I need to replace the motor in my '83, it developed a rod knock tonight and it's not too far from throwing the rod out of the block. The motor is tired and worn, time to replace it.

My budget is super TIGHT. I want to get a 5.0 HO long block at the junkyard, swap all my components over and replace the 'origin unknown' 302 that's about to blow up.

I know there's some differences in firing orders, crankshaft counter weights and stuff like that so I'd like to use a 5.0 from an explorer as they are plentiful.

Is there a distributor hole in the 5.0 explorer engines that would accept my old duraspark distributor or do I need to go farther back and get a 5.0HO from a mustang or mark vii? Will the duraspark distributor even work on one of those?

I just want to pull this motor, swap it in, no surprises. I know you all will suggest to go to 300-6 or 351 as they are real truck motors but I need to do this job "wax on, wax off" style, as quickly and simply as possible. No adapting, fabrication, buying parts, swapping, exchanging or whatever. I want to rip the old motor out and swap the new motor in.

The only thing I'd like to get is a few more hp by using the HO engine, I already have 4.10 gears and the 302 I have was doing the job but it's about to blow.

Thanks

 

Let me put it this way, I found a guy on craigslist with a 1990 mustang 5.0HO longblock that's in my price range.

Can I bolt my carb and accessories on that motor and run it without any hang ups?

 

No, as I'm pretty sure you will have to swap oil pans. Then there are a couple of other possible issues. First, will your intake manifold bolt up - I think so. Second, will your distributor work, and I don't know the answer to that.

 

That's what I need to find out, I don't mind swapping oil pans

 

I think all I've got to do is put a steel gear on the distributor.

 

Yes, you'll need a steel gear on the dist with an HO cam. IF you haven't changed a dist gear before, you'll want do a search and see how to press the gear off and on and probably drill a new hole for the roll pin. An alternative might be to buy a rebuilt dist for an '85 Mustang GT standard shift if that matches your '83 Duraspark box.

Will you be swapping all the 302 accessories and brackets onto the 5.0? You know you'll need to have a 50 oz harmonic balancer and flexplate/flywheel. Think both crank pulleys are four bolt so the 302 pulley should swap onto the 5.0 balancer OK if you need to.

The 50 oz flywheel/flexplate you use is going to have to be the right size for your '83 bell housing. I don't know if that's an issue for you -- just something to verify.

Will you use a mechanical fuel pump? Then you'll swap the timing cover and fuel pump eccentric onto the 5.0.

If you swap oil pans, you'll probably also swap oil pickups and dip sticks. If the '83 302 has the dip stick in the timing cover you'll need to plug the dip stick hole in the left side of the block.

If you won't use the thermactor/air pump you'll need to plug the holes in the back of the heads.

Does the '83 have the big starter? If yes, it would be good to get the 5.0 small starter.

I put an '88 5.0 in a Maverick that had a 302. Those were the issues I had to work out.

 

MavSpirit - Thanks. Those were the details he needed and I had no clue. Rep's to you.

 

Always happy to give back when I can. I get a lot of info here.

One other possible issue: the fuel pump eccentric. The double roller timing sprocket on the 5.0 is thicker than '70 302 sprocket. Don't know about the '83. The 5.0 uses a 2-piece eccentric (no longer available from Ford) that is thinner than the older 1-piece. If you put a 1-piece eccentric on the 5.0 sprocket it will hit the timing cover. If you need a 2-piece and can't find one, some guys have milled .100" off a one piece and used that.

Also check the length of the dowel for the eccentric. The dowel for the one piece sticks out into a hole in the eccentric. The 2-piece eccentric has a tab that goes into the hole in the timing sprocket so the dowel has to be shorter. Think I'm remembering this right.

 

Great info! Yes, I plan to get a '85 mustang distributor, they are $75 on rock auto and will match my duraspark.

I plan to swap everything on my current 302 to the 5.0. My current 302 did not come with the truck, it's actually dated 12/88, not sure what it came out of, I'm thinking it might be a boat since it has marine serial numbers and brass freeze plugs.

Since it's a 1989, shouldn't I be able to swap my crank pulley and flexplate? It's going to be with the same C6 trans I have.

It has a 351 firing order, maybe because it's a 4bbl boat motor? The casting number is E7TE but it doesn't have E7TE heads, they are like E5AE or something, probably some marine combo.



Also, pretty sure it's an XXX block, I don't know if it's actually a roller cam but I think it's a roller block? How can I check if the distributor has a steel gear, it may already have one if it's a roller motor? I wouldn't be surprised if the boats got roller motors.

Oh and I already upgraded to the gear reduction starter so I've got that.

I'll know more once I disassemble it but there are some of the questions I have now.

Thanks in advance!

 

Since the switch from 28 oz to 50 oz happened in 1980, all your stuff should be 50 oz. No problems there.

You can probably tell if the dist gear is cast or steel by looking at it. The shank on the steel gear has a machined surface while the cast gear is slightly rough. If you buy an '85 Mustang dist it should be for a manual trans.

Think the 351 firing order indicates an HO cam. Since you'll have the intake off you'll know if the 5.0 has roller lifters. Roller lifters need the spider to keep the rollers oriented.

 

Ok, I did some more research, it appears that -80 the 302 had 28oz imbalance flywheel, 81+ is the 50oz imbalance so I can use my crank pulley and flex plate either way.

I won't be able to bolt up my timing cover if the fuel pump eccentric isn't right? I just want to know so if I hit that snag I can fix it while I'm in there.

 

Questions is: does your current engine have a 2-piece eccentric? I think you'll have a problem if you try to use a one-piece eccentric on the E7 timing sprocket. Unless you can verify that you'll have the two-piece, I'd order this http://www.ebay.com/itm/SBF-FORD-289-302-351W-5-0-331-347-mechanical-fuel-pump-eccentric-kit-/221225123724?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item33820b7f8c&vxp=mtr and have it on hand as insurance. It includes the shorter dowel.

If you have to change the dowel, that could be a challenge. I couldn't get mine out. I expect the E7 engine will have the shorter dowel but I don't know for sure.

 

Ok, so if the eccentric is the one piece type then I can just order that ^^^ and I'll be good?

Thanks for all your help btw, the assistance will allow me to get this done quickly.

 

Think that should do it.

 

Ok cool, I'll guess I'll post up my engine swap progress in this thread. I need to have it done this week or next week.