engine swap

[nohotrod]

Does anyone have a suggestion as to what fuel injected engine would be a good swap into a bump? I have been researching 4.6's but seems like alot of work. Then I started considering 80's or 90's 5.0. Now I'm thinking I should just build a carburated 302 and call it good. I like the idea of fuel injection and modern performance and decent mileage. I don't want a big block! I was hoping that someone could recommend a good small block and 4 speed auto swap from another ford model. Thanks.

[flatblack]

find any 87-96 for a donor truck and youll have all you need, around here you can pick up a really rusted one but with a good engine in it for under $500, then you have all the wiring, computer, transmission, cable, engines and all. easy to work on as well, try and find 96? i think was the maf system instead of speed density, they arent great on fuel but they are probably a little better than FE's and you cant modify a lot without tuning and beefing up the transmission, and make sure you have the right gears for that overdrive or it will lug around everywhere. a good engine choice could be any from the 4.9 inline 6 to the 5.8L windsor, the transmission youll want would be the E40D, not great for everything but seem to last longer and have less issues than the AOD you may have to replace every 3 years or so.

[nohotrod]

I'm sure this will get a reaction, but it sounds like a GM engine/tranny swap would be easier. EVERYONE CAN RELAX, I will keep my ford "all ford". Maybe. I have a 95 Mark VIII with a 4.6 4v, but have been reading that this isn't the best swap and complicated. I have a 302, three in the tree in my 69' F100 and I like it but not the three speed. So, on this next project, I was considering other drivetrain options. I was at the salvage yard yesterday and looked at alot of Fords. Everything from 5.0 and 5.8 pick up engines to a 5.0 in an 88' T-bird and other 5.0's in misc. sedans and wagons. I see that the plenums are different between cars and trucks. What else is different and which engine will have more aftermarket performance parts?

[fitzwell]

Plenum is taller on the trucks to give it a little more runner length (torque). Main diffrence in H.O. vs. Non H.O. motors is firing order. H.O. is 1,3(think windsor) firing order, while the crown vics etc, are the 1,5 firing order. If you find a 86-93 pickup, i'd grab everything, and i mean EVERYTHING.. throttle linkage, brackets, fuel rails etc. If you swap the F.I. setup onto the 69 motor, pay close attention to the intake gaskets & make sure you have a complete seal around the rear water ports on the heads. Do not ask me how i know this

[flatblack]

Plenum is taller on the trucks to give it a little more runner length (torque). Main diffrence in H.O. vs. Non H.O. motors is firing order. H.O. is 1,3(think windsor) firing order, while the crown vics etc, are the 1,5 firing order. If you find a 86-93 pickup, i'd grab everything, and i mean EVERYTHING.. throttle linkage, brackets, fuel rails etc. If you swap the F.I. setup onto the 69 motor, pay close attention to the intake gaskets & make sure you have a complete seal around the rear water ports on the heads. Do not ask me how i know this

Correct 1,3,7,6,2,5,4,8 if i remember right, is the firing order for 351W and 5.0 HO EFI.i agree, if you find any trucks that you can grab everything off of go for it. you want the truck intake, its very breathable, and if you can.... grab the ecm and the motor wiring harness from the 5.0 thunderbirds, mustangs, and cougars as they make a nice easy maf conversion for the trucks.

[nohotrod]

So you think the truck motor is a better choice than the mustang or T-bird engines? I would think that there is more aftermarket parts for the cars engines. Maybe they are the same other than the intake plenums. I read somewhere that the 88' T-bird 5.0 only had like 155 hp. Is that right? When my project is done, I hope to have the CV front end installedas well as the Mark VIII IRS. This truck will never be a "truck" again. I want it to look like a truck but drive, handle and perform like a sprots car. No body side mouldings, new chrome bumbers and handles. 20" wheels. Vintage Air and custom gauges.

[fitzwell]

the truck intake wll make more torque. as far as internal differences, the trucks had hyd lifters until 92-93 IIRC, while the cars got rollers in 86. Parts is parts, just pay attention & build a good combination, you should have plenty of power. If you want to run as a mass air motor, you need a computer out of a mass air car & will have to add that sensor to your build, remembering the MAF must match the injectors. The speed density harness' can be converted, just a PITA, and not really worth the trouble, IMHO.

as always,