Non H.O. 302's forged?

my9302002 · Feb 15, 2009

Have a chance to buy a 302 short block from an 87 LX. From my research here it should be :
Roller block, just not a roller cam. Easy to convert to roller BUT
Do they still have the forged pistons like the H.O.?
Thanks,
Andrew

93 LX · Feb 15, 2009

if its from a mustang then it is a HO motor.......

my9302002 · Feb 15, 2009

Even a plain jane LX had the HO roller motor with forged pistons? Are the cams the same,also?
Thanks

93 LX · Feb 15, 2009

unless its a 93 like mine. Hyper pistons in my 5.0 HO....

NIKwoaC · Feb 15, 2009

Every 5.0 Mustang after 1982 was, in fact, an HO, regardless of being a GT or LX. However, it was only the '85-'92 models that had forged aluminum pistons.

I'm confused when you say:

Roller block, just not a roller cam. Easy to convert to roller BUT

...Because it doesn't really make sense. The engine you are talking about has a hydraulic roller valvetrain, so I don't know what you'd be converting. All HO motors after '85 had a hydraulic roller setup.

my9302002 · Feb 15, 2009

From the forums I've read that ford did use regular flat tappet hydraulic cams in roller blocks...these could be found in the std passenger lincoln's, marquis....

I wanted to know if Ford did this with the LX version of the Mustang also.

IOW, is every mustang 302 from 86-95 a HO regardless of which Mustang trim it appeared in?

KamiKaziDK · Feb 15, 2009

It should be hydraulic roller unless someone swapped it for some strange reason

my9302002 · Feb 15, 2009

Gonna restate and maybe clear up what I'm getting at:

Are all Mustang 5.0 motors from 87-92 considered H.O. motors, even if they were in the LX model?
IOW, are they the same 225 hp FORGED piston motor with the same cam and heads as the GT mustang H.O.?

I know some lincoln, marquis, truck motors used flat tappet cams in Roller blocks that had cast pistons. I want to know if this applied to the REGULAR old LX mustang also.

It's just that I've found some contradictions in the archives and don't want to buy this motor if it's not a true H.O.

Gearbanger 101 · Feb 15, 2009

NikwoaC said:
I'm confused when you say:

Roller block, just not a roller cam. Easy to convert to roller BUT

Click to expand...

...Because it doesn't really make sense. The engine you are talking about has a hydraulic roller valvetrain, so I don't know what you'd be converting. All HO motors after '85 had a hydraulic roller setup.

He's under the impression that the block itself is drilled for a roller cam, but utilizes a non roller flat tappet model (like the F150's).

my9302002 said:
Gonna restate and maybe clear up what I'm getting at:

Are all Mustang 5.0 motors from 87-92 considered H.O. motors, even if they were in the LX model?
IOW, are they the same 225 hp FORGED piston motor with the same cam and heads as the GT mustang H.O.?

I know some lincoln, marquis, truck motors used flat tappet cams in Roller blocks that had cast pistons. I want to know if this applied to the REGULAR old LX mustang also.

It's just that I've found some contradictions in the archives and don't want to buy this motor if it's not a true H.O.

Just to clarify. All V8 powered Mustangs from '87-92 shared the same 225hp/300tq 5.0L HO engine. Same block, same heads, same intake, same pistons, same cam, same crankshaft, same everything. Any confilicting sources that state otherwise, are incorrect.

Lincoln Town Cars, Crown Vic/Marquis and F150's had roller block's, with flat tappet cam shafts and cast pistons....you are correct.

Thunderbirds/Cougar XR7, Lincoln Mark VII's with in the same year had similar versions of the 5.0L HO. There were small changes between the years in piston material (Hypereutectic vs. Forged) and camshaft profile and in some cases upper intake manifold, but they're all basically the same 5.0L HO that was used in the Mustang.

NIKwoaC · Feb 15, 2009

Haha, well, I thought I made it pretty clear when I said...

NikwoaC said:
Every 5.0 Mustang after 1982 was, in fact, an HO, regardless of being a GT or LX. However, it was only the '85-'92 models that had forged aluminum pistons.

Gearbanger 101 said:
Just to clarify. All V8 powered Mustangs from '87-92 shared the same 225hp/300tq 5.0L HO engine. Same block, same heads, same intake, same pistons, same cam, same crankshaft, same everything. Any confilicting sources that state otherwise, are incorrect.

Actually the cam profile did slightly change late in 1988, but really is hardly noticeable in terms of power output. The lobe got less aggressive for less noise and to tame operating characteristics a bit. Other than that, Gearbanger is right on.

my9302002 · Feb 15, 2009

Thanks for all the input...I'm learning fast.
Will pick up the 87 LX motor with 80,000 miles on it tomorrow for the huge sum of $140 bucks.
Now where can I find those Gt40 heads and that E303 cam!
LOL
It'll never end....

Gearbanger 101 · Feb 15, 2009

NikwoaC said:
Haha, well, I thought I made it pretty clear when I said....

It was to those of us that know already....but keep in mind, all HO motors aren't created equally. They only got roller cams in 1985. The head, intakes and pistons changed each year from '85-'86 and '87. I think not only was he unclear if the LX used an HO rull-roller engine, but he was unclear which HO engines were roller and which were not.

my9302002 said:
Thanks for all the input...I'm learning fast.
Will pick up the 87 LX motor with 80,000 miles on it tomorrow for the huge sum of $140 bucks.
Now where can I find those Gt40 heads and that E303 cam!
LOL
It'll never end....

Ford Racing Performance parts should help you out with those heads and cam, but if you've got the money for it, spend a little more and go with an aluminum set of heads and some sort of dual pattern camshaft. The GT40's and alphabet cams were the hot ticket back in the late mid/late-90's, but there are far, far better choices out there now a days for guys looking to make power. Most modern head designs and cam grinds will yield as much as 70hp more (with a comparable high flow intake) than the Ford Racing stuff, all while providing better drivability, increased low end torque and top end horsepower as well as cleaner emissions and superior fuel economy. Not to mention you get to knock 40-45lbs off the front end of your car with the aluminum heads.

Again, I'm not saying the GT40's and E303 is a bad choice, but unless you're on a tight budget, hold out for something else.

Mustang5L5 · Feb 15, 2009

my9302002 said:
I know some lincoln, marquis, truck motors used flat tappet cams in Roller blocks that had cast pistons. I want to know if this applied to the REGULAR old LX mustang also.

The only difference between a 5.0 LX and a GT is the ground effects skirt on the GT model and a few other differences like taillights, rims, spoiler, seats, etc.

The 5.0 engine from an LX is the same as the 5.0 from a GT as far as 86+ EFI 5.0 HO's go.

A lot of miscommunication is out there that 5.0 LX's got a lesser 5.0, didn't get the GT suspension package, etc. It's all false. It's the same drivetrains, suspension, brakes as the GT...just in a lighter cleaner body.

Now, if you are talking about a base model 2.3L 4-banger LX...different story.

lang williams · Feb 15, 2009

now go find a 95 to early 97 explorer or mountaineer an grape those gt40 heads.

Maryland Stang · Feb 16, 2009

lang williams said:
now go find a 95 to early 97 explorer or mountaineer an grape those gt40 heads.

My wife wouldn't allow me to grape those heads. She said it wouldn't look good in purple.

88mustang on a budget · Jun 1, 2016

Reborn!!!! Im buying a 92 f150 motor. The whole motor. Its on an engine stand as well ( included in price) Should be here tomorrow around 2. For the large sum of 125. Guy said it was his dads and now its taking up room in his garage. Lol let it take up room in mine i said. Then after some searching found an Anderson n41 cam for 100 with 500 miles on it. Or so he said. Either way it was in good shape. Picked up 24lb injectors for 50. And i got a gt 40 intake given to me because he didnt want mustang stuff anymore... Now for the best part. A few years ago i recieved 11 privacy fence panels for free i was tired of having them in my garage so i put them on facebook a guy wants them and had a set if heads. We traded after some help from an amazing bunch of stangnet boys and girls turned out to be twisted wedge aluminum heads the 170cc. With 1.6 rr's. Now the whole reason i brought this back from the past is other than lifters what do i need to change to make all this work in a 92 roller cam f150 block. Its going in my 88 fox. With mass air and 70 mm tb and air meter.

jrichker · Jun 2, 2016

Follow the link and most of what you need to know is in there....

http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/threads/i-need-a-very-specific-website.589036/

RangerJoe · Jun 2, 2016

Is this a 302 or 351 truck motor?

The biggest thing you are going to need is a set of roller lifters. If you use stock style lifters, you will need the spider, dogbone and CORRECT length spider hold down bolts.

Not sure on the rest, but I would think probably oil pan, pickup tube, headers, front accessories, those are just a few things I can think of. A new timing set would probably be worth it too.

Joe

Gearbanger 101 · Jun 2, 2016

Distributor gear

88mustang on a budget · Jun 2, 2016

Its 302 have roller lifters from 90s mustang gt. It is the 1992 f150 block xxx stamped in it. It does have the roller cam and lifters already in it. Have a msd dist for my n41 cam. But ive got an f303 cam i can buy for 100 from same guy what would be better?

Non H.O. 302's forged?

my9302002

Member

93 LX

my9302002

Member

93 LX

NIKwoaC

中國製造

my9302002

Member

KamiKaziDK

Member

my9302002

Member

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash

NIKwoaC

中國製造

my9302002

Member

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

lang williams

New Member

Maryland Stang

Active Member

88mustang on a budget

I wear daisey dukes tank top and boots for work

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash

88mustang on a budget

I wear daisey dukes tank top and boots for work

Similar threads

Non H.O. 302's forged?

Member

Member

中國製造

Member

Member

Member

Straight Outta Locash

中國製造

Member

Straight Outta Locash

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

New Member

Active Member

I wear daisey dukes tank top and boots for work

StangNet's favorite TOOL

I leave the horn on while driving

Straight Outta Locash

I wear daisey dukes tank top and boots for work

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency