Sooo, 93 5.8 ZF5 supercab long bed. I like it. It took a while to find it.
But: Tired 5.8. Pretty tired 5.8. Lots of minor rusty emissions pipes, lower compression. Blowby for days.
Tuneup parts and fixing the usual problems helped some, but it's still a tired 351W.

Goal: a reliable truck with enough power to haul a camper (a ton) and tow a race car (a ton and a half) while not murdering itself or the driver.
The current brakes are up to the task, with good pads. The trailer has brakes. The engine... well, it's tired.

These days, a longblock from someone reputable is significant money. As in, pretty darned significant money, and then it's
still just a 1993 351W with not a lot of hp and average torque. Plus, getting all the stock ancillaries that'd need refreshing or replacement.

A stroker, $1200ish, built out of a roller core ($750) and low- end aluminum heads ($750) with a cam (cheap) exhaust (not as cheap) and an ECU ($1k and up) plus machining ($1kish)
would be nice. Same ballpark $$$ as what the above longblock would cost, but a lot more work, tuning, and incidentals for significantly more hp and some more torque.
But also a one- off that I'll be on my own to maintain and fix. Not the end of the world, but I need more projects like my dog needs more fleas.

Or: is there something more modern?
Frustratingly, the 10 cylinder modulars are not well thought- of, because when they work, they do seem like nice engines.
But every V10 I look at seems to have its own can of worms.
I've been browsing for a donor, and haven't found much.
Is there a good version of the V10?

8 cylinder modular is... small. And not bulletproof.
I really don't want a diesel. Nothing else I have is diesel, and my name is not Bro.
Diesels are fine- at work. I'd like to leave them there.

An LS swap seems like heresy for a Ford.
A turbo'ed 300 seems like self- flagellation...

Am I missing a quality, high- torque Ford gas engine that's not an EcoSploder?

Am I missing other threads that answer this question concisely?

thanks for listening to my story.

t

 

Nice story. I'm not much help because I see too many issues with all makes of the modern engine line up, there is good reason they all have issues. Even 93 is pretty modern as that is around the time every manufacture took a nose dive into the toilet, and sounded like a canary,
you know cheap cheap. Its always been a cost cutting game but has progressively got worse as the years go by.
I suppose you are also looking for economy?

 

You know, as long as it's not a 460, fuel economy isn't a huge deal. I use the truck infrequently enough that
a few mpg isn't worth crying about. Economy was one of the initial attractions of the V10, but...

If I'd originally found a truck with a 460 in it, I'd probably just re- ring it and buy stock in Shell...

I have a sneaking suspicion I'm just going to stroke a 351 and call it good.
t

 

Buy a superduty with a 2 valve v10 and drive it. If you are dead set on using your current truck then buy a parts truck with a 460 then enjoy 5-6 mpgs with a camper and a trailer.

 

Since you have a manual transmission stroking the 351 would be the simplest. While not cheap it would surely help with the pulling power. Look into the stroked short block kits that way the rotating mass is properly balanced.

 

The current trend of stuffing the latest iteration of a chevie belly button into a Ford makes me want to weld shut the hood of every classic blue oval I cross paths with.

Yeah they're fabulous... whatever.

Damn the aftermarket for blowing us off after the Foxbody & 5.0 saved it in the 80s'

Get a roller 5.8, stroke it, blow it.

 

If you're looking for a modern engine look into a 5.0 coyote swap. I've never done an engine swap to a truck so I'm not sure what it takes but if people have swapped that engine into older vehicles (which they have) it can't be that hard. Another one which would be beefier than a 5.0 would be a 6.2. Both these engines seem to have a pretty good reputation, but I can't say the same about the modulars. That or maybe BUILD a 5.8 for it. Knew a guy way back in the day who swapped a bored out 5.0 (was like 348 cubic inches or something) from a Thunderbird into an 89 F150 after the 5.8 blew and that thing was a monster. Whatever you decide this shall be interesting to watch. Count me in!

 

4BT Cummins, Easy to get 250 hp and 500 fl lbs if torque out of and over 20 MPG. Cheaper than the other options you mentioned as well, and they will last forever.

 

Plenty of 5.4 2V in the yards, intake/tune/catback and motor on. Power will be better all over than your 351W was stock.

6.8 is a 2V plus two cylinders. Most have 'issues' as no one takes care of them, plus they are in work trucks or vans.

 

It would be cheaper to buy the gas for a big block than any of the options you describe even if you drove it every day.

 

Bone stock 351, turbo, intercooler, injectors and pimpx and be done. Basically the same mpg unloaded and double the power if you run 14 psi.

 

Having owned Ford trucks for the last 50 years and having most set up for serious towing and hauling I can say that the 460 is a robust engine and delivers good power and torque if set up correctly with 5 speeds, at least 4.10's and a properly timed camshaft, stock cams were retarded for emissions in 87 and on. Have owned 4 V10's, 3 were with ZF6 and one 4R100 in an Excursion. All were 2V engines, one was a 275HP version in a F350 DRW 4WD truck. Bought it new in 99 with a ZF5 and later swapped in a ZF6 for a 100% improvement. Ran 4.30 gears in all my V10's as the V10 has a torque band that works well if allowed to rev. My 04 F350 SRW 4WD had a factory ZF6 and 4.30 axles, hauled a 3800# camper and pulled a 3 axle boat trailer with my 11k boat on it. All the V10 2V I owned never let me down and had way more torque then either of my 460's had. My 04 truck had the complete Banks header kit complete with engine chip. Was a vast improvement for towing. The 5.8 is a solid engine and are will provide good service. Stroking one could be what you need but I'm not of that camp, I see issues with cooling, structural strength and tuning issues. Air fuel mixtures need to be near perfect to avoid melt down when working an engine tear 100% power. I once built a 513 Caddy engine for a 87 GMC Sububan.to tow a 9k travel trailer. Ran a T400 trans and US Gear 2 speed OD aux gearbox with 4.56's. Was great tow rig except it never saw over 8 mpg towing. In your case I would install a ZF6 and 2V 310hp V10 and either 4.30 or 4.56 axles. If Banks still makes their V10 headers use them.

 

That is the best line in the story.. LOL.

A stock '93 5.8 is only producing a fraction of it's full potential, you can easily eclipse the HP and TQ of most of the modular engines mentioned without having to deal with integrating the modern control and hardware necessary to make those things work in an old truck. I say build a 5.8 for it, you could stroke it but even without that you can have 300hp and 400tq without trying very hard.

 

I'd stick with the 5.8 but,..........

If you must go with a modern engine, I'd suggest a 5.0 Coyote with the 6R80 transmission.

 

The 5.8 is a great engine and easy to work on. An engine swap is in reality never going to be a cost effective option, even long term vs rebuilding/stroking your current engine.

I know you don't like diesels but the 7.3 was one of the best engines made and they fit these trucks, generally get better mpg, and will tow your items without issue. But you would have to change your name, or at least your outlook.