5.0 302 help
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,785
Likes: 1,751
From: Kentucky
Is there something wrong with the current block? There is nothing inherently wrong with the one that is currently in there now, it will probably support ~400HP perhaps a little more. Assuming it has not been bored before it would be a good starting point..it already supports a roller cam....
Of course if you have deep pockets you could pop for a FRPP Boss 302 block: FORD RACING BOSS 302 BIG BORE CYLINDER BLOCK -- M-6010-B302BB
What are your HP/TQ goals and how much money are you planning to spend?
Of course if you have deep pockets you could pop for a FRPP Boss 302 block: FORD RACING BOSS 302 BIG BORE CYLINDER BLOCK -- M-6010-B302BB
What are your HP/TQ goals and how much money are you planning to spend?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,785
Likes: 1,751
From: Kentucky
You will be sorely disappointed if you put it on a dyno in stock form. Keep the factory airbox and intake, both are some of the best in the business. Some use the snorkel from the 4.9L/7.5L trucks to bring fresh air into the airbox from behind the grille. The 5.0/5.8L trucks suffer from the goofy setup that draws in air from a tiny slit between the radiator support and hood.
From there you can bump the base timing from 10 to 12/14, whatever your combination can stand before pinging. This part of the sixlitre tuneup (fresh copper plugs, Ford Racing wires, MSD cap/rotor/coil, timing bump). After that the mods start getting more involved and expensive.
Next on the list is long tube headers, high flow converter then finish with a muffler of your choice. Assuming your truck has a roller cam, I forgot what year the 5.0L engines got them, then a set of 1.7 ratio roller rockers will add some power. I think the '94 and later engines got a slightly better cam.....
Beyond that you will need some better heads....and cash$$
From there you can bump the base timing from 10 to 12/14, whatever your combination can stand before pinging. This part of the sixlitre tuneup (fresh copper plugs, Ford Racing wires, MSD cap/rotor/coil, timing bump). After that the mods start getting more involved and expensive.
Next on the list is long tube headers, high flow converter then finish with a muffler of your choice. Assuming your truck has a roller cam, I forgot what year the 5.0L engines got them, then a set of 1.7 ratio roller rockers will add some power. I think the '94 and later engines got a slightly better cam.....
Beyond that you will need some better heads....and cash$$
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: The Golden State
I highly suggest you set goals for budget and performance. Also consider the rest of your drivetrain. I'm pretty sure an E4OD can handle 400-plus horsepower, but I'm not sure the M5OD can do the same. rla2005 gave some good suggestions, although there's no way my truck would pass emissions with a set of long-tube headers. As long as your engine hasn't been beaten to death, it should be a good platform to build up.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 148
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rla2005 is on point but I opted for a throttle body spacer and a custom cold air intake with a shroud that sat behind the driver head light u just have to relocate the overflow/washer tank. O and loose the fan and go electric anything u can do to lighten the load on the motor. I did all that with the ignition upgrades that rla2005 listed at the same time and wow what a diffrence in the responce of the throttle.
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Fleet Owner
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Junior User
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you also need to take into consideration if its SD or MAF. i beleive yours is SD and would be worth the investment to do a MAF conversion. you kinds limited to what SD can do with a stock tune as MAF can be much more forgiving. Id suggest .030 over bore with kb115 pistons a decent set of small valve heads (ARF 165, Edelbrock performers, GT40s) stick with the stock intake some 1 1/2" primary long tube headers and 1.7 roller rockers. after that throw some gears in it (4.10) and go 
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