Best bare bones v8 block to start.

[G8orFord]

I can usually pick up Ford m90s for $50-75. I've even picked 2 of them up for free. (If you spin he pulley back and forth the coupler clunks... you tell the seller it needs a rebuild and you're not interested. They'll usually say just take it. )
I have an m112 and an m122 in my collection. I may still have an m90 or 2 left.

Not to derail @Dirtman 's thread (LOL), but I've been thinking pretty strongly on dropping an M90 on top of the 4.0 with the Moddbox kit, but I'd have to get the SC pretty cheap. $2000 for 60hp seems a bit steep.

I have a M?? off of a 3.8 but it's the one setup for tubing and an intercooler. I'm not certain what model it is.

 

[bobbywalter]

Yeah, a 302 swap isn't bad at all. Been there done that, as far as swaps go mine is pretty close to factory looking. For what I want to do it would be a pretty easy way to make a 25-30yo vehicle run/drive like a 5-10yo vehicle. Something I could jump in and drive to Texas or California or whatever.

It is really stinking hard to find a low mile 302, most 5.0 Explorers are well north of 200k. So for a turnkey powertrain you would really have to go thru both the engine and trans. I have been looking for a rebuildable core for mine to go thru... 70's junk that has been sitting in a shed for $400, Mustang pullouts for $1200... not having much luck.

I think for a lot of people anymore they are not worth the time to pull before junking a vehicle.

yup.

If someone handed me a free LS engine I probably still wouldn't bother with it. Not because it's a bad engine or it's a chevy. Because the 302 fits in the ranger with minimal effort. It was essentially made to be in there.

I got no issue mixing motors around. Especially on older carbed vehicles but when your dealing with newer stuff and computers. Why bother? I can get all the parts for the 302 and make it a clean hassle free install that in the end will look factory.

And as i said I'm only looking to make 300-350hp which is nothing for pretty much any small block so it's not a battle for more power. I want a nice reliable daily driver that's got some guts as a little sleeper.

true for the sla crowd....none of that shit is valid dealing with a ttb truck, which is moot because your not dealing with a ttb truck.. the ls is not much different in a 2009. not hard to install...nearly identical from a labor perspective


the difference between a guy that wants 350 hp that is starting with a 302...using TYPICAL junkyard parts and budget shopping and one starting with a 5.3 or 6.0......guy with 5.3 can do it in one weekend and 2000 bux and never pull a valve cover......guy with 302 has to get lucky with a machine shop that can run the engine right away and have it done in a week....


and not 2000 dollars all in.

seen many an ls in a ford you would think came from the factory that way.

 

[mikkelstuff]

Same problem here in Colorado. No engines older than the vehicle which leaves out a 5.0L V-8 in my 2002 Ranger. However, the inspectors never look under the hood - just plug into the obd2 and sniff for emissions. Sooooo, does the odb2 tell the inspector what engine is in the vehicle?

 

[Dirtman]

So... you can't get 300hp out of a 302 for less than 2,000 bucks?

Can I buy some drugs from you?

 

[bobbywalter]

i can. the relevance is getting a low mile engine. sub 150k.

of course...150 k on a 302 that was well maintained is something easy to work with. 300 hp on an explorer engine will require removing the valve covers.


2000 bux all in.....installed and running.

if you think you can....then you need different drugs.

 

[snoranger]

Not to derail @Dirtman 's thread (LOL), but I've been thinking pretty strongly on dropping an M90 on top of the 4.0 with the Moddbox kit, but I'd have to get the SC pretty cheap. $2000 for 60hp seems a bit steep.

I have a M?? off of a 3.8 but it's the one setup for tubing and an intercooler. I'm not certain what model it is.

3.8l Ford or Gm?

Post a pic.

Some of the 4.0 kits use the Ford version with the square top outlet. You remove the top hat and bolt it on upside down.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Just use the FWD 3.8 s/c on a 3.0 trans.













Or. Ya know.

 

[G8orFord]

3.8l Ford or Gm?

Post a pic.

Some of the 4.0 kits use the Ford version with the square top outlet. You remove the top hat and bolt it on upside down.

Hmmm... Never thought about that. It's off of a Ford unless I'm badly mistaken. It's been in a cabinet for a while so I don't remember exactly what it looks like, but I think it's basically like this one.

I don't the the intake side is exactly like that one though. Then again, the whole thing may be totally different. I'll try to get a pic of mine tonight.

 

[snoranger]

Hmmm... Never thought about that. It's off of a Ford unless I'm badly mistaken. It's been in a cabinet for a while so I don't remember exactly what it looks like, but I think it's basically like this one.
View attachment 32939

I don't the the intake side is exactly like that one though. Then again, the whole thing may be totally different. I'll try to get a pic of mine tonight.

That's off a Ford Supercoupe. That's the one most 4.0 kits use.

 

[G8orFord]

Ha! I wrote the one I had off since it had the tubing connectors. Even kinda thought on how I might mount it and use them and an intercooler, but there just wasn't enough room that I could see without some major modifications. I'm still not 100% certain it's the same as that one, but I'll definitely check out tonight.

 

[snoranger]

Ha! I wrote the one I had off since it had the tubing connectors. Even kinda thought on how I might mount it and use them and an intercooler, but there just wasn't enough room that I could see without some major modifications. I'm still not 100% certain it's the same as that one, but I'll definitely check out tonight.

There were 2 different versions of the m90 on the SC. One had an oval intake port the other had a trapezoid shaped port. (Where the throttlebody adapter bolts on the back.) The oval one was less efficient then the trapezoid one, but either would be fine for a mild 4.0 build.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Banshee superchargers also makes a kit to allow a GM M90 to ve bolted to a Ford 4.0. They're all on clearance on eBay right now.

 

[snoranger]

Banshee superchargers also makes a kit to allow a GM M90 to ve bolted to a Ford 4.0. They're all on clearance on eBay right now.

The banshee kit uses a Ford version of the m90, not the GM.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

The banshee kit uses a Ford version of the m90, not the GM.

And now I learned something

 

[Bird76Mojo]

I thought the Ford version of the M90 was a side port model.. As in passenger side.