FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Topic: FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted! (Read 3325 times) previous topic - next topic

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

July 23, 2007, 04:31:12 PM

OK fellow FTCF posters, grab a beer/soda and take a chair...

My step-dad lives on a nice little ranch in California's gold country. He was forced into retirement some years ago (San Jose IT) and has basically "fiddled" for the last few years. It's been very hard on him and this year was devastating. He lost his father and then his dog to snout cancer. Needless to say he's pretty down and I want to cheer him up.

He lives 10 minutes from the Rubicon Trail and his life-long dream has been to drive it. He has a clean 76 Bronco hardtop (full) that's in primer awaiting paint. It currently has a VERY tired 289/302 of unknown vintage/specs. He's drug his feet on the project and I fear he will never go. So, I happen to have a 5.0 (see where I'm going with this yet

?)

Here's the deal, I'm going to rebuild the 5.0 from my 87 Sport and drive it down to him next summer. I will then install it in the Bronc and make sure he goes to the Rubicon 08 meet.

It's been 2 years since I rebuild a SBF, and that was a 78 flat-tappet inboard Cobra 302 with a carb. So help me out here!

1. This is a TRUCK engine! It's going in a lightweight Bronco destined for the Rubicon. So I need low-end grunt! I want to use the Speed Density EFI so approach/departure/lean angles won't matter and to keep some semblance of fuel mileage and drivability.
2. This needs to be free/cheap/traded all the way. I'm too poor to give him a high-end motor but I want to do the best I can for him. Outright HP isn't as important as piecing together a good package at little fundage. Remember, I'm giving it to him as a gift.
3. I will need to install it in a 76 Bronco. It already has a SBF, but keep in mind that I have different engine bay requirements.

Soooo, where do I start? (Other then pulling the 5.0 out of the Sport, duh :hick: ) Recommendations? Here's my "plan" but remember I'm kinda late-model 5.0 dumb...

Shortblock: Use the Sport's 5.0 SO. Rebuild with new rings/bearings/seals/oil pump. ARP bolts on stock rods, use the stock flat-top pistons, keep it a roller motor.

Heads: Something better then the dogs that are on there. E7's? Something iron preferably.

Intake/Induction: 5.0 HO stock Speed-Density. Upper, lower, TB, injectors, ECM, all factory.

Cam: I'm lost here. It needs to fit the stock SO pistons and be a CHEAP roller. Maybe used HO? Something with some torque to it.

Exhaust: I'm going to leave most of this up to my step-dad, but I would like to bring him the engine already wearing HO headers or some cheap shorties.

Wiring/ECM/Electrics: He's getting the entire harness out of the Sport.

What do you think? Suggestions? I'd like to see maybe 230HP at the wheels depending on cam/heads and a solid 300Ft/Lbs. Can I do better? Please help me!

I will be posting the entire process in this thread. From removal out of the Sport, the rebuild, and installing it into the Bronc.

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #1 – July 23, 2007, 05:07:44 PM

Speed Density friendly cam listin for 5.0 motors

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #2 – July 23, 2007, 05:20:14 PM

The 355108 Comp looks good. Wonder how cheap they are?

How are stock 87-93 HO cams for low end torque?

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #3 – July 23, 2007, 07:51:38 PM

In a Bronco for fun street driving, I'd go strictly stock HO, even use the E6 heads... Those heads make more low end torque than the E7s...

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #4 – July 23, 2007, 09:17:26 PM

Seriously? Keep the E6's? Should I do anything to them? (Match port, valve job, springs)?

Will a 100% stock HO top with the E6 heads, HO cam, shorties, and SO pistonshiznit 300Ft/Lbs?

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #5 – July 23, 2007, 09:37:10 PM

I believe 300 ft lbs was what the '86 HO was rated... Do some digging, specs are on the net...

I ran a best of 14.51 @ 95.5 mph in a mostly stock 5 speed GT with 2.73s(was a basic GT with no power goodies, so it would compare to the the later LX)... With good traction it would have gone 14.2s easy, best sixty ever, was a 2.2... Only mods were a 2 1/2" cat back system, 1.7 Cobra roller rockers and underdrives... It went 14.58 @ 94 on the cat back system alone... Basically the rockers and pulleys just worsened the already bad traction(this was in the days before DRs)... EEC was stock '86 SD, converted it to Mass air and lost .25 and 2+ mph... Switched back to SD(at the track, same night) and it went back to 14.5 again... Sold it, pulleys and MA EEC went into the Bird...

