i have just got a 302 H.O. with 68000 miles on it for free, there isnt anything wrong with it... runs perfect. Would this be a better engine for my truck rather than the stock 302 that it has now? I have heard that the heads on my regular 302 are better than the H.O. ones...is it true? if so will the regular heads fit on the H.O.?

Theres nothing wrong with my current 302...i just got it for when it dies.

 

What year 302s?

The HO 302s have improved heads, camshafts and other parts, so probably any HO 302 is better at mid to high rpm than a stock 302.
Perhaps the plain 302 would be better at low rpm.
The heads will interchange.

I think most enthusiasts would think a low mileage HO 302 is a desireable item.

 

I dont know what year the H.O. is but my other one is in my 1985 ford f150.
The H.O. is probably a 90's.

 

Check the block casting number on the lower rear side of the motor.

A '90 something 5.0HO would have E7TE heads which are very close to the E5TE heads on your motor. Depending what year the HO is it could have forged or hyper pistons, and it will have the HO roller cam. All combined the HO makes more HP and a bit more TQ than the early truck motor, but you could get the same performance level with a $100 cam upgrade on your '85 motor.

 

I cant check the block casting number for awhile yet, for the motor isn't delivered yet. I heard that it may be out of a cop car...but i didn't ask where it really came from, but it is from the 90's probably. How much TQ and HP will it have?

 

I just found out that thhe motor is out of a cop car,is there any upgrades that the cop car 302 H.O.'s may have?

 

I assume it is from a Crown Victoria cop car. In which case it won't be like a Mustang HO, but for a truck should be fine.

 

There was only one 302HO in the '90's, the police crown vic got the exact same motor that the Mustangs got. If it was from an 87-92 car it got forged pistons and the HO roller cam, after '92 they got hypereutectic pistons. The heads are all the same and are the same as what appeared on the trucks, the E7TE casting. The EFI HO motor also has a unique intake compared to the other cars, the runners are slightly larger volume. If it still has the intake on it you want to take the cover plate off the top of the upper and look for the letters 'H. O." cast into the valley beneath it. The 5.0HO was factory rated between 210-225hp and 300 ft lbs TQ, but all that needed to push 275hp is 1.7 rockers, a larger TB, and better exhaust.

 

Yep, it came from a Crown Victoria.

 

Are hypereutectic pistons good, or better than forged? I plan on building the H.O. up with some different parts, what would you recommend other than different exhaust for it?

 

No Hyper pistons are not as strong as forged, if boost or NOS is in your plans you want forged pistons, if not don't worry about them.

BTW... just the way it is the HO motor will be considerably more powerful than your existing truck motor, you'll notice the biggest difference above 3000rpm where the HO will just keep on pulling out to 5000+rpm. 1.7 roller rockers will help or you could install a bigger cam, and if you use the HO intake put a bigger TB on it and port match the lower to the heads. More gearing will also help performance quite a bit, consider 3.73 or 4.10 gears.

 

Ok, I will have to look for the parts for the H.O. How much horse do you think it would have with a bigger TB,some roller rockers, a cam, and a different exhaust?

 

That will get you all the E7 heads are worth.. about 275-280hp. To get more than that the heads and intake will need to be ported or a better set installed.. or you need a blower or NOS.