Ok guys an females I have a 1986 f150 302 reg cab short box . Also the trans is a rebuilt t18 . It's a bummer but my good old 302 efi is kinda on its last legs with some bottom end noise and just random leaks . It has 250,000 miles and has served its duty just fine . I have a 1999 ford explore that I can get the motor from , but my question is can I reuse my speed density and my stock intake and is it just basically a direct swap. My big concern is the speed density. Plz some help and tips . Thankyou

 

Yes, you should be able to take all the later model engine dress off the later engine, and end up with a 302 long block. Then start from there and put your older engine dress on the newer engine.

I have gone the other way before, taking a efi 302 and taking all the efi stuff off, and putting all the carbed dress on it to turn it into a carbed engine.

There may be some spots where you can cut corners, and some spots you may not. I believe if I were you I would get a complete rebuild gasket kit for your earlier engine. The only thing you will probably not use will be the head gaskets. While you have it out I would go ahead and pull the pan, pull the waterpump, and pull the timing cover off. Put new gaskets and seals on everything, and check the timing chain. If it has the plastic gear get rid of it and put a metal cam gear and new chain on it.

You need to pay attention to the waterpump and the harmonic balancer. If you want a guarantee it will all work, use the stuff off your old engine. If you try to use any of the stuff off the newer engine, check the position of the timing pointers, the pulley setup and how the waterpump is driven. I have a feeling to make it fit properly in your truck you will need to use all the front brackets and pulleys off your older engine.

 

Thx a lot for the info , I plan on reusing most everything off my truck. I was wonder also how the speed density will react to the power and cam change?

 

I didn't know there was that much difference? The explorers didn't some radical race engine in them did they? I am going assume it has a nice mild setup like Ford has always put in most of their vehicles.

If someone knows different, chime in.

 

We'll I just hope it runs good, I am picking up the motor for 350$ it has 85,000 on it . The explore had a role over so it's totally junk . I can't wait to see the diff between the old 86 302 and the newer one. Hope i like it as much as I like the t18 instead of the crap t176 best thing I have done was to get rid of that junk!

 

Your speed density system will be just fine. The Explorer cam is a little beefier, but not enough that the computer will notice. Your main advantage with the Explorer cam is that it is a roller. All I can suggest really is just strip the H.O. intake off the Explorer engine, and bolt yours to it. May need to swap oil pans. And just as Franklin2 said, use all your old dressings, it'll be a loooooot easier. What I'm not sure of is if you'll need to swap the timing cover also.

On second thought, and make sure of this, the later Explorer 5.0's used GT40p heads, and your truck exhaust manifolds will not bolt to them. I'm thinking it was 1997 or 1998 when they switched from GT40 to GT40p heads. GT40's will accept your stock manifolds and are a very nice upgrade to the heads on your current 302. If I were you, I'd try to find a set of those before I slapped the truck heads back on it. Think I've covered everything, and make sure you use quality replacement seals on everything you take apart, real pain in the butt to do once the engine's back in the truck, might as well do it while it's still sitting right in front of ya.