shown in the pictures.

 

[robsMarkVIII]

Windage tray installed, I had to modify the oil pan by removing the two baffles shown. I also show the studs needed with part number. I paid $30.00 for the studs from automation.com. cost includes the shipping.

 

[robsMarkVIII]

After thinking about the exhaust system I am going to build my own headers. I want better performance than the stock manifolds provide. So today I ordered a set of header flanges and tubing needed to complete the project. I wanted to use a tri-y configuration but due to space limitations I won't be able to get them to fit. For our cars the setup needs to be very compact. To accomplish this I am going to use a 2.5" tubing with a 45 degree bend. This will connect to the stock cats and run parallel to the head. The flanges will connect to the tubing with straight 1.75" tubing. This won't be the most astecially appealing but they will be much better than the choked stock manifolds. I will upload pictures as I progress.

 

[ford nut]

After thinking about the exhaust system I am going to build my own headers. I want better performance than the stock manifolds provide. So today I ordered a set of header flanges and tubing needed to complete the project. I wanted to use a tri-y configuration but due to space limitations I won't be able to get them to fit. For our cars the setup needs to be very compact. To accomplish this I am going to use a 2.5" tubing with a 45 degree bend. This will connect to the stock cats and run parallel to the head. The flanges will connect to the tubing with straight 1.75" tubing. This won't be the most astecially appealing but they will be much better than the choked stock manifolds. I will upload pictures as I progress.

No need to build from scratch.

Read this.
http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/fo...ang-long-tubes-install-Bets&highlight=headers


03/04 cobra manifolds will also give you what your looking for with the steering shaft modified to fit.. JA went this direction I'm thinking his build is north of 600hp
it will easily fit your goals.

 

[robsMarkVIII]

Thanks, but I am scrapping the rest of my exhaust system might as well do some headers. I like fabricating things anyway and it won't take that long.

 

[robsMarkVIII]

Header update, I almost have the drivers side done and I should be able to get the passenger side done by this weekend. I bought the header flanges off eBay and they are made really well.

Headers are done, got my torque converter on Monday.
I am going to get high perfomance cats to attach to the headers.
I will start setting the engine in next week.

 

[robsMarkVIII]

Been a while since I made a post so I want update my build. Engine is in and I am in the process of hooking everything up. I had to change the configuration of the T- fitting I used to plum the driver side head into the cooling system. I had to move the T-fitting to the lower heater hose. I have included pictures of this. It is easy to hook it up with the intake manifold removed. I installed my 9" 3500 stall converter also.

My headers fit really well, I can put them in without removing the steering shaft on the drivers side. The only thing left to do on the upper exhaust is to put the ball and socket connecters on. I am doing this to make getting the exhaust system easy to get in and out. I am holding off on putting cams and a Cobra intake on it for now. I want to get it out of my garage so I can prep my Third for the upcoming race season.

 

[robsMarkVIII]

Updating the post, got the back k half of the exhaust system done today, hopefully I can get the front done tomorrow. I bought this system from a member of another Mark VIII site. I had him mark it and cut into small enough pieces to ship. I tig welded it all back together. I added the ball and socket connectors at the front. The headers and cats will connect at that point. The mufflers had really big outlets so keep a somewhat stock appearance I ovalized the outlets as shown in the pictures.

 

[robsMarkVIII]

I finshed the exhaust system today and I am in the process of installing it. After getting it welded together it didn't fit like I wanted it to so I pulled it back out fixed the things I didn't like. The tube on the passenger side was hanging too low and the hanger on the passenger side muffler was too low making one muffler set higher than the other one. I cut the passenger side tube and moved it up, I also cut both tubes and shortened them. I finished both of the headers by installing the cats and o2 sensor bungs. I moved the hanger up on the passenger side muffler and now both mufflers set even. I will get some pictures of the system installed tomorrow.

 

[robsMarkVIII]

Got her started yesterday with the new engine. She sounds really good with the exhaust I installed over the winter. I have got to put her aside for a short while to prep my Tbird for the upcoming race season.

 

[robsMarkVIII]

I finally got back to working on the Mark VIII. Got new upper control arms and sway bar links. Plan on installing them in the next couple of weeks. I have also got an abs light on and the speedo Is not working. I am going to repair the abs unit myself. Did some research on why they fail and 9 times out of 10 it is cold soldered joints that break loose due to vibration. I will update soon.

 

[Don Pfau]

Very nice work and very interesting. But if you ever again get to thinking about a power adder I would like to say I had a 03 Cobra with the 2.8" pulley with many intake and exhaust mods and a tune but with the stock supercharger. At the same time I had my supercharged Lincoln Mark VIII with a Vortech. The Mark VIII was better than the Cobra in every way as far as the drive train. I would never intentionally run that Eaton supercharger. Thanks and I look forward to more updates.

 

[robsMarkVIII]

Very nice work and very interesting. But if you ever again get to thinking about a power adder I would like to say I had a 03 Cobra with the 2.8" pulley with many intake and exhaust mods and a tune but with the stock supercharger. At the same time I had my supercharged Lincoln Mark VIII with a Vortech. The Mark VIII was better than the Cobra in every way as far as the drive train. I would never intentionally run that Eaton supercharger. Thanks and I look forward to more updates.

The Vortech is a good supercharger. I have used Eaton style superchargers with good success, I own a Thunderbird Supercoupe with a Magnum Powers MPX and I had to detune it because the diff and axles couldn't handle the power the engine made. It runs 7.95 to 8.00 in the 1/8 detuned. This set up would probably put 450 to 500 HP to the wheels with the Mark VIII engine.