Thanks guys. This is exactly the info I've needed.

I am going to re-gear the rear end because of larger wheels. It occured to me the '97 explorer engine I have probably has different HP and torque curves than the standard F150 truck 5.0 and I needed to take that into consideration for the gearing. Again; the reason for the original question.

As I mentioned, I have the Mustang 5.0 H.O. in a sports car I built (Classic Roadsters Sebring MX.....Cobra "wanna be"). I have experienced it's torque curve and it's exactly what your saying....not much below about 1800 but good and flat (although it does have a really nice peak at about 3500) up to about 5000. Sounds like the truck 5.0 is pretty close to that also.

So a different cam and proper gearing should give me strong torque and a highway friendly truck. I'll check out the cam companies you mentioned.

As for why not a 350. Well, I got the 97 explorer 5.0 (brand new from Ford and totally complete...wireing, plugs, oil filer, etc.) for what a 5.0 short block would cost. Couldn't pass it up.

Jack.