I'm definitely keeping the stock heads. The cam (
CompCams 35-510-8 is relatively mild, and it's just not worth the money for my purposes to swap them out. Even that wouldn't have happened if Amazon hadn't screwed up the price from $285 down to $85. There's a small chance I might stare at the heads with a die grinder if I'm waiting on some other part from the shop, etc, but that's very unlikely.
Headers would be amazing, but they're definitely not in the budget. The Torque Monster's are the only game in town at the moment for a GT40P in a Ranger/Explorer torsion bar chassis, and they're over $900 with shipping. Maybe after I sell off the leftover parts from the Explorer, my current axle and drivetrain, etc...
Main and rod bearings and oil pump are being replaced, as well as the timing set and water pump. Heads will get new springs and seals, and a once over from the local machine shop in case there's anything I miss in a quick visual.
On the outside I'm doing new plugs, wires, tensioners, belt, hoses, and thermostat. Oxygen sensors, PCV, transmission filter (with JMOD), fuel filter, injector pintle caps/o-rings/filters, etc.
Also running the wires for an amp and installing a remote start while it's all apart. Really trying to knock as much as possble out while everything's accessible. There's still an Explorer rear axle to install, but that's mostly prepped and I may get it done in the middle of all this.
Almost forgot, I've also got a Contour fan and controller to install. That might also get pushed off to later.