BTW... It had a later 60mm TB('86 was 58), but I never used a actual HO upper... The '86 used the same upper as the SO...

Edit... Nope the '86 was 285 ft lb @ 3000, while the '87-'92 is 300 lb @ 3200... The '93 is only rated at 275 ft lbs @ 3000, which basically proves on a stock engine, the SD system makes more HP... The '87-'88s are reportedly the fastest stock EFI Stangs...

But unless you can come up with some GT40s or better, I'd still think about keeping the E6s... Dunno IF you can get away with 1.7s on the E7 and flattops...

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #6 – July 23, 2007, 10:27:11 PM

I've got a bunch of old Bronco parts lying around here - the old guy that lived here before was into 'em apparently (he died in an accident in a '72). I know for sure I've got a bunch of windows (both door windows plus two of each side windows), some front end parts, and some emblems. I even had an instrument cluster and steering wheel, but I gave 'em to a couple of lesbians that stopped in at a yard sale last year (they were opening a bar and wanted them as decorations). Too bad you're way the hell over on the other end of the continent, I'd let you come take it all.

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #7 – July 23, 2007, 10:42:57 PM

If your looking to stay EFI and convert and looking for ponies mass air shouldn’t be to much more try and look for a JY truck motor maybe an explorer/mountaineer motor looking for truck torque there you go and 230 HP should be very easy just by eliminating emission your should get that and while its apart mill the heads .020 or .030 mild gasket port some other odds and end you should exceed 230 hp. And I would stay w/the truck cam

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #8 – July 23, 2007, 10:59:44 PM

TurboCoupe50 - Thank you! Will the 1.7's work with the SO pistons and E6 heads?

Carm - Seriously? Wonder how much it would be to ship it all to CA. He doesn't need any body stuff, but spares are good...

Innes - You're kinda missing the point. I already have a 5.0. I don't want to buy an engine. Mass air would require more wiring and somewhere to stab the meter. Remember, this is an off-road Bronco...

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #9 – July 23, 2007, 11:19:48 PM

Seriously. I don't know what shipping would be, but I'd imagine it would be crazy. The glass and small bits wouldn't be too bad, but the front end parts weigh a ton. I'll have to take a look and see exactly what I have lying around here.

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #10 – July 23, 2007, 11:49:48 PM

Quote from: Aerobird Motorsports;162967

TurboCoupe50 - Thank you! Will the 1.7's work with the SO pistons and E6 heads?
.

Yup....The '86 HO engine has the flattops just like the SO.... HO cams are listed as .444 lift, the 1.7s will give .471... BUT GET SOME BETTER THAN STOCK VALVE SPRINGS...

Basically the '86 HO is a SO with a better cam, TB, headers and 19lb injectors... And of course the EEC...

If you can dig up a set of the Trick Flow heads they also work with the flattops(that's my basic engine combo).. I'm running a '86 LSC HO short block...

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #11 – July 23, 2007, 11:59:59 PM

sorry just my 2 cents

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #12 – July 24, 2007, 12:04:39 AM

Forget the heads

I'm going with the E6's (I'll match port them and just clean them up a bit), new (better) valvesprings, and probably a quick 3-angle just because I'm sure they're hammered. HO upper/TB, an HO SD EEC with matching injectors, 87-89 HO cam, etc.

Sound good enough yet? Should be cheap too! I already have the block, crank, pistons, rods, heads, and lower intake. So for shopping USED I need:
HO upper/TB
HO cam
HO SD EEC/Injectors
Shorty headers
Some random CAI or filter to stab right on the TB
1.7 Rockers

NEW:
Gaskets/Rings/Bearings/Seals
Oil Pump/Water Pump
Plugs/Wires/Rotor/Cap
Valve Springs/Pushrods/Rod Bolts

Extra's:
Nice Valve covers

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #13 – July 24, 2007, 01:50:25 AM

Just make sure you run some sort of tail pipe after the headers. The o2 sensors need some where to go;)

Quote

Nice Valve covers

What style exactly? The finned aluminium ones from FMS look pretty good (I have the black finned Cobra ones) and are pretty cheap (~$150 new). They also clear 1.7 roller rockers:D

FTCF "Not your average" 5.0 build up, help wanted!

Reply #14 – July 24, 2007, 02:00:34 AM

The finned ones are exactly what I want. Probably 1/2 the budget though. Maybe I can find a used set.

I forgot about those stupid O2 sensors... better add 2 bungs to the list.