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Topic: HO Upgrade or HO swap? (Read 1147 times) previous topic - next topic

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

I''m sure this has been talked about before.  I did a quick search, but didn't find anything specific.

I'd like you opinion...

I have an 88 Cougar LS - SO 5.0.  I'd like to do the HO upgrade.  I have mapped out the costs of doing the upgrade to the existing motor.  It looks like about $500-600.  Pretty cheap for 60-70 hp bump.

But, for that price, maybe I should just look for a factory HO?

The costs include a used cam, rebuilt heads, injectors, computer, new fuel pump and all needed gaskets and all the little stuff to do the upgrade.

Thanks!

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

Reply #1 –
Well, one upside to the HO swap is you get the better pistons, and timing chain.:burnout:
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

Reply #2 –
JMHO , I did the conversion minus the E7 heads for less than $200 by shopping around ,I got my H-pipe  upper intake and fuel pump all for $40 on craigslist, the cam and computer I bought here for $80  and my injectors I got for $10 on ebay  .  Then the timing chain misc gaskets ,oil, and antifreeze was about $60
 Of course I did a compression check and oil pressure test on my engine before doing any work to make sure I had a healthy starting point .
 
 Personally  for me the E6 to E7 swap didnt seem worth the labor involved taking into consideration the abundance of heads that are better than E7s, now I'm not saying E7s are not better than E6s because they are , Just in my opinion not that much better that the labor is worth the increase.
 According to Ford ratings the E6 engine was 200hp the E7 was 225hp... to me If I am doing a head swap I want more than 25 hp
 If further mods are going to be done it may be worth swapping heads I personally am only going from SO to HO and nothing else .


 Oh yeah  ,I  also got my factory shorty headers for free too :D
Fox-less at the moment

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

Reply #3 –
Why not just switch the whole motor? I dont know about where you live but you can find a HO motor fairly cheap around here OR go to the local pick n pull and grab an explorer motor and swap the cam (here its $215 for a complete motor). Some junkyards ive seen will sell a nice explorer motor for around $500 and they pull the motor. Just drop it in and go and with an explorer motor you get better heads and intake then the E7 stuff.
Son of Jleews6, Johnny 5:p
85 GT 1C vert = resto project grey int. no power options but A/C. http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=92213&highlight=convertible+build+thread
85 GT 2R hatch = ALL original sunroof car grey int.,full scale restoration coming one day
85 GT 2A hatch =  tan int. 2.5" full exhaust, BBK headers, AutoMeter Pro Comp gauges, 5-Lug w/17" Bullitts, converted to FI, 8.8 w/3.55s etc.
90 LX EL hatch = grey int. stock 5.0 auto
85 GT 1C hatch = parts car :(

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

Reply #4 –
you're better off swapping the motor.. better pistons for better valve clearance(valve reliefs) when running a larger cam.. it also opens up a whole new world for cam selection.. the pistons are also forged.

the explorer motor is a VERY good option. it's 1 of ford's best factory late-model production 5.0's. an explorer motor with a mustang MAF harness, aftermarket cam and distributor(whether stock or aftermarket) is the way to go in my opinion

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

Reply #5 –
Found a 80k exploder engine here in Houston for $500, plenty of 100k + engines available here for $400 or maybe less.

http://www.partslocator.com
87 Thunderbird LX
65mm tb, exploder intake, iron gt40 heads, 1.6 rr, a9l mass air swap, 9.5" Billet Dirty Dog TC, Built AOD, 4.10's, 31 spline TLoc, Superior Axles, full sn95 five lug swap.

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: mtgmike;338441
Found a 80k exploder engine here in Houston for $500, plenty of 100k + engines available here for $400 or maybe less.

http://www.partslocator.com


Thats about what they go for here and like I said if you go to a pick n pull its about half that. Also dont the explorers have bigger MAF and TB?
Son of Jleews6, Johnny 5:p
85 GT 1C vert = resto project grey int. no power options but A/C. http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=92213&highlight=convertible+build+thread
85 GT 2R hatch = ALL original sunroof car grey int.,full scale restoration coming one day
85 GT 2A hatch =  tan int. 2.5" full exhaust, BBK headers, AutoMeter Pro Comp gauges, 5-Lug w/17" Bullitts, converted to FI, 8.8 w/3.55s etc.
90 LX EL hatch = grey int. stock 5.0 auto
85 GT 1C hatch = parts car :(

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: jleews6;338443
Also dont the explorers have bigger MAF and TB?


they look bigger in my opinion, but don't hold me to it.. i never put them side by side

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

Reply #8 –
The Explorer throttlebodies are 65mm,and can easily be made to work with Fox body cars in a few minutes. The mass Air isn't for our cars.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

Reply #9 –
An explorer engine is in my future..rather, the sport's future.

I had several HO parts laying around that I was going to convert an SO that i'd picked up, but a friend had bought a stang gt convertible just for the top, so I got the driveline and some other bits, and threw those into my 'bird. Now that i've had a little fun with that, it's time to go full tilt boogie with it. A thorough rust removal, clean, blasting, repainting, and then a gt40 5.0 in the spring.

I wouldn't mess with tearing apart an SO block just to go from 155 to 225 horsepower....drop in an HO and be done, or do like I plan to, and get the explorer engine, swap oil pan, and throw a dizzy on it, and enjoy.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

Reply #10 –
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;338528
I wouldn't mess with tearing apart an SO block just to go from 155 to 225 horsepower....drop in an HO and be done, or do like I plan to, and get the explorer engine, swap oil pan, and throw a dizzy on it, and enjoy.


a cam and headers would be a nice addition.. the P manifolds suck more than a hooker with a hoover for air flow lol

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

Reply #11 –
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;338528
I wouldn't mess with tearing apart an SO block just to go from 155 to 225 horsepower.....


 My thoughts exactly , swapping a cam is only a few hour job, cam and heads ,and you are close to a rebuild .
 BUT I would never  just install a junkyard motor without being able to hear it run. first .
Fox-less at the moment

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

Reply #12 –
Quote from: hypostang;338540
My thoughts exactly , swapping a cam is only a few hour job, cam and heads ,and you are close to a rebuild .
 BUT I would never  just install a junkyard motor without being able to hear it run. first .


or at least doing a series of checks.. cooling system pressure check, compression test, pop the pan off, check the rod/main bearings and crank

but in all honesty, i would never buy a junkyard motor without the intention of rebuilding it once the bearings are disturbed
 

HO Upgrade or HO swap?

Reply #13 –
In all honesty the only stock heads worth swapping on to a HO are GT40 or GT40P irons. Any other stock heads are a waste of time. If you want to reuse your stock SO short block, run a HO cam, and have some good heads look at the Trick Flow TW head. They should clear everything no problem;)
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.