Hello I am looking at a 1988 ford crown vic with a 302 that I would like to swap into a 1972 f100 that has a seized 302 auto in it.
Is this a good engine and tranny to swap in or is there something better? Anything I should be looking for that would make it unsuitable to swap. I think everything should bolt right in if I am correct. I think the crown vic is fuel injected but I could put a carb on their instead. Is the fuel injection that hard to install?
I am looking for all tips and advice......Thanks for reading.
I have just joined and am going through the forums and since no one has taken a stab at this, I will.
To answer your question it will be a yes and no answer.
Yes, provided all you use is the long block.
The following will stay with the car:
pan as well as oil pump screen
intake and fuel injection
exhaust manifolds
distributor
check the location of the inlet from radiator to water pump (bottom hose) on both vehicles.
If these are the same then the water pump can stay on or better yet replace the water pump with a new one for the truck.
If you go carbureted, you will have to replace the front cover for an older style cover. Fuel injected front cover will not have a hole in it to mount a mechanical fuel pump. --that or, you would have to run an electric fuel pump & regulator to feed a carburetor. There's also an issue of standard water pump rotation vs. reverse rotation.
The '85-'92 5.0L H.O. engine is a better engine than the ones that were installed in the Crown Vic's. '85 was the first year for factory roller cams in the 5.0L Mustang H.O. engines and was the last year the Mustang came with a carburetor. I not for certain but I don't think the Crown Vic 5.0L had a roller cam and pretty certain it had the same firing order as the older 289/302's; 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8. The H.O.'s had the revised (better) firing order of; 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 --same as the 351W/5.8L engines.
H.O. 5.0L engines from '85-'92 have forged pistons. '93-'95 have less strong hypereutectic pistons. --If you're going to rebuild the engine, you can change the pistons to whatever type you want but in stock form, this is what they had.
'86-'88 5.0L H.O. EFI Mustang engines had Speed Density ECM's. If you were going to use fuel injection and going to keep it stock, Speed Density is fine. If you are planning to hop the engine up, Speed Density does not like changes to the cam, heads, exhaust, etc. 1988 California-built 5.0L H.O. engines were the 1st to receive Mass Air ECM's. From 1989-'93 all Fox Mustang 5.0L H.O. engines were equipped with Mass Air. Mass Air is receptive to any changes you make to the engine.
It is possible to convert a Speed Density setup to Mass Air but, you would have to have the Mass Air meter, Mass Air ECM and correct wiring harness. An A9P Mustang ECM is designed for a vehicle with an automatic transmission. An A9L ECM is designed for a vehicle with a standard transmission.
Just remembered something about the front cover. When you pull off the cover, you will need the fuel pump eccentric off the camshaft timing gear.
While you are that far in, go ahead and change the timing gears and chain with a new set. Put the timing set on then the eccentric then the cover.
if you go carburated : when you tear off the smog junk you'll need to plug the egr holes in the heads at the back of the engine (a couple of short bolts and some hi-heat silicone) or you'll have a nasty exhaust leak
- still got my first first car 20+yrs later : 69 f100 sorta kinda pretending its a Mercury M100 w/a 70 f350 sport custom cab (factory buckets) 67 grille with 69 ranger cooneyes 68 merc box and hood,some supercool fiberglass fenders i scored way back when, 76 f150 disc brake frontend..currently running a 90 5.0HO 4bbl/c4 auto & 3.50 posi...originally a 360/c6 f100 Ranger with dealer added towpack (incl. kelsey hays trailer brake),boxside toolbox,behind the seat stowage & belly tank...only original parts left on 'er are the frame,rear end,rear springs,and rear bumper...
