1997 Explorer 5.0 into 1988 GT foxbody?

Tomtom9401 · Oct 24, 2008

Hey guys my friend is putting a 1997 explorer motor with the gt-40p heads into his 88 mustang and im helping him a little bit and we had some questions. What is different about the 5.0 in the explorer and the mustang as far as like the heads,intake ect...? Wondering like when im looking at the jegs magazine at the 5.0 mustang section how will i know if it will work on this 5.0? For example he is thinking of taking to AC off, will the AC eliminator for the mustangs in the summit catalog work? and maybe getting an underdrive pulley set. It should bolt right up to the transmission that was in the mustang before right? Also is the EGR something i need to put on the new intake? Can i just forget about it all together? Im not worryed about passing emissions. He is getting the heads machined and new rockers and soon to get the f303 cam and headers. Does this sound good? How much hp do you think we will be getting to the ground? Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks.

85ragtop · Oct 24, 2008

This falls under 5.0 tech.
Thread moved.

Mr. Rustypwnz · Oct 24, 2008

you will have to swap the front dress (timing cover and accesories) and put better springs on the heads like the tfs set, and the fcam would work well with that, yes the a/c eliminator will work fine.

use the search button dude...

myslo50 · Oct 25, 2008

i just put a 96 explorer motor in mine this past winter.......... blocks are the same. everything externaly will fit in the long block. u will need a oil filter adapter for the oil filter, i got one from ford off a 3.8 mustang. spark plugs, u will need to buy ones for a 97 explorer 5.0. swap pick up tube from the mustang to the explorer. now would be a good time to repalce the oil pump. depends on what part of the year the motor was made u might need new headers if there p heads. 3 vertical bars on front of the heads are gt 40 irons, 4 vertical bars are the p heads. everything else should be self explanitory.

Tomtom9401 · Oct 25, 2008

So what will we have to do as far as the computer part? Will all the sensors plug right up to the new explorer motor? The motor didnt come with the ECM i dont think. Will the mustang computer work? I think he is gonna take it to get it tuned some where.

myslo50 · Oct 25, 2008

all the sensors from the 88 need to go on the explorer motor. as long as u use your existing sensors u can use the mustang computer. the explorer cam has to go cause its not a 5.0 ho firing order cam. make sure that the 88 has mass air conversion done if running aftermarket cam, cause the car wont run right. be sure u buy a valve spring kit for the cam, i bought the trick flow kit.

Bay_Stang · Oct 26, 2008

you guyz should know that hp and torque specs for the explorer engine arnt better than the mustang engine they actually only made like 180 or 190 hp. and had lower compression than the 5.0 h.o. juss swap the heads and intake thats where your going to get an actual power increase.

myslo50 · Oct 26, 2008

96 explorer 5.0........210hp 280tq 9.1 compression stock

180-190 at the wheels with 5 speed which is about the same as a mustang 5.0

i can get every spec of the explorer motor down to the bearing tollerances if u would like

93 LX · Oct 26, 2008

The explorer is a HO 5.0L engine which is the same as the Mustang HO and all other HO engines. The fireing order is the same. See this site, post 24.
1981 302 firing order? - FSB Forums

5.0W/5.0 · Apr 12, 2010

Brought this back guys....

Since my oil pump went out and I know I will need to at least rebuild, I am thinking of just getting a gt40 engine. It would be a lot less expensive to do this.... I will be staying with speed density for now, so, would the tf spring kit and a stage one cam be a good plan? what kind of power would I be looking at?

Thanks.

stykthyn · Apr 12, 2010

If you are staying with SD skip the cam. Find a good spring kit for the heads like mentioned before. swap all sensors, brackets, distributor, and accessories over from your old engine.
The explorer motor is exactly the same as the mustang 5.0 HO from 93-95. The only difference is the the OBDII system and the DIS(coil packs). If you have a manual dont forget the pilot bearing for the crank.

5.0W/5.0 · Apr 12, 2010

stykthyn said:
If you are staying with SD skip the cam. Find a good spring kit for the heads like mentioned before. swap all sensors, brackets, distributor, and accessories over from your old engine.
The explorer motor is exactly the same as the mustang 5.0 HO from 93-95. The only difference is the the OBDII system and the DIS(coil packs). If you have a manual dont forget the pilot bearing for the crank.

Thanks. That was one of my concerns...Was hoping they were not balenced by the flywheel. I have heard that mild cams do well with SD. Many people praise it on here.

I was going to do springs, new oil pump, gasket kit and the like. Can I use the coil packs on the engine? I know it would have better spark up top as the coil wont get as soaked.

stykthyn · Apr 12, 2010

not without switching to the explorer OBDII or a stand alone management system. The stock mustang cam is a very good grind, switching to a mild cam will yield minimal gains so the money is best spent elsewhere. Swap out the exploder cam for an 86-88 cam. They had a slightly more aggressive profile.

garistang · Apr 12, 2010

quick question. I have an 88 gt with the california maf will that work with the tfs stage one cam, or will I need to do a conversion? thanks!!

stykthyn · Apr 12, 2010

the maf is still the same, it was offered a year earlier in california models. The TFS will work fine.

phantomxdino · Apr 12, 2010

myslo50 said:
i just put a 96 explorer motor in mine this past winter.......... blocks are the same. everything externaly will fit in the long block. u will need a oil filter adapter for the oil filter, i got one from ford off a 3.8 mustang. spark plugs, u will need to buy ones for a 97 explorer 5.0. swap pick up tube from the mustang to the explorer. now would be a good time to repalce the oil pump. depends on what part of the year the motor was made u might need new headers if there p heads. 3 vertical bars on front of the heads are gt 40 irons, 4 vertical bars are the p heads. everything else should be self explanitory.

Im doing the same swap but im using my old heads. can i use the cam from the explorer with my old heads and the pushrods from the explorer? Is the cam any diffrent in the explorer? Also where did u find the adapter for the oil filter these few things are all i got left to figure out to get this swap done and drive my car again. thanks

stykthyn · Apr 13, 2010

the explorer cam is a truck cam. unless you want your car to run like a truck leave the explorer cam out. You can run E7 heads on the explorer block. Dont know why you would want to unless it came without the heads. You can get the threaded insert for the oil filter from the dealer for like 5.00 or you can scrounge one from the JY.

phantomxdino · Apr 13, 2010

stykthyn said:
the explorer cam is a truck cam. unless you want your car to run like a truck leave the explorer cam out. You can run E7 heads on the explorer block. Dont know why you would want to unless it came without the heads. You can get the threaded insert for the oil filter from the dealer for like 5.00 or you can scrounge one from the JY.

ya it came with heads just cant afford the p headers right now. For the insert is there any specific year to have them look up? and its out of a 3.8L mustang?

stykthyn · Apr 14, 2010

I believe the part is the same for 6 and 8 bangers

1997 Explorer 5.0 into 1988 GT foxbody?

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