Engine question from a noob

[CoryB]

I am brand new to the world of Mustangs, and in fact, Ford in general. I once owned a Ranger pickup but never did anything at all to it.

But now I've purchased a 1989 Mustang GT with the hope of building a nice car out of it. It's a 5.0/5-speed combo but the engine was replaced at some point. So I'm trying to figure out if it's an HO or if they just transferred the top intake plate.

I have charts of casting numbers for the block and heads but I haven't found anywhere to tell me where, exactly, I should find these numbers.

So, in advance of that, I have a few questions. I've searched and found a wealth of information here but nothing as simple as what I need.

First off, the sparkplugs enter the head at an angle. Is that any indication of which engine may be? I know the later Explorer GT40P heads do that but there's so much stuff (A/C, alternator, wiring, etc) that I can't see any casting numbers there either.

I've enclosed a picture of the drivers side head and an overall engine bay shot. If anyone can help me identify what I have I would greatly appreciate it.

TIA

 

[lang williams]

I think the gtp enter straighter thats why header clearance is an issue for spark plug wire. look at the front of the heads, if they have vertical "bars" running down they are gt40 or gtp depending on the number of bars. look for E7 on them (i dont remember where to look) an if it has those chances are its from an 87 - 93 mustang.

 

[WHT306]

pull your valve cover and look for E7TE if it has that they are stock heads

 

[1987stangman]

pull your valve cover and look for E7TE if it has that they are stock heads

The E7TE stamp is on the bottom of the head.

 

[ID89GT]

Why not just pull the spark plug and see what the firing order is that way. I don't remember the order but I know that is a way to tell if its an HO or not.

 

[Brian@PAR]

1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 for the 5.0 HO and 351.
1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 for non HO 5.0/302

It is doubtful that you have a non HO motor for several reasons. The main one being it's sequential fuel injection and the injector timing would be way off if it had a non ho motor.

The casting numbers for the heads are only visible with the intake removed. The block casting number is down by the starter. Neither of which you will be able to see without some dissassembly.

I would guess you have a regular old E7 headed 5.0 HO.

 

[betke76]

you would feel what seems to be a slight engine misfire at idle like brian @P.A.R says plus the cam is different to go with the non HO firing order and computer different also

 

[WHT306]

The E7TE stamp is on the bottom of the head.

THATS RIGHT MY MISTAKE.
ITS BEEN AWHILE SINCE HEADS HAVE BEEN OFF

 

[CoryB]

Thanks for the info. It seems to run okay which I guess tells me that it's an HO.