i currently have two trucks. one is a 1990 4x4 351w 67,000 miles and the other is a 1992 4x4 302 >230,000 miles. i am wanting to swap both the motors... (also have a 1990 302 parts truck and a 1992 302 parts truck) would i need a 1992and up for the 351w harness??

what kind of problems will i run into? i have done (a little) reading and found that the harnesses might be different... i think. any help would be appreciated.

for the 1990 i just want a motor in it to sell it...

if this swap is simple i would like to ask some 351w performance Qs. i want to upgrade the heads/cam/exhaust

i have 96 gt40 heads and upper and lower intake manifolds laying around. could i/should i use them?? can i use the stock 1990 351w intake? best performance in mind

a 35-255-5 comp cam. could i/should i order it? if not what flat tappet cam should i go with?

what headers? i have heard shortys are a waste and its hard to find cheap good fitting long tubes. what ones for the gt40s should i find(if they work)?

i have googled and read a few threads about 351w performance/swap stuff but if anyone has a good referance to post feel free

any other performance mods a good idea?? would i need more fuel with these mods? computer work? thanks

 

Don't change any engine wiring when swapping motors around.. it's not necessary with these motors since they are all the same electrically. And just to be clear what I mean is do not remove, change, or replace any wiring in the vehicle you're putting the engine in, disconnect it all at the engine that is comming out and reconnect it to the motor that goes back in. If you are going from a 5.0 to a 5.8 or vise versa you will have to use a matching computer but be aware it also has to match the transmission in the truck since most of the automatics are computer controlled as well.

As for the performance mods you can't install heads, cam, and intake without mass air at the very least, but you may need a tuner and fuel system upgrades too. The Crane 444232 is the best flat tappet grind available for the 5.8 that is compatable with the stock SD EFI system. This GT40 intake you have is it off a 5.8 or a 5.0? The 5.8 block is wider and therefore has a unique GT40 lower that is pretty rare, so good on you if that is what you have.

 

thanks very much. now i know the motor/trans swap is going to be as simple as i had hoped. but i would like to add a little horses while its out

well i have a 1996 302 explorer block... so i do not have the rare intake. and i suppose these heads wont work on my 351w?

do you know of a maf swap thread of decent detail? or would you think it would be worth doing?

i have around $1000 to play with(maybe alittle more depending how much work/ hp and tq gains im looking at), thinking of just buying a cam and headers, what brand longtubes would you suggest?. could i just do this setup without maf swapping? i am a little confused on what i can/cant do without a maf setup...

thanks again

 

oooooo k i read your post again. i will need to AT LEAST maf swap for a cam/head/intake change.

 

bumppppppppp

 

The heads would work you just have to bore out the main bolt holes to 1/2".. something that can be done on a simple drill press.

A cam and exhaust will REALLY wake up a stock motor, you could see a 50-75 point gain in HP and TQ... no other changes necessary. For longtubes whatever you do don't buy Flowtech, Pacesetter makes a nice fitting set and I believe Headman does too.

 

sooo if i go with the gt40 heads/cam/exhaust i will definitely need maf swap and maybe fuel upgrades, but no maf swap needed if i just do a cam and exhaust? im sorry if im not completely understanding you...

would the $100 difference of the pacesetters from the hedmans worth it?
http://www.summitracing.com/compare.aspx

 

You can do the heads/cam/exhaust with little to no problems. I went with gt40 heads with 1.7RR, crane 444232 cam and LT headers and i have had zero problems with it. Great power over stock

 

Well.. that's not entirely true is it? I remember you had some nagging issues with the truck, have those been fixed?

 

Definitely no other changes necessary with the cam and exhaust, we'll wait for Bray to reply to my question about his combo.

FWIW.. I had a 5.8 in my truck with the same Crane cam and longtubes and it made impressive power.. even with the stock heads.

 

It was a combination of the EGR/EVR and a spun harmanic balancer. Fixed those issuse along with some vacuum line routings and it runs great now. Great power and will burn off the stock tires if not careful. Its a blast to drive in the rain, i got it to do donuts on a black top parking lot during a storm!!

Thinking back to those problems i almost drenched it in gas, threw a match and walked away

EDIT: and by the way, it leans out between 4600-4700RPMs, all noise from there on out. But makes great power from idle on up

 

thanks guys! i think im going with the crane cam kit, i guess i need to get valve springs too, and probly going with the pacesetter LTs. still need to get gears for the truck, that fills my budget pretty good.

i think this will be enough for me... till i find a 4bt

 

anyone know what springs to get? do i need em? and retainers?

these?
Crane Cams 96803-16 - Crane Single Valve Springs - Application - SummitRacing.com
or... maybe these? i just have no clue
Crane Cams 36308-1 - Crane Valve Spring and Retainer Kits - Overview - SummitRacing.com



also would anyone trust buying from amazon? its over $100 difference after shipping

-crane 444232 w/ lifters
-whatever springs i would need
-B&M E40d shift kit
-pacesetter longtubes

missing anything major?

 

Fuel pump is probably at the limit.. though the intake is restrictive up there too so there isn't much point spooling it up past 4500rpm or so.

 

Those springs are about the same as stock but I won't talk you out of buying them if your motor has some miles on it.. new springs are never a bad idea... I believe I have the first set you listed. I have never ordered anything from Amazon but I haven't heard anything bad about them either.