[Jeimuzu]

I know that the 88 Mustang engines came with forged pistons, but does anyone know about the 1988 Marquis 302 ? Any other specs you can give me ?

[megaglow_z]

I wana say some did,but i cannot remember how to tell.
Ill do some digging on it

[TurboLX]

forged pistons only came on HO motors

[ReverendDexter]

Only the HO motors (which only came in the mustang and the lincolns) have the forged pistons. All of the other "5.0"s are the truck 5.0, which is a different firing order, different fuel injection (bank vs multi-port), non-roller motor. Basically it's the "old" 302 with fuel injection on it.

[Jeimuzu]

Oh ok. Thanks guys.

[Monark]

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter Only the HO motors (which only came in the mustang and the lincolns) have the forged pistons. All of the other "5.0"s are the truck 5.0, which is a different firing order, different fuel injection (bank vs multi-port), non-roller motor. Basically it's the "old" 302 with fuel injection on it.

Hmmm, if they have a different firing order then will a cam from a mustang 5.0 work on the the truck 5.0 in the grand marquis?

[TurboLX]

a cam from the 5.0 mustang has a 351w cam, thats what carries the 351 firing order making it an HO

[CrazyWildMike]

From personal experiance with the late 80's 5.0's, There is a difference between the 5.0 car(T.Bird, Cougar,Grand Marquis,Crown Vic) and the F & E Series Trucks and Vans.

The Car blocks are almost all Roller Cam Blocks, where the Truck and Van 5.0's were not, until sometime into the early 90's if I remember correctly. We bought a T-Bird engine to put in our 89 E150 van and discovered that the cams were different. The van did not have the tapped block for the roller lifter spider(Retainer).

Just some more info to try and remember.

Hope this is useful!

[StangAddiction]

Originally Posted by Monark Hmmm, if they have a different firing order then will a cam from a mustang 5.0 work on the the truck 5.0 in the grand marquis?

There are ways you could change the firing order... to agree with the cam

[Jeimuzu]

Now what models did the HO engine come in ? And how much better was it than normal 5.0s ?

[Monark]

Originally Posted by Jeimuzu Now what models did the HO engine come in ? And how much better was it than normal 5.0s ?

Well specs wise most HOs in the mustangs were in the 215hp/300tq area versus my non HO Grand Marquis which is at 150hp/270tq.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by Monark Hmmm, if they have a different firing order then will a cam from a mustang 5.0 work on the the truck 5.0 in the grand marquis?

The non-HO 302 uses the old ford small block (289) firing order. The 5.0 uses the 351W firing order, so if you wanted to use the HO cam in a non HO motor, you'd have to change the firing order. Now, I know that would at least involve changing where your plug wires were connected at the distributor, what I'm not sure about is if the cranks would be different. I don't believe that the two firing orders are 180 out, so that would mean that the crank would almost have to be a different design.

[Monark]

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter The non-HO 302 uses the old ford small block (289) firing order. The 5.0 uses the 351W firing order, so if you wanted to use the HO cam in a non HO motor, you'd have to change the firing order. Now, I know that would at least involve changing where your plug wires were connected at the distributor, what I'm not sure about is if the cranks would be different. I don't believe that the two firing orders are 180 out, so that would mean that the crank would almost have to be a different design.

Ugh, modding the Grand Marquis gets harder everyday, lol.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by Monark Ugh, modding the Grand Marquis gets harder everyday, lol.

well, I think this is a case of just pulling a junkyard motor and dropping it in the Marquis.

Like... oh, I dunno... a fuelie 460 from a E350?

Yeah, I know, not gonna happen.

But you could grab a 351 from a bronco, grab the heads/upper intake from an Explorer, buy a new lower intake manifold and cam, and have a hot little junkyard motor for about $2K

[Monark]

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter well, I think this is a case of just pulling a junkyard motor and dropping it in the Marquis. Like... oh, I dunno... a fuelie 460 from a E350? Yeah, I know, not gonna happen. But you could grab a 351 from a bronco, grab the heads/upper intake from an Explorer, buy a new lower intake manifold and cam, and have a hot little junkyard motor for about $2K

And I imagine it would drop pretty much right in? It just hard to not want to use the engine it has, it doesn't even have 30k miles, lol.

[ReverendDexter]

Yeah, that would all drop right in, 351 is a little taller, so you might have to "massage" the exhaust into place, but it will bolt right up.

But, that being said, what exactly is it that you were wanting to do with the motor in the first place? Just get more power? If that's the case, you could just swap on those explorer heads, from what I understand, the early-mid 90s Explorer 5.0 is basically the Cobra (i.e. GT40) motor.

[Monark]

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter Yeah, that would all drop right in, 351 is a little taller, so you might have to "massage" the exhaust into place, but it will bolt right up. But, that being said, what exactly is it that you were wanting to do with the motor in the first place? Just get more power? If that's the case, you could just swap on those explorer heads, from what I understand, the early-mid 90s Explorer 5.0 is basically the Cobra (i.e. GT40) motor.

The idea was to get it eventually around 300+ to the wheels and throw on 4.10s and an LSD. Yes it was going to get a supercharger, and then some.

[Monark]

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter The non-HO 302 uses the old ford small block (289) firing order. The 5.0 uses the 351W firing order, so if you wanted to use the HO cam in a non HO motor, you'd have to change the firing order. Now, I know that would at least involve changing where your plug wires were connected at the distributor, what I'm not sure about is if the cranks would be different. I don't believe that the two firing orders are 180 out, so that would mean that the crank would almost have to be a different design.

Would a cam made for the older 289 work? Yes I know I'm reaching for ideas, but I just want to know before I make any final decisions.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by Monark Would a cam made for the older 289 work? Yes I know I'm reaching for ideas, but I just want to know before I make any final decisions.

\

My understanding is that heads, cam, and intake all interchange between the 289 and 302. The heads should interchange between all four 289/302/302HO and 351, and the intakes should work between 289, 302, and 302HO. Other parts, like the timing set, may interchange as well.