My first engine rebuild, 5.0 HO. lots of pics and questions

[Boggin]

this is my first time rebuilding an engine besides just headgaskets or rear main seal change on my 351M. so i am a true newb with this.

i got a spare motor that used to be in my mustang, its a 5.0 HO, not sure on the year. first question is can i just buy a 4bbl intake and carb to put on this engine, or are the heads or anything else different between efi and carb?

here she be.

lifters.. is there any way to tell if theyre worn or due for replacement?

pistons are a mess, whats the best way to clean them up?

i know these parts for the lifters got up wrote on 1 side of them, but do it matter which lifters they belong to or if a certain end is facing front or back?

and thats about all the time i had tonight. heres a couple more pics of some markings, maybe someone could tell what they mean

 

[baddad457]

Yes, you can just replace the intake system with a carbed setup. No difference in bolting up to the heads. The Lifter dog bones can be mixed, no problem there. I would recommend replacing the pushrods with new ones as the roller pushrods do not spin and end up wearing on the rocker ends. As for cleaning the pistons, you can do that with a wire wheel (use a brass one) on a drill, just do one at a time when the piston is at TDC, then blow the excess carbon out of the ring lands with a air gun, or flip the block upside down and use spray carb cleaner to flush the loose crap out and off the pistons. (I'm assuming you're going to leave the short block assembled here) Clean the head and block deck surfaces too with a wire wheel but you can use a steel one on these surfaces (iron decks) You will also need a steel geared distributor to match the roller cam to run a carb.

 

[shane96ranger]

There are a couple of things you are going to want to know. First, in going to a carb, you need to go to a distributor with a vacuum advance. I found one for my friend on Ebay for about 80 bucks brand new, and it works really well. One more thing, you absolutely MUST have a steel gear on the dizzy, or it will get chewed right up with the roller cam that's in there. You will also need a carb'd ignition system, pretty easy to find though. What would be ideal, is if you could find a system out of an 85 Mustang.

Also, are you planning on doing an electric fuel pump, or old school mechanical? If you want mechanical, you'll need to find a timing chain cover with the hole for the fuel pump (this can also be sourced from an 85 Mustang).

You are also going to want to make a plate or something to plug off the holes in the back of your E7TE's that the smog system uses.

EDIT: I also STRONGLY recommend using Fel-Pro head gaskets and using Permatex Copper Head Gasket Spray on them to aid in heat transfer, and fill in any minor imperfections in the head or block. And as always, I advise you to buy new head bolts.

 

[Boggin]

Yes, you can just replace the intake system with a carbed setup. No difference in bolting up to the heads. The Lifter dog bones can be mixed, no problem there. I would recommend replacing the pushrods with new ones as the roller pushrods do not spin and end up wearing on the rocker ends. As for cleaning the pistons, you can do that with a wire wheel (use a brass one) on a drill, just do one at a time when the piston is at TDC, then blow the excess carbon out of the ring lands with a air gun, or flip the block upside down and use spray carb cleaner to flush the loose crap out and off the pistons. (I'm assuming you're going to leave the short block assembled here) Clean the head and block deck surfaces too with a wire wheel but you can use a steel one on these surfaces (iron decks) You will also need a steel geared distributor to match the roller cam to run a carb.

thank you very much,, thats a big help. tomorrow ill probably do the pistons. turn each piston to TDC and go with the wire wheel. do in around the valve reliefs and everything too i guess? and am i going to need to get another cam to run the carb setup?
again, thanks.

There are a couple of things you are going to want to know. First, in going to a carb, you need to go to a distributor with a vacuum advance. I found one for my friend on Ebay for about 80 bucks brand new, and it works really well. One more thing, you absolutely MUST have a steel gear on the dizzy, or it will get chewed right up with the roller cam that's in there. You will also need a carb'd ignition system, pretty easy to find though. What would be ideal, is if you could find a system out of an 85 Mustang.

Also, are you planning on doing an electric fuel pump, or old school mechanical? If you want mechanical, you'll need to find a timing chain cover with the hole for the fuel pump (this can also be sourced from an 85 Mustang).

