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  1. #1

    Default 5.0 engine build question

    I have a 1986 mustang lx coupe that was my first car when I was about 13 and I'm now 21. It's always had a old 4 banger and I feel that now it's time to give it the ponys it deserves!! I recently picked up a great deal on a 93 mustang gt. As I'm sure you know it is a 5.0 car, and I plan to use that engine for my rebuild swap. I'm looking to get around 350-400 hp on a carb setup. Budget wise not picky just nothin crazy just want reliable. I've done some research and a lot of asking for advice but I thought I would get on here and ask the experts before I start digging in. Any info would be greatly appreciated for I am not mechanically inclined. Thanks so much!!

  2. #2
    FEP Power Member horsepowerjunkie's Avatar
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    You should be able to just put fresh rings & bearings in the short block and be OK. You may want to have the cylinder bores measured for taper/wear, along with the crank. A nice cam & heads should get you to your goal. I would recommond the Comp XE266HR cam, Twisted Wedge 170's, and Performer RPM air gap intake. I did this same combo in my 82 Capri and it ran outstanding! Lots of power, very drivable, nice all around combo! Ran a 12.36 the very first time at the track.
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  3. #3
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    If the 93 5.0 runs good and don't burn oil leave the rotating assembly alone- get the top end HPJunkie suggested, and the supporting drivetrain parts and you'll be in the 325-350 crank hp range.. good luck!
    71 Dodge Demon Green/Blk big turbo slant 6 in progress
    83 GT Red/Blk HCI 306/ 3550/ 4.30 8.8
    93 LX Reef Blue/ Grey stock bolts on's/ T5/ 3.55 8.8
    page 1 of my 83 GT build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=85989

    93 LX build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...73#post1569973

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by horsepowerjunkie View Post
    You should be able to just put fresh rings & bearings in the short block and be OK. You may want to have the cylinder bores measured for taper/wear, along with the crank. A nice cam & heads should get you to your goal. I would recommond the Comp XE266HR cam, Twisted Wedge 170's, and Performer RPM air gap intake. I did this same combo in my 82 Capri and it ran outstanding! Lots of power, very drivable, nice all around combo! Ran a 12.36 the very first time at the track.
    Was this in a carb setup? And if so what carb? Curious.

  5. #5

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    Thanks guys for the quick replies. Much appreciated. I'm gonna take it to a machine shope and get them to check it all and make sure every aspect of the block is solid and looking good. I'm gonna get them to put the freezer plugs in for me do u have any other suggestions I should get them to do or check while I'm there?

  6. #6
    FEP Super Member
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    How many miles are on the 93?
    71 Dodge Demon Green/Blk big turbo slant 6 in progress
    83 GT Red/Blk HCI 306/ 3550/ 4.30 8.8
    93 LX Reef Blue/ Grey stock bolts on's/ T5/ 3.55 8.8
    page 1 of my 83 GT build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=85989

    93 LX build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...73#post1569973

  7. #7

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    No clue but I think it's safe to say 120,000 +/-

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kohlpatrol View Post
    No clue but I think it's safe to say 120,000 +/-
    Leave the block and rotating assembly alone if it runs good chances are it's fine.. just swap the cam, timing chain set, heads, pushrods and rockers, and intake on it and let her buck

    You'll need a few specific parts to reach your 350hp goal -

    85 Mustang 5.0 5 speed distributor (yes that specific one)
    Holley 650 carb (I prefer Holley's but get which ever brand you want as long as it's around a 650cfm)
    Double roller timing chain set
    Trickflow 170's, AFR 165's, or Edelbrock RPM heads and correct length pushrods
    OE style roller cam of your choice (Trickflow's, and AFR 165's like a smaller profile cam)
    Edelbrock air gap 4bbl intake

    IF I were to build another motor - I'd get a custom cam from Ed Curtis at FTI ground to your combo or a Anderson Ford Motorsport cam's are nice to (I am debating on getting their N41 cam right now)
    71 Dodge Demon Green/Blk big turbo slant 6 in progress
    83 GT Red/Blk HCI 306/ 3550/ 4.30 8.8
    93 LX Reef Blue/ Grey stock bolts on's/ T5/ 3.55 8.8
    page 1 of my 83 GT build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=85989

    93 LX build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...73#post1569973

  9. #9

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    Great stuff man thanks so much for the advise its been a ton of help!!

