Hey there. I got an F150 with a rod hanging out the block. So I looked through the motors I had laying around and I have an 1986 T-Bird 5.0. So the plan is to do a full rebuild on the lower end, and use the heads off the 90 5.0, after I port and polish them. Anything I need to watch out for? or things to also do to squeeze every drop of power out of it. Thanks

 

If the motor doesn't have a HO roller cam in it find one and install it 4 deg advanced with 1.7 rockers.

 

Perfect. Thanks. Is that the only/main difference between the HO and the non-HO motors? This one is a roller cam block with the "XXX" in the valley, but I see (when trying to order an engine kit) that they have HO roller cams and non-HO roller cams.

 

Yes the cam is the only significant difference from 1987 an up, a true HO motor would also have forged pistons but static compression is the same so that has no impact on power production.