my ride, '89 LTD Squire (dont laugh, me and my dog love this ride)... needs a bit more get-up-and-go,

good thing is, it has the factory tow package, with 3.55 posi-gears and dual exhaust...
i would not want to go change to HO computer, MAF etc... and i would want to keep everyday
drivability and comfort... so i came up with a plan of new set of heads and a modern cam.


1) how much is too much cam here? (i know the MAP-efi does not understand too much cam)
comp says in XE line up 206/212 @050 cam is stock computer friendy for sure
but i am considering for the next step 212/218 "mild street perf, good HO replacement, works with stock computer"
should i undestand "works with stock computer", that it works with HO computer or with all 302 efi computers?
real life experience and/or comments having bigger cam in MAP sensor engine is greatly appreciated


2) what set of new heads would you recommend, on the cheap end of the inventory ?


thank you

 

This is an LTD car? If so you're going to be limited to a cam only because I'm pretty sure the motor only has 14lb injectors(grey body) on it and not the 19s(yellow body) all other 5.0s got, and that means the EFI system simply can't support a big hp gain and no you can't just swap in 19lb injectors they're not compatable with the computer.

For cams you have to use one that is SD EFI compatable and that means no less than 114deg LSA and no more than 210deg duration at 0.050" lift and preferrable a little less than that for stock like idle and drivability. Total valve lift should be safely under 0.500" and advertised(total) duration in the 250-260deg area , that may sound small but it's hugh compared to the stock cam in this motor which only manages 0.380" lift and 240deg total duration, so you will see healthy gains from the cam change alone. Besides that heads are pretty much wasted on this motor without also changing the intake which is the smallest ever installed on a 5.0, you would need an Explorer intake to get your moneys worth from the heads.

 

A rocker swap will net you a few HP, by changing out the stamped steel 1.6's for a set of full roller (Crane Energizer) 1.7's. The heads are E6SE's, you can swap to E7's to pickup 25 hp without running into piston to valve clearance issues (the pistons do not have valve reliefs in your motor) this swap will in effect give you a 92-93 F150 long block with the same cam you now have. There are guys out there that have done these upgrades to the Vic 5.0, do a web search to find them. The lower intake is the same as the Mustang lower. I don't see why you couldn't upgrade to an 86 Mustang HO setup using the Mustang ECM.