1987 5.0 upgrade

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Mar 5, 2021 | 12:24 AM

Thedonz4x4

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5th Wheeling

Joined: Mar 2021

Posts: 47

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1987 5.0 upgrade

I am going to have to pull the engine in the 1987 F-150 5,0 I just purchased due to serious overheating and a grinding flywheel/starter. If the bottom end looks good, I am considering whether it is worthwhile doing performance upgrades.

I am looking for suggestions as to what bolt-on/software performance upgrades are available and worthwhile to get a little more power from the engine. I am trying to avoid redoing the bottom end. I have some experience with Chevy small blocks and big blocks but not much with Ford engines. Also, I am probably going to have to work on the exhaust as well as at least one of the exhaust manifolds is cracked.

Thanks

Frank

Mar 5, 2021 | 08:50 AM

Conanski

FTE Legend

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 31,930

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From: Ottawa, Ontario

A cam and exhaust will really wake it up and not require any computer changes as long as the cam isn't too radical, these computers are not natively tunable so there are limits to what is possible. That motor will have a flat tappet cam but the block should be roller ready meaning the factory roller lifters and retainer assembly(spider) will drip right in, these parts can be salvaged from a later roller 5.0. Cams that would work and be a significant upgrade are the comp cams 31-255-5(old firing order) or 35-255-5(HO firing order) or in a roller cam the comp 35-512-8. If you want to make a bit more topend HP options would include the Crane 444232 or the Comp 35-349-8, this softens low rpm output though.