You are also going to want to make a plate or something to plug off the holes in the back of your E7TE's that the smog system uses.

EDIT: I also STRONGLY recommend using Fel-Pro head gaskets and using Permatex Copper Head Gasket Spray on them to aid in heat transfer, and fill in any minor imperfections in the head or block. And as always, I advise you to buy new head bolts.

thanks bud, so by ignition system and you be a bit more specific on what parts ill need? will make the search easier so i can ebay them or search summit racing.
ill be running an 8psi electric pump, i though about that for a while and came to the electric pump conclusion lol.

and Fel-Pro is the only gasket I use

 

[shane96ranger]

thanks bud, so by ignition system and you be a bit more specific on what parts ill need?

Well, you can get the whole system meaning dizzy and module for an 85..... OR, like the one I found for my buddy, get an all in one. All you do is connect your ground and 12 volt source.



It would be something like this one in the link. I can't see where it says what the gear is made of, because if it's bronze or cast iron you'll ruin things in a hurry.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBF-Small-Block-Ford-Distributor-Vacuum-289-302-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZalgoQ3dLVIQ26ituQ3dUCIQ26otnQ3d5Q26poQ3dLVIQ26psQ3d63Q26clkidQ3d2020593905591444693QQ_trksidZp5197Q2em7QQitemZ310333394801

 

[originalnitro]

Oven cleaner does a good job cleaning carbon and grease off engine parts. It may cut through the old paint also.

 

[v-8power]

and am i going to need to get another cam to run the carb setup?

The cam you have will work with a carb set up just fine.

 

[shane96ranger]

The cam you have will work with a carb set up just fine.

+1 (didn't see this question before)

 

[shane96ranger]

This is pretty much the same dizzy I was talking about. This might even be the guy we got it from. The description says it has a hardened gear for hydraulic cams, so I think this will do the trick.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-289-302-5-0-5-0L-HEI-DISTRIBUTOR-COIL-Blue-Cap-/190564490378?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c5e875c8a

I have bought from this guy before for a 4.3 Vortec we turned into a carb'd motor. It worked very well. Just can't remember if it's the same guy for the 5.0 dizzy.

 

[Boggin]

Well, you can get the whole system meaning dizzy and module for an 85..... OR, like the one I found for my buddy, get an all in one. All you do is connect your ground and 12 volt source.



It would be something like this one in the link. I can't see where it says what the gear is made of, because if it's bronze or cast iron you'll ruin things in a hurry.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBF-Small-Block-Ford-Distributor-Vacuum-289-302-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZalgoQ3dLVIQ26ituQ3dUCIQ26otnQ3d5Q26poQ3dLVIQ26psQ3d63Q26clkidQ3d2020593905591444693QQ_trksidZp5197Q2em7QQitemZ310333394801

sweet, so i can just buy that, and all else ill need is the intake and carb and im set to go? thanks!

Oven cleaner does a good job cleaning carbon and grease off engine parts. It may cut through the old paint also.

good to know, thanks

The cam you have will work with a carb set up just fine.

Great, thanks!

 

[Boggin]

This is pretty much the same dizzy I was talking about. This might even be the guy we got it from. The description says it has a hardened gear for hydraulic cams, so I think this will do the trick.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-289-302-5-0-5-0L-HEI-DISTRIBUTOR-COIL-Blue-Cap-/190564490378?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c5e875c8a

I have bought from this guy before for a 4.3 Vortec we turned into a carb'd motor. It worked very well. Just can't remember if it's the same guy for the 5.0 dizzy.

even cheaper! lol sweet, thanks!

 

[baddad457]

Two things: One, do not use oven cleaner on the pistons, that stuff will eat aluminum. Two, that HEI distributor, while it may be the next best thing to sliced bread, it will litterally look retarded on a small block Ford motor. The friggin thing is huge, bigger than a 4 bbl carb. Want an easy ignition system? Use a steel geared points distributor (you'll have to do the gear swap yourself though) and refit it with a Pertronix unit (two wire hookup) