H.o vs. non H.o

Darrin

New Member
May 4, 2003
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Cocoa, Florida
OK..The '88 finally grenaded. I needed a new motor but for now I can get a 1989 Towncar engine for 100.00. It only has 98,000 miles. My question is I* know it isn't a H.O engine but, after swaping the parts will it work in my Mustang since it has a different firing order? I am only going to swap the necessary things but, I need to know if I need to switch the cam and distributor also. Thanks :shrug:
 
'88 and '89 Town Cars had the exact same motor, FWIW.

As long as your E7 heads and valves and such are all in good shape, you should be able to bolt up your H.O. parts onto the 'Stang just fine. Be aware, however, that the lo-po 5.0 motors found in Panther car (Town Car, Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis) and the Fox T-Birds/Cougars don't have the same pistons as the H.O. motors, so your compression ratio will be different. The firing order between the H.O. and non-H.O motors are also different because of the different cams used, and the lo-po motors use a lower-rate injector (I think 14# injectors instead of 19#).

Basically, the only thing you'll really want to use from the Town Car might be the short block assembly, as you'll want to swap over the heads, cam, intake, injectors, and such onto the Town Car motor. When switching the cam, if you do decide to upgrade, or if you're planning to do so later, again be aware of the fact that the lo-po pistons don't have the same valve reliefs, so piston-to-valve clearance might be an issue if you go with too aggressive of a cam, or any other valvetrain mods that would give you more lift than you can safely clear.
 
Thanx for the info. Btw.....Do you know what cam will work with the speed density system until I can get it converted. Nothing to wild because I'm leaving the stock heads on. I will be building an engine this winter so this is for now.
 
I know you said you can get the engine for $100 but i've seen Explorer engines for a little as $300...and you'd get an HO block with pretty decent heads and save yourself a lot of work in the long run, not to mention end up with more hp/tq.
 
Thanx for the info. Btw.....Do you know what cam will work with the speed density system until I can get it converted. Nothing to wild because I'm leaving the stock heads on. I will be building an engine this winter so this is for now.
I'd just run the stock Mustang cam...

No point dumping money into a temporary motor.

Just my opinion on it though :shrug:
jason
 
True. Will the 97 explorer 5.0 cam work as a stock replacement?



I believe it's a bit more tame than the Mustang versions, but i've never used one so i can't be sure.


What i do know is that it's really easy to build a 12 second Explorer engine for dirt cheap....even with a stock cam you should be in the low 13s for dirt cheap. Then if it still ends up being a temporary engine you could sell it or part it out (GT40P heads go for a good $200-250 around here) and make your money back.
 
I'm wanting to say that the Explorer cam is closer to the Thunderbird cam which sucks ass....i know the valve springs on the P heads are extremely weak, so it can't be much lift and the stock Mustang cams are about .444 lift, so i'd look for a stock HO Mustang cam before i'd use the stock Explorer cam.
 
I'll keep an eye out. Thanx. Next I'll need a list of crap needed for the swap to mass air. I already have the a9p computer from my '92 that got t-boned. never thought I'd buy a speed den. car.....oh well someone got a list for me?
 
If you are going to run the stock heads...there is no reason to get a different cam. Just toss the stock HO cam back in the car. It's actually a really nice cam for a stock headed 5.0. DO NOT put the explorer cam in there...you will be disappointed...its made for a truck not a sports car.

Swap your whole top end onto the towncar shortblock and call it a day. Should do well for you!
 
Problem is the oil pump failed at 90 m.p.h. NO warning...KABOOM SO>>>>>no parts to transfer. Cam is welded to the block lol. Heads.....Not going to tempt it. I just need the cam for the firing order.... I guess I'll hit Lamotta Performance this weekend and pick up a stock cam from him. He has a shelf full of them.
 
You can't at least pull the heads to see what damage (if any) has been done to them? :shrug: Just me, but I wouldn't go throwing an E6-headed motor into a 'Stang when there's a set of E7's sitting right there that could be used.
 
I agree...why do you think the heads are damaged or not worth your time. The E7's are a better head than whats on the towncar motor. Stock cams are everywhere...you should be able to pick one up for pretty cheap. And you can find the firing order anywhere...in fact:

HO firing order: 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
 
Explorer cam sux, and I am willing to bet that with new valves and springs your heads will be good as new. if not a new set of "slightly used" e7's can be found on many f-150s out in the JY