5.0 HO VS NON-HO Question

[1987cp]

You know, if you go with a roller block (can't put a roller cam in your '82 block without hassles), I'm really, really liking the cam I put in the Explorer motor I built for my '87. It's a high-lift, short-duration grind that makes lots of torque at low RPM. It's rated to float the valves by about 5500 (1500rpm higher than the stock tranny shifts anyway), but on the virtual dyno it produces a pretty flat torque curve at about 370-plus lb-ft. http://www.cranecams.com/index.php?s...11&lvl=2&prt=5 There are also some similarly-performing flat-tappet grinds such as Crane's PN 364211 if you end up without a roller block.

For carb and intake I like Edelbrock; their PN 2121 "Performer" intake is said to be good for at least 300hp, and you can't really go wrong with either the #1403 (500cfm) or #1406 (600cfm) Performer-series carburetors. They work well, and even a boneheaded home mechanic like me can learn to tune them. And don't overlook the possibility of getting an old factory 4V manifold if power over 4500rpm isn't important. For ignition, I'm tentatively assuming your car has Duraspark-II ignition from the factory; if so, that works just fine for mild builds, especially with a nicer coil and wires, just as long as it's not one of the specimens that eats ignition modules for lunch. And the Duraspark distributor works well with either stock or aftermarket ignitions, just gotta make sure the gear is compatible with your cam type (iron for flat-tappet, steel for roller); we can point you to some threads about turning up the heat on the mechanical advance.

[gadget73]

I wouldn't bother messing with an early 80s block. Go for an HO or even a non-HO roller block and use that for your build. The roller valvetrain has less friction and a more agressive ramp than flat tappet cams, both of which result in more power. The stock E6 heads are crap. Stock E7 heads aren't all that special either, but if you work on them they work pretty good.

The true ideal motor to get your hands on is the 96-01 Explorer 5.0. They have the best heads ever put on a production engine, and will make more power with those stock un-modified heads than you're going to get out of most anything else unless it costs a lot of money or has a lot of port work involved.

If you go EFI, you'll need to do some piecing, but its really going to depend on what the donor motor is, and what you plan to do with the car. If you want to keep it carb, all you need is an apropriate intake manifold, a distributor for an 85 Mustang with a manual transmission, and the carb. If you end up with an Explorer motor and want to go carb, a lot of those parts can be sold. The manifolds (which are horrible) and the motor mounts are useful for people doing 5.0 ranger swaps. The intakes are desirable because they perform well in EFI setups. Earlier intakes are more desirable because they have EGR, but people that don't get smog checks won't really care too much about that part. Anything you don't need, just stick on ebay and use that money to buy parts you do need.

[1987cp]

The true ideal motor to get your hands on is the 96-01 Explorer 5.0. They have the best heads ever put on a production engine, and will make more power with those stock un-modified heads than you're going to get out of most anything else unless it costs a lot of money or has a lot of port work involved.

Ah, yes, yes. These come with the excellent F7ZZ "GT40-P" cylinder heads (identifiable by four ridges cast into the ends of the heads) that are basically the Ford equivalent of Chevy's Vortec head - that is, the best head actually installed on such an engine at the factory. That'd give you the best head for a reasonable price without having to buy an extra set of heads (or worse for the wallet, go porting) when it's time for the build.

[Lincolnmania]

did you look for 88-92 lincoln mark7's? most commonly found place of nice running not beat on ho motor.......usually the air suspension or the brakes are bad and they get junked

[Mercracer]

I have an 82 LTD with a tired 302 (carb). I went to the local junk yard and noticed the 5.0 non-HO motors were a dime a dozen. I located about 10 at this U-pull it junk yard alone. I want to pull, rebuild, modify, and install an 1987 and up 5.0 HO for my car, but they seem to be hard to find. My questions are as follows: Could I do the same with a non-HO motor??? Are the non-HO motors roller cam? What can be done (if possible) to convert the non-Ho 5.0 to a roller HO 5.0? Is it even worth it? Would it be worth modifying a non-HO motor?

