I recently purchased a 95 F-150 Ext. Cab 4x4 with a 302. At 175,000 miles, the 5.0L has had it. I am looking to install a boneyard motor, but am confused about what year and what application I should be looking for. I realize that my 302 has a roller cam and I wish to keep a roller cam in this truck. I know that the roller cam will swap into newer 302, but what is the cutoff year? Should I be looking for a Crown-Vic motor and swap my intake and accessories? Please help! I bought this truck very cheap and I want to keep it that way. Thanks.

 

>I recently purchased a 95 F-150
>Ext. Cab 4x4 with a
>302. At 175,000 miles,
>the 5.0L has had it.
> I am looking to
>install a boneyard motor, but
>am confused about what year
>and what application I should
>be looking for. I
>realize that my 302 has
>a roller cam and I
>wish to keep a roller
>cam in this truck.
>I know that the roller
>cam will swap into newer
>302, but what is the
>cutoff year?

I'm not exactly sure, but I think 1985 was the first year. Ford still produces the 302 for the explorer. This is it's last year.

Should I
>be looking for a Crown-Vic
>motor and swap my intake
>and accessories? Please help!
> I bought this truck
>very cheap and I want
>to keep it that way.
>Thanks.


The cheapest thing to do is to have your 302 rebuilt. Or buy a rebuilt. I've found several 302's that are complete with computer and everything from a 1996 F-150 for $750. Had around 50k then.

 

Unless a roller cammed engine from a Mustang was previously transplanted into your truck you'll find that you have a non-roller hydraulic cam. The best thing to do if your funds warrant it is to get a 5.0 crate engine. Usually you'll get a warrantee with it and it's a heck of alot cheaper than a quality rebuild. Plus, now you'll get the roller cam. I wouldn't put a boneyard engine in anything without having it torn down first. I know someone (co-worker) who had an accident in his '94 F150. He had moderate damage to the front, he slid into a pole. Since he was alone at the time and no one was around he thought since he had over 100,000 miles on the truck he'd jam the gas pedal to the floor (out of gear) and try to blow the motor in hopes of insurance paying for a new one. Well someone came along within a few minutes and since he was not trapped or hurt he had to let up on the gas. After a while quite a few people stopped to help. He never blew the motor but shortly after getting the truck back from the body shop he started having troubles with the engine, smoking, knocking and overheating. Apparently he did some damage to the motor in his moment of greed and it bit him in the a$$. Serves him right. The reason I mention this is depending on how the insurance settled, this truck could have gone to the boneyard and with out visible damage. Someone (you) could have bought this engine in hopes of putting it straight into your truck. Imagine how you would have felt buying this junk engine and installing it with out a tear down to at least check things? Oh yeah, my fellow co-worker never got the engine fixed, he traded it in on a new F150. So now some poor sap is stuck with this truck. Just when you think a crook got his, he finds a way to get away with something else! Buy a crate or a quality rebuilt engine and have some peace of mind.
Doug

1966 Fairlane 500 428 2-4v MR 4/spd
1995 F-150 4x4 5.0 5/spd