Mase sets the new Twisted Wedge cylinder heads down on the stock-bottom-end 5.0 in Jim's coupe...
...then torques the head bolts in proper sequence to their proper specs. He knows the sequence by heart, but we recommend you consult a good Ford service manual if you aren't as confident. The torque values for our installation were stepped at 30, 60, and 90 lb-ft. Each of the Fel-Pro head gaskets is stamped with the word "Front" to let you know which way it should be laid down on the block-with front pointed toward the radiator.
After a bit of trial and error, we discovered that 6.400 inches is the perfect length for pushrods for the newly installed valvetrain, as that length reduced the amount of tip travel (the actual sweep of the rocker arms) to about 0.080 inch, which is optimum. Here, Mase tightens down the rockers to zero lash, adds an additional three quarters of a turn, then buttons up everything with Trick Flow's short valve covers, which clear the rocker arms with no sweat.
With the lower intake mounted and secured (intake bolts are torqued to no more than 22 lb-ft), Mase tops off the engine with the Trick Flow Street upper plenum.
For this upgrade, we decided to step up to Accufab's 70mm throttle body and EGR spacer to help guarantee that airflow for the new intake, cam, and heads package will be sufficient. The TPS and air-bypass valve from the factory throttle body are retained and used on the new piece.
Professional Mass Air Systems' new, Pro-M 80 is a huge, 80mm mass air sensor that's sold with a free-flowing conical-filter element. We had the meter calibrated for the Ford Racing Performance Parts 30-lb/hr fuel injectors. After connecting the Pro-M 80 to Anderson Ford Motorsport's Power Pipe tubing, Mase raised the car once again to reconnect the exhaust, change the engine oil, and complete the installation.
All set and ready for the next stop: a few runs across the drums of B&D Racing's dyno!