Your first best choice as mentioned is an Explorer motor. 1996 prefered because of header selection (GT40 heads). 1997+ for better efficiency(GT40P heads). Second choice is a Mustang or Mark motor. 3rd choice for a bargain build is any 1994+ truck motor. Same HO style roller cam as the Explorer motor. 4th choice is any 1987+ truck motor as it has E7TE (HO)heads. A 1987 truck motor has a roller block without the roller cam and hardware. You can get the hardware and lifters from any CV or GM core motor 1986+.

[82LTDQS]

ok

Is there a way to tell these engines apart when I’m in the U-pull it yard? Do I just go by the year and/or make/model of the donor vehicle? Is there some kind of distinguishable characteristic that the roller motors have whether ho or lo-po?

[1987cp]

Model and year of the donor vehicle is probably the easiest way to go. Someone else correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure all SEFI-equipped 5.0 vehicles (Mustang, Crown Vid, truck) came with roller blocks, at least from '87-up, and the cam/spider/etc. is pretty easy to come by if you get your motor from a truck. And as you've noticed, HO installations will generally (always?) have the upper plenum mounted "backwards" compared to on a Crown Vic.

You said you see lots of injected 5.0's in a yard near you; what vehicles are they in?

[HerMajestysMechanic]

EDIT: Have you looked into 5.0L truck motors? From '87-'96, they had E7TE heads and were roller cam. All you'd need to do is swap the cam and handle the exhaust. Along with the 4-bbl swap to get the most out of it.

I have a 94 Fullsize Bronco with the 5.0, So that has the E7's on it as well? Cuz hot damn, I can take them off and have em "done-up" without having to bring another vehicle down, or spend the money for new heads. wonder what else off it that I can use.


Admiral

[Mercracer]

I have a 94 Fullsize Bronco with the 5.0, So that has the E7's on it as well? Cuz hot damn, I can take them off and have em "done-up" without having to bring another vehicle down, or spend the money for new heads. wonder what else off it that I can use.

You should have E7 heads and the "HO" style roller cam.

[Mercracer]

Model and year of the donor vehicle is probably the easiest way to go. Someone else correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure all SEFI-equipped 5.0 vehicles (Mustang, Crown Vid, truck) came with roller blocks, at least from '87-up, and the cam/spider/etc. is pretty easy to come by if you get your motor from a truck.

ALL blocks from 1986 on were roller compatible...

[86VickyLX]

13726548.

I forgot 5! how could I forget 5?!!!

[86VickyLX]

Is there a way to tell these engines apart when I’m in the U-pull it yard? Do I just go by the year and/or make/model of the donor vehicle? Is there some kind of distinguishable characteristic that the roller motors have whether ho or lo-po?

well, if you're looking at a SEFI motor, look on the upper plenum. I think the name plates are different. On the H.O engines, it says H.O on it. I still think it would be cool if you converted it to EFI

[86VickyLX]

have the upper plenum mounted "backwards" compared to on a Crown Vic.

only sometimes you can apply that. I got an engine out of a Tbird. that plenum was mounted backwards, and yet, it's not an H.O engine.

[gadget73]

The only factory SEFI HO powered cars were Mustangs and Mark VII. Doesn't matter which way the intake faces, it depends on the donor car. All the Fox chassis cars faced toward the passenger side, but Turds, etc got the same 150 hp motor the Crown Vic got.,

[gadget73]

I have a 94 Fullsize Bronco with the 5.0, So that has the E7's on it as well? Cuz hot damn, I can take them off and have em "done-up" without having to bring another vehicle down, or spend the money for new heads. wonder what else off it that I can use.


Admiral

Yes. Actually the E7TE head is a truck head, all of them from 1987 onward got that. In 94 they put the same cam the Explorer uses in there, and I do believe mass air. Its quite a capable motor in that Bronco, open up the heads and maybe the lower intake a bit, let the exhaust breathe and it should be good to boogie.