Ok so I want to start bulding a new motor for the Bird. My question is this.
Is there any difference between my stock 5.0 block, HO Block, Cobra Block?
Just the block I know there are many differences between heads, intake and internals.
There is no differences unless you get a older cleavland 302 or boss 302 or ford racing block. If you are doing a swap I would just go the 351 rout because they can handle more horsepower than 5.0 block.There is lots of info on this subject over at http://www.turbomustangs.com When I blow my engine thats my plan.
I do have a 351 block but its a clevland out of my old torino from what I have read this would not be a simple swap
If you have to buy all of the stuff to swap in a 302, then it would be the same as swapping in your 351C. To answer your question, the 5.0 had a roller camshaft install and the subsequent attachment points installed in 1985 as well as a one piece rear main seal, otherwise all 302 blocks from 1985 on up should be the same, with exception of a few 1984 carryover blocks in the and full size cars and trucks. Mustang blocks would all be the same from 1985 on up and the T-Bird and Cougar seems to be a hodge podge conglomeration of the cars and trucks. If it has a one piece rear main then it should have the roller cam attachment points in the lifter valley. Otherwise Cobra, SO, HO, GT all the same block.....think on the level of Mass Production (Auto Industry) and you will understand.
Just wondering but IIRC the 85 and up roller blocks that had a factory flat tappet hyd cam have to have the bolt holes for the factory roller cam *spider* tapped correct?
Yea I know the cleavland is different. Im not to sure of the plus's and minus's but the windsor is far more common and there are lots of parts avalible
nope. All roller block 302's had a roller cam from the factory. You may be thinking of 351w roller blocks. And even those were tapped, but came hyd flat-tapper cams.
Off topic: I have a '94 351. Block casting # is F4TE. Shortly after getting it I decided to sell it and build up the 5.0 in my car instead. I advertised it as a roller engine. Somebody emailed me telling me I was wrong - the engine was not a roller. They said that the block had provisions for a roller cam, but would not have a roller cam installed. I think someone on this forum told me the same thing. Curious, I popped the intake, and sure as there's shiznit in a cat, there was a roller cam in there.
The beauty of loving Fords, I guess. Nothing is ever concrete.
That's the one from a van, right? Are you sure the previous owner didn't swap the cam? I've never seen a roller 351w block that came with a roller cam from the factory.
The H.O. had valve releifs in the pistons and were forged(most of the time). Lower intake is the same. Upper from a H.O. bolts on. Check out
http://www.coolcats.net/tech/
Yup I have a '85 truck block that had a std cam, has the taller lifter bores and spider attaching bosses, they are not tapped however...
Nope... The one piece seal became std in '81, long before any roller blocks were produced...
what year started roller rockers inside .....
the 302__________?
the 351__________?
It is the one from the van. I don't know anything about the history of the van before my brother owned it. I do know that when I posted the question on FTE (Ford Truck Enthusiasts) I was told by most people that a roller cam in a '94 was normal, while a few said they'd never heard of it. It was a work van from day one, owned by a fire extinguisher company, so I can't imagine it being "hot rodded". It is definitely a roller cam, though:
The roller cam was std in 351 for the '94 - up models, these were a revised casting block with a F4xxx number... I've heard some late '93s used the roller, but that may just be early '94 blocks cast in '93... The 351 roller I had was cast in Nov '93, but came from a friends '94 F-150 he had purchased new, was no doubt factory...
Anyway, the threaded bosses in the lifter valley and spider retainer are a dead giveaway of a factory roller...
very interesting and good to know.
Turbocoupe50 makes a good statement. F4TE block is a new casting design. I would have to say it was for the roller provisions. Everyone I've talked to say to look for 351W from 1994 and on, so...
302 block has been basically the same from 1974 on up, however 1981 may have had some changes. My Tom Monroe rebuild book only goes up to 1980....maybe it's time someone updates it and republishes it. Both 302's I have owned newer than 1981 have never been cracked open.
351C: same engine mounts, same transmission bolt pattern, and plenty of high rpm power. Big heads make for a special exhaust, though. When I got those headers yesterday, he had a 351C making 675 hp. 6 second car in the 8th. But for street use, I vote 351W but a well built 302 (stroked?) is pretty good, too. Me I like to be different, lol.
Anyhow, I assume the EFI is staying?
BTW AFIK the 351 Lightning engine never got the roller, but did use the F4 block on the later versions... My early '93 has a non roller F2 block...