Hi everyone, Im looking to swap my motor in my 1986 302 to a 302 HO.. Has anyone done this swap yet ?? Will I have any problems with this ?? Please share any info with me.. Thanks

 

The 5.0 HO doesn't have the same firing order as the standard 5.0 efi. So just make sure to make a note of that.

It'll be straight forward using the intake from the motor that is on there, but by not using the HO intake and brains you'll give up some of your power gain.

Basically it is an easy swap, but isn't going to be a huge power booster. the H.O. motor had factory short headers and the intake wasn't the same making up some of the power.

If you are just looking to put it in because you need a new motor and that is what you found, then have at it. If you are doing it to see a power boost forget it.

Just my 2 cents

 

Externally all 5.0/302 engine blocks are the same so the HO will bolt-in just fine. The HO has a larger cam and if the donor motor you have is an '87 or newer it will have different heads and forged pistons too, the first two items being mostly responsible for it's greater output. The HO also got a different intake than the truck but worry not the truck intake is actually quite a bit larger so you won't lose any power with it, and that is what I suggest you use because it will make the install much easier. You will also have to swap on the truck oilpan and pickup and the truck accessory brackets, and you definitely want to use all the engine wiring currently on your truck. The only change necessary to make this motor run in the truck is to wire the spark plugs for the HO firing order, and the motor will make quite a bit more power than the old truck version.

 

what is the HO out of?

 

My HO is out of a 87 Mustang

 

Thanks for the info.. Im looking forward to doing the swap.. can I use the trucks original oil pan on this swap?? what about the oil pump ?? should I just use the one in the HO motor or should I use the one in the original motor ?? another ?? I have the original computer out of the HO motor. its the same style as in the pick up.. Should I change it ?? Just another ?? Should I use the automatic tranny out of the mustang or use the 1 still in the truck ?? Im not looking to be halling anything with the truck.. Its just going to be my Sunday Driver.. Thanks for you input. Don.

 

Yes use the truck oilpan and oil pickup, the oil pumps themselves are the same so there's no point changing it.

The computer is the same style(OBD1), but it's pinned completely different and won't work if you just plug it into your truck harness.

Use the truck trans it's beefier than one in the car though all automatics benefit from a shift kit.

 

What about the different imbalance between the 2 engines? The HO motors were 50oz imbalance and the non HO motors were 28oz imbalance. That would mean that you would need a different flywheel/flexplate that had the 28oz imbalance that would work with the type of transmission you have (auto or manual).

 

No all 5.0 motors after 1981 were 5.0 oz.