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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Swapping engine in F150

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Old May 23, 2012 | 03:59 AM
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Swapping engine in F150

Hello everyone,

I have a 87 F150, 4 speed manual with the granny first gear. It has 5.0, not sure how many miles, but after failing my emissions test I located a 96 explorer 5.0 with gt40 heads and was completly torn down and was honed, journals polished, and complete engine gasket kit. The builder also put new rings inthe honed cylinder holes. I am going to use my truck intake and I located a mountaineer with same 5.0, which I took all of the front brackets, pulleys, fan and fan clutch with fan pulley.
 
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Old May 23, 2012 | 04:03 AM
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Does anyone fore see any issues or problems? I have all new gasket to put my truck efi intake on, but the mounts and tranny should bolt up, also would like to use the newer ps pump, any help is much appreciated, thanks. Todd.
 
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Old May 23, 2012 | 08:30 AM
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Your opening statement is a first for me "but after failing my emissions test I located a 96 explorer 5.0 with gt40 heads" Why replace the entire engine just because you failed an emission test?

Assuming there is a logical reason for replacing the entire engine it looks like you have most of the bases covered. I'm sure there will be some minor little doo-dad piece that will hold you up, at least that is what usually happens to me. Good luck
 
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Old May 23, 2012 | 09:00 AM
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What about the EFI system? Weren't the 89 trucks carbureted? I didn't see anything in the post that mentioned the computer system.
 
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Old May 23, 2012 | 09:28 AM
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No 89 trucks were EFI.

1985: 5.0 (302) went EFI (However 5.8 (351w) still carbed until 87)
1988: 5.8 (351w) went EFI. 7.5 (460) went EFI
 
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Old May 24, 2012 | 03:12 AM
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Yeah its EFI and, from what I have read the truck intake is much better than the mass air throttle body. Did I mention that I pulled the serpentine assembly from a mountaineer at junk yard, which they had only one. Got lucky. Sine timing chain cover is different from water pump design. I was going to do the heads only, but I found the whole engine that was partially rebuilt, for same price. Thanks for input will keep you updated. Thanks
 
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Old May 24, 2012 | 04:02 AM
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you may have to change sensors to match your wiring harness an computer
 
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Old May 29, 2012 | 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by XLT89F350cc
you may have to change sensors to match your wiring harness an computer
I took off the maf explore intake, 96, and was just going to swap old block, heads, except efi intake, bolt in new rebuilt 96 5.0. block w/gt40 heads. Then bolt on original truck intake, new msd distributor, new wires, but should not need any computer mods since using original truck intake right?
 
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Old May 29, 2012 | 04:33 PM
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They are the three-bar GT40 heads? Three vertical lines on the front? If so everything should bolt up. I'm doing the same thing with a '98 Exploder engine. I've already swapped the oil pan and pickup tube, timing cover and water pump and intake over from the old motor (and heads, but that's another story) I'll be swapping the distributor and accessory brackets from the other motor over, as it's just easier in my book. The Explorer front drive was odd and uncommon, I'd stick with the truck stuff, you can't mix and match as the explorer pulleys are sucked in tight toward the engine, so it has to be all or nothing.
 
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Old May 30, 2012 | 05:29 AM
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Yeah, I got lucky and was able to find the entire serpent, system fan, fan crutch, brackets, and pulleys, from another motor. I know that its tighter, to engine but cooling is supposed to be better. I am just about ready to swap. Thanks for the comments and will let you know outcome. I am lucky to have two in laws who are mechanics, but convincing them it will bolt up isn't easy, lol.
 
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Old May 30, 2012 | 10:16 AM
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What makes you think it will pass emissions now if you're keeping the same sensors, injectors, cat that your truck originally had?

It's also going to run very lean on the top end since the Explorer engine makes nearly 30HP more, and your computer will have no way of knowing that.
 
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