I am looking at a 97 explorer 302. I want to put it in a 90 mustang 2.3. One thing that concerns me is the oil pan. This 302 has an aluminium oil pan. Does any one know if a stock steel pan for a mustang will bolt to this block. Just in case it won't clear the mustang cross member. Also if I pull the cam sensor will a distributor fit? How close might the explorer headers be to match the mustang h pipe?

 

The block is the same so the oil pan will bolt right up. You may need a mustang oil pickup though. What computer are you planing to use with this motor?
Can't say how close a fit the H-pipe would be, but I'm betting a little creative editing could get it to work. Cutting the cross tube and lengthing/shortening as needed is likely all that's required.

 

Thank you. I don't yet know how I will power it. I have 88 mustang harness (speed density) but no computer. Do you have a suggestion?

 

If you still have to get a computer, why not get a MASS Air harness and MAF with an A9L or A9P? Although, you could probably pick up the SD computer fairly cheaply.

This page has a fairly comprehensive list of computers and what vehicles they came in:

http://fordfuelinjection.com/?p=17

Scroll down a ways to get to the 5.0s

 

Swap the Explorer headers for sure. They're the choke point on the Explorer. Ford sells Mustang shortys that fit the GT40P heads. As do others. The Stang dual sump pan will work but you'll need the pickup tube too. New ones can be bought at Advance Auto, probably other places too. The Stang dual sump pan was used on all 1980-up Ford, Lincolns and Merc cars. You'll need a steel geared distributor for the Explorer's F4TE hydraulic roller cam. Good cam with a carb. Just a tad less duration than the GT/HO cam. Lift can be equaled with 1.7 rockers. (.420/.445 lift with 1.6's, duration is 256/266 vs the GT/HO @ 276/276)