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kohlpatrol View Post
    Great stuff man thanks so much for the advise its been a ton of help!!
    Ya! I like my 83's HCI setup it drives like a stone stock car til you put your foot in it then it's a rocket..

    my setup-

    AFR 165's milled to a 54cc chamber (has 9.96:1 static compression)
    China air gap 4bbl intake that was heavily ported
    Holley 4150 650 carb w/ no choke
    F303 Ford Racing cam
    Scorpion 1.72 rockers
    Comp Cam 6.500" hardened pushrods
    SFI Ford Racing Balancer and aluminum flywheel to safely rev it above 5,500rpm

    It's going under the knife next weekend! going to put thinner head gaskets in and raise the compression to 10.32:1 and swap out the oil pan (7qt piece for a stock one)



    71 Dodge Demon Green/Blk big turbo slant 6 in progress
    83 GT Red/Blk HCI 306/ 3550/ 4.30 8.8
    93 LX Reef Blue/ Grey stock bolts on's/ T5/ 3.55 8.8
    page 1 of my 83 GT build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=85989

    93 LX build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...73#post1569973

  11. #11

  12. #12

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    reliable and efficient would be to keep it SEFI. One can build up a good SEFI engine with the power you want. Just swap all the 5.0L SEFI parts over to the 85.

    Sure, is it easier and cheaper to build a carb set up? Yes.

    LTDScot is getting nearly 300rwhp out of his 85 LTD LX (SEFI/T5 conversion)... All California smog legal too. And he could get more with a stroker motor... all smog legal...
    Last edited by Marz; 02-24-2014 at 11:32 AM.
    1985 Mustang GT Mild 331 4bbl 5 spd, 1985 SEFI LTD LX AOD.
    Cardomain: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/565542
    Mid Size LTD LX Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/groups/233213650060739/

  13. #13

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    The mustang I have is already set up as a carb with the 4 cylinder. How much work is it to do my 5.0 conversion with the SEFI system?

  14. #14
    FEP Super Member
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    Swapping the EFI stuff into your 85 wouldn't be hard til you got to wiring a few things up like the FPR relay and such - if your 85's fuel level sender works just swap it into the 92 tank - you more than likely would be stripping the EFI car harness of what you don't need and installing it along side the 85 wiring

    Swapping to a carb 5.0 and building any sort of HP will = 10mpg or less mine gets about 200 miles to a tank highway driving mixed with a couple good launches from a stop haha

    You'll need a 5.0 carb throttle cable(4cyl one may work but that I don't know), and a 5.0 durasparkII engine harness(or MSD plug and play ignition and a bank of Autometer gauges), possibly a 5.0 K member, 85 Mustang dizzy for a 87+ 5.0,
    71 Dodge Demon Green/Blk big turbo slant 6 in progress
    83 GT Red/Blk HCI 306/ 3550/ 4.30 8.8
    93 LX Reef Blue/ Grey stock bolts on's/ T5/ 3.55 8.8
    page 1 of my 83 GT build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=85989

    93 LX build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...73#post1569973

  15. #15

    Default

    As far as distributors, you just need one with a steel gear, to deal with the roller cam in the '85 and up engines. An Edelbrock Performer and Holley 4180 would be the way to go if emissions testing is a reality where you are, so you could have EGR.
    If you use a carb, then probably your best bet for an ignition is the tried and true factory Ford DuraSpark system. '85 is the only year that had roller cams and DuraSpark. But you can get a steel gear for any 302 DuraSpark dizzy.

    I would be inclined to go EFI, especially since you have a complete donor, but carb'ed would be a hell of a lot easier. Fuel pump relay isn't as troublesome here, because the last couple of years of Fox 5.0s had that relay under the hood. You'd need to swap the entire fuel system, and swap a ton of wires over, as well. The trick is knowing exactly which harnesses you need, and then interfacing it with the gauges and ignition switch in your car.
    '88 Mustang GT convertible, T5, 3.08:1 gears. 5.0 Explobra Jet: A9L Mass Air conversion, Fenderwell Mac cold air intake, 70mm MAF meter = 4.6 T-Bird/Cougar housing + '95 Mustang F2VF-12B579-A1A sensor, aftermarket 70mm throttle body and spacer, Explorer intakes, GT40P heads with Alex's Parts springs and drilled for thermactor, Crane F3ZE-6529-AB 1.7 "Cobra" roller rockers, Ford Racing P50 headers, Mac H-pipe, Magnaflow catback, Walbro 190 LPH fuel pump, UPR firewall adjuster and quadrant with Ford OEM cable, 3G conversion ('95 Mustang V6), Taurus fan, rolled on Rustoleum gloss white paint...
    Past Four Eyes: Red well optioned '82 GT 5.0, Black T-top '81 Capri Black Magic 3.3L 4 speed, Black T-top '84 Capri RS 5.0 5 speed.Over 200,000 miles driven in Four Eyes, and over 350,000 in Fox Body cars.

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