I'm about to go pick up a 5.8 from a 1988 pickup to swap into my 1994 maf 5.0 truck.

I know I will need the 28oz flywheel, exhaust(using long tube headers) , and I will need a computer to match my 5.8 / 4r60w tranny.

Do you guys have any tips for me? Any more parts i might need?

 

Only tip here is carry a lot of extra $$ for gas!! My 5.8 is awful, I get 7mpg

 

If your truck is MAF,you can use the 5.0 computer. Not sure how much an improvement a 88 5.8 will be compared to your 5.0 Ideally you would want one from around 92 or newer to get the better camshaft and more power.

 

I wanted to swap the camshaft/ lifters and rockers anyway. Is that the only difference in the 88 vs 92 up engines internally?

 

No you don't and it's a good thing because that combo doesn't exist. And yes that '88 needs a cam upgrade and the one to get is the Crane 444232.

 

Thanks for the info. So the 5.0 computer won't hinder the 5.8 at all?

 

I checked that crane part number and that's a flat tappet setup. What abut a roller setup? I'll see what I can find

 

Right!!! Because the 88 is NOT a roller motor.....

 

cant i just replace the valvetrain and have a roller motor? that's what I was asking

 

Yes you can put a roller setup in your '88 but it will cost a lot more.. possibly $500-600 because you have to buy roller lifters, pushrods, a spider retainer assembly, and of course a roller cam.

 

If this were my truck, I'd think something is wrong. I get 9 or so but that is low because I have A LOT more power than a stock motor. When I had a blower on my SD 351, I was still getting 13-15.

 

theres a little more to it than that. it'll have to be a small base circle cam and you don't want that. there's nothing to bolt the spider assembly to and the lifter bores are shorter, not to mention the springs will have to be upgraded. so to do it properly you're looking at link bar lifters and thats about the same price as a complete 94+ roller 351.

i get ok mileage w/ the lightning 351 and i beat the **** out of it. somewhere around 10-13, more if i behave since i have 3.73's.