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5.0 engine question

  • Thread starter Thread starter reddfox
  • Start date Start date Mar 19, 2007
R

reddfox

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Jan 1, 2007
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1
north georgia
Mar 19, 2007
#1
  • Mar 19, 2007
  • #1
I was given a motor from a 87 thunderbird is this an H.O motor? Are there any differences in this motor and the one in my 89 LX?
 
F

FastFord58

New Member
Sep 11, 2006
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Mar 19, 2007
#2
  • Mar 19, 2007
  • #2
What does it say on the plenum plate?
 

JChalfan

Member
Nov 27, 2002
551
0
16
Bellevue, WA
Mar 19, 2007
#3
  • Mar 19, 2007
  • #3
reddfox said:
I was given a motor from a 87 thunderbird is this an H.O motor? Are there any differences in this motor and the one in my 89 LX?
Click to expand...

Based on what I remember, and this page:

http://www.coolcats.net/tech/reference/specs.html

I believe your t-bird motor is a non-HO engine. I'm pretty sure that means it has crappy heads (not E7's), and I'm not sure those engines came with roller cams.

Someone here will know better...

Jeff
 
F

FastFord58

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Sep 11, 2006
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Mar 19, 2007
#4
  • Mar 19, 2007
  • #4
Being as the Super Coupes were the top of the line birds for power, and they were only putting out 190hp, I think the engine is a non-HO.
 

JChalfan

Member
Nov 27, 2002
551
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Bellevue, WA
Mar 19, 2007
#5
  • Mar 19, 2007
  • #5
FastFord58 said:
Being as the Super Coupes were the top of the line birds for power, and they were only putting out 190hp, I think the engine is a non-HO.
Click to expand...

Do you mean turbo coupes? The turbo coupes put out 190hp towards the end of their life, the super coupes had 210-230hp depending on the year.
 
R

reddfox

New Member
Jan 1, 2007
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north georgia
Mar 20, 2007
#6
  • Mar 20, 2007
  • #6
when i got the motor the intake was off. I have a set of e7 heads and an f-cam so if it is only the heads I can fix that.
 

JChalfan

Member
Nov 27, 2002
551
0
16
Bellevue, WA
Mar 20, 2007
#7
  • Mar 20, 2007
  • #7
If it's not a roller cam block, you can't easialy run a roller cam in it. I think there are retrofit kits, but I believe the non-roller blocks aren't tapped for the spiders that hold the roller lifters down.

Jeff
 

bullitstang1313

Member
Jan 21, 2003
713
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16
Indianapolis / Columbus, Indiana
Mar 20, 2007
#8
  • Mar 20, 2007
  • #8
If I remember correctly, the thunderbirds used a non-H.O engine but it is a roller block. The cam is different for these because of the different firing order. Also, as stated above, the heads are crappier than the E7's. I'm not sure if the internals are any different than the H.O's or not though. Do you plan on rebuilding or just throwing the cam and heads on it?
 
R

reddfox

New Member
Jan 1, 2007
19
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1
north georgia
Mar 21, 2007
#9
  • Mar 21, 2007
  • #9
I learned that it is not an H.O motor. Can I use the F cam and just change the firing order to an H.O or do I neeed a new cam. This is going to be a carb combo so no computer
 

bullitstang1313

Member
Jan 21, 2003
713
0
16
Indianapolis / Columbus, Indiana
Mar 21, 2007
#10
  • Mar 21, 2007
  • #10
Yes you can use the f-cam. You will want new hydraulic roller lifters as well as it is best to replace them when you add a new cam. You will probably want to run different heads though since the non-H.O. heads were more restrictive.
 

ninety15.0

New Member
Mar 10, 2004
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Mar 21, 2007
#11
  • Mar 21, 2007
  • #11
Do a little searching around on this forum...i feel like i have seena thread much like this a little while ago. A guy put a carb on a non-HO motor. Even if its non-HO i think its still a roller motor. I think there is a kit out there including the proper valvetrain components.
 
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