When did 5.0L switch to roller?
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Penticton BC Canada
When did 5.0L switch to roller?
I have a 91 f150 4x4 with a 5.0L Thats getting tired and im just wondering if it would be roller or flat tappet?
I have a couple candidates to replace the engine with one is a late 70's 351w that i was going to put all the 5.8 efi stuff on that i have for it but would need a efi friendly cam.
The other is a fresh 302 shortblock bored .020 with flat top pistons again a non roller block.
can i swap a h.o cam in these blocks or do i need to stay flat tappet?
I have a couple candidates to replace the engine with one is a late 70's 351w that i was going to put all the 5.8 efi stuff on that i have for it but would need a efi friendly cam.
The other is a fresh 302 shortblock bored .020 with flat top pistons again a non roller block.
can i swap a h.o cam in these blocks or do i need to stay flat tappet?
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
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Check the firing order if its a roller it will have the same firing order as the HO....I belive you can put a HO cam in a flat tappet..Just have to change the firing order to the the HO...Switch wires on cap... E303 cam good performance up grade.... Im sure someone will chime in & confirm this ...
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Your '91 5.0 could have a roller cam in it, that was about when they started putting them in the truck motors, though it would be the base roller cam, the F4TE roller didn't start until '94. Even if it doesn't have a roller cam that block will be machined to accept the factory roller assembly, for the most part all 5.0 blocks after '87 (E7TE casting) will be roller ready.
You can put a HO cam into both of your early motors but you have to use the expensive link bar roller lifters($500), so this isn't really cost effective. If you use the stock roller lifters and spider assembly you have to use a small base circle cam... also known as a retrofit cam, your cam choices are very limited though. This also involves drilling and tapping holes in the lifter valley for the spider, something that should be done on a bare block before it's tanked and machined.
The 351 would be my choice here, with the Crane cam in my sig and you'll be pretty happy I think.
You can put a HO cam into both of your early motors but you have to use the expensive link bar roller lifters($500), so this isn't really cost effective. If you use the stock roller lifters and spider assembly you have to use a small base circle cam... also known as a retrofit cam, your cam choices are very limited though. This also involves drilling and tapping holes in the lifter valley for the spider, something that should be done on a bare block before it's tanked and machined.
The 351 would be my choice here, with the Crane cam in my sig and you'll be pretty happy I think.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Penticton BC Canada
Conanski, im assuming the cam in your sig is a flat tappet.................
I'll check the specs on their site.
How would it work in the 302 that i have?
The only reason i am still considering the 302 is that it is a fresh, never fired shortblock and my 351 is a used motor. The 351 was supposed to be a low milage rebuild, it does have tags attached tothe block but i opened it yesterday and the timing chain is pretty stretched and it doesnt look like it ever had an oil change.
Im going to pull the heads and a few rod and main caps today to see what it looks like.
I drive this truck pretty hard off road and its one of my daily drivers so reliability is something i need to consider.
I'll check the specs on their site.
How would it work in the 302 that i have?
The only reason i am still considering the 302 is that it is a fresh, never fired shortblock and my 351 is a used motor. The 351 was supposed to be a low milage rebuild, it does have tags attached tothe block but i opened it yesterday and the timing chain is pretty stretched and it doesnt look like it ever had an oil change.
Im going to pull the heads and a few rod and main caps today to see what it looks like.
I drive this truck pretty hard off road and its one of my daily drivers so reliability is something i need to consider.
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