Skip to main content
Topic: V8 Observation (Read 1531 times) previous topic - next topic

V8 Observation

I first observed this 10+ years ago when we had our MN-12's, but it seemed to me that 5.0's in the Foxes were a dime a dozen, 94-97 4.6's were a dime a dozen, but trying to find a 91-93 5.0 (especially in a Cougar) was really difficult. Coincidence, or did Ford just not make a lot of MN-12's with the 5.0?
Current: 1986 Thunderbird, 105k 3.8/C5, 2 tone  Midnight Wine/Medium Taupe, wing windows, wire wheel covers.


Former: 1985 Cougar GS 115k Oxford White/Regatta Blue, 5.0, full console, 14" 8 hole aluminum T-Bird rims, Edelbrock valve covers.

V8 Observation

Reply #1
I've only ever seen three. One was a '93 Cat that my buddy Steve had, that would have been 1998 or 1999. He rebuilt the 5.0, and added some aftermarket headers, as well as I believe an E cam.
Sounded good, and ran pretty strong for a mostly stock 5.0.

My ex-wife had one "gave" to her by her new guy after I left her. It developed some problems, and as far as I know, it's still in their driveway. She offered to sell it to me along with her '89 Bird about a year or so ago for 3,000...I laughed so hard I had to go change my underwear afterward.

The other is a '91 Tbird running around town. It's an explorer 5.0 swap, P heads, big headers, BBK off road X, magnaflow, 3.73 geared punkin, big cam, big TB, yadda yadda. It's fast, but it has the obvious weight penalty. My preference is the Foxes...that's why we're here.

I've even rode in a '92 or '93 SuperCoupe...hard to remember, but the company that my dad worked for (and myself, too, a couple years later) had a lease on it, got it brand new. The old man and I took it to Kansas City one day to deliver some sample products to a distributor (no, we weren't drug dealers..well, illegal drug dealers, anyhow) and that mothershager would git.

On the way back we came up through the country, a bunch of 2 lane blacktops and such, and the car would easily nail triple digit speeds in a very short time. I never got to drive it, but managed to snag quite a few rides in it. I suppose that's where my love of the Thunderbird came from. When I saw the brawny lines of the Fox, I had to have one. I traded my first Mustang for an '88 3.8 Bird. My then girlfriend (became my first wife) had an '89 Bird...mine was a bit faster though her's felt like it rode better.

They're both long since sped. Her's still ran up to the day we popped it on the trailer. That 3.8 was indestructible. Low oil several times, ran it hot once for about 20 miles. No rear sway bar (it rusted through). Even had an alternator fire one night in the dead of winter, and left us stranded. Guess who saved the day? My '88 donated it's alt and the new pigtail after I'd blown it up racing the summer before.

Sorry for the sideways post...the meds for the accident cause me to get long winded lol.
(what accident, you say?
nothing major, just had a fall and sprained my back. shiznit hurts though. and I hope I don't get addicted again...ugh)
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

V8 Observation

Reply #2
I've always liked the look of the 91-95 5.0 intake, if I ever go multiport on this 85, that's the one I want :D Or was it the Explorer ones that were the really good ones?
Current: 1986 Thunderbird, 105k 3.8/C5, 2 tone  Midnight Wine/Medium Taupe, wing windows, wire wheel covers.


Former: 1985 Cougar GS 115k Oxford White/Regatta Blue, 5.0, full console, 14" 8 hole aluminum T-Bird rims, Edelbrock valve covers.

V8 Observation

Reply #3
Explorer intakes were the ones to get--basically identical to the 93 Cobra 5.0L, with changes to the egr and a few other details.

V8 Observation

Reply #4
As an addition, the Exporer intakes have thicker material, theoretically they can be extrude honed to a larger runner ID....
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

V8 Observation

Reply #5
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;425400
As an addition, the Exporer intakes have thicker material, theoretically they can be extrude honed to a larger runner ID....

Ooooooooooooooooooo interesting!

(Though as the corral.net of old once taught us, extrude-honing the throttle body is where it's at)
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane