I am currently looking to rebuild my 1988 5.0 out of a truck. It is non roller and I want to put a roller cam in it. I just want to make sure that my block is compatable. Also I understand that all I need to buy is a roller cam retro kit to make this work. Is this right?

 

This is how I understand it from information I have been able to piece together from various sources. 302 blocks after a certain year are all cast for use with roller cams tho they may not be equipped with such. I am not sure what the magical year is but I think it is mid 80's. Maybe someone else here knows for sure. The blocks that are cast for use with roller cams have a taller bore for the lifter to sit in, and a provision for bolting in the spider for the lifter bars. In a non roller block a smaller base circle cam is required. This in effect drops the lifter in it's bore so it looks and operates the same as the factory block with the taller lifter bore. Some drilling and/or tapping may be required to mount the spider for the hold down tabs in a non roller block. What it boils down to the only real difference in parts required is the smaller base circle cam as the other parts used are the same as the factory setup for the roller cams. That being said, does anyone know what the year was for 351W all being cast for the rollers? I have a 90 from a F-150 that was not roller cam. I rebuilt it but did not know at the time what to look for to find out if it was a roller block. Any help?
DannyP

 

The magic year for the 302 blocks, as I understand it, was 1985. Ford Racing's SVO / Performance Parts catalog lists the conversion kit, but if your 302 is getting tired, consider this...... a number of the aftermarket auto parts discounters carry remanufactured engines from various sources - Recon, Marshall, etc. - and - a number of them list a 5.0 HO alongside the stock 302 as an option. Where it wasn't really an option from Ford, they've figured out that since a number of the later truck 302's came with a roller cam, anyway, ('94 - on, I believe?), they may as well list the option for owners of '85 - on trucks, as well. I've priced both, and the difference in price doesn't make up for what it would cost you to purchase all the parts to convert a hydraulic, flat-tappet 302 valvetrain to a roller. Just a thought, as you may be better off getting a 302 HO from a quality remanufacturing company and using your engine as a core. On the roller 351W question, for some reason I'm thinking that the '94 - on 351W blocks were cast to accept the roller cam, but don't quote me on that.

 

>The magic year for the 302 blocks, as I understand it, was
>1985. Ford Racing's SVO / Performance Parts catalog lists
>the conversion kit, but if your 302 is getting tired,
>consider this...... a number of the aftermarket auto parts
>discounters carry remanufactured engines from various
>sources - Recon, Marshall, etc. - and - a number of them
>list a 5.0 HO alongside the stock 302 as an option. Where it
>wasn't really an option from Ford, they've figured out that
>since a number of the later truck 302's came with a roller
>cam, anyway, ('94 - on, I believe?), they may as well list
>the option for owners of '85 - on trucks, as well. I've
>priced both, and the difference in price doesn't make up for
>what it would cost you to purchase all the parts to convert
>a hydraulic, flat-tappet 302 valvetrain to a roller. Just a
>thought, as you may be better off getting a 302 HO from a
>quality remanufacturing company and using your engine as a
>core. On the roller 351W question, for some reason I'm
>thinking that the '94 - on 351W blocks were cast to accept
>the roller cam, but don't quote me on that.




I agree with everything that you say. I did an '83 block and did a retro to roller. In hindsight I would have been way ahead just getting a roller block. The small base circle cam was custom ground for me though and was matched to my head's flow rate.


The original poster does have an '88 truck block, however. And I believe the question is if it has the roller lifter bores. If it does and the off the shelf roller cams fit, the only thing he'd have to find is the retainer(spider). If he has to do a retrofit, I agree not to do it with this block.

 

The best price that I could find for a roller 5.0 HO was 1300.00 for a long block. The reason I am considering rebuilding it my self is that I want to put on a pair of gt40 heads. I don't know of any quality remanufacturers that build a strong short block roller. If anyone knows someone that builds a strong 5.0 HO roller shortblock for under 800-900 dollars then let me know.....

Or if you guys know someone that builds a roller 5.0 ho with the GT40 heads for under 1800.00..... Otherwise I think that I am better off doing the rebuild myself and I can pick the quality of parts....

Thoughts?

 

>The best price that I could find for a roller 5.0 HO was
>1300.00 for a long block. The reason I am considering
>rebuilding it my self is that I want to put on a pair of
>gt40 heads. I don't know of any quality remanufacturers
>that build a strong short block roller. If anyone knows
>someone that builds a strong 5.0 HO roller shortblock for
>under 800-900 dollars then let me know.....
>
>Or if you guys know someone that builds a roller 5.0 ho with
>the GT40 heads for under 1800.00..... Otherwise I think
>that I am better off doing the rebuild myself and I can pick
>the quality of parts....
>
>Thoughts?



Call Central Coast Mustang @661-823-2400

 

PAW has new roller HO blocks for $1345 and $900. The $900 blocks are the same thing as the more expensive one, but they have a flaw which PAW claims can be fixed by using silicone on the intake end seals. Try www.pawengineparts.com for more info.
The part number is FOR-M-6009-B51

Stryder

:-X11

 

PAW's prices (above) on the shortblocks along with this advertised price on GT40P heads may put you in the ballpark: www.perogie.com/50Mustang.htm. I've been searching for GT40 heads to do either a 347 stroker or 351W buildup, preferably a roller motor. While I like the idea of the GT40's not needing special headers to clear the angled spark plugs of the Explorer's GT40P's, it is reported that the GT40P's flow better (reference www.dayton50perf.com). I know that the headers for GT40P's are made by several vendors, and given their favorable flow characteristics and the $495.00 complete / per pair price, they may be worth considering as a purchase to bolt-on to PAW's short block.

 

Ok, First I want to thank you STRYDER.... I got all excited and sweaty over your comment on the $900 dollar block from PAW. Well I called and it is no longer existent.... And the other block goes for $1390 now.. (Just kidding thank you for your post though).

Does anyone know where to find new cast iron gt40 heads (not the P's). I already have $$$ invested in hedders and I don't want to buy new ones for the P's...

 

Ohhh, And pacific coast mustang is $1299.00 for a roller shortblock with hyper pistons.. He informed me that everything is high quality, new ford parts except for the block..

 

brett_d:

Just for kicks, you may try your local NAPA. I know that some of the Mustang Cobras came with the GT40 heads...... although they may have been aluminum. Anyway, since they were on a production vehicle, some of the suppliers to the aftermarket engine market may provide remanufactured examples - just a thought. I understand your reasoning on the GT40's versus the GT40P's. For the heck of it, though, I'll mention this....... Central Coast Mustang (661-823-2400......don't know if they have a website) is advertising a 302 GT40P Long Block, roller cam (your choice of B303 or E303), with cast iron GT40P heads for $1895. It looks like the production availability of the GT40P's is making them a lot easier to come across. Good luck with your engine build!

 

>brett_d:
>
>Just for kicks, you may try your local NAPA. I know that
>some of the Mustang Cobras came with the GT40 heads......
>although they may have been aluminum. Anyway, since they
>were on a production vehicle, some of the suppliers to the
>aftermarket engine market may provide remanufactured
>examples - just a thought. I understand your reasoning on
>the GT40's versus the GT40P's. For the heck of it, though,
>I'll mention this....... Central Coast Mustang
>(661-823-2400......don't know if they have a website) is
>advertising a 302 GT40P Long Block, roller cam (your choice
>of B303 or E303), with cast iron GT40P heads for $1895. It
>looks like the production availability of the GT40P's is
>making them a lot easier to come across. Good luck with your
>engine build!


The '93-'95 Cobra motors did use Gt-40 heads and they were iron. Same with the 1st generation Lightning heads.

I actually ran a set of GT-40P heads on a '95 Mustang before it was vogue and DID NOT HAVE TO USE P HEADERS!!! I did have to make a very simple tool to install the center plugs and used boot protectors for the wires. All in all no big deal and it will allow you to use the headers for a GT40 head.

Let me know if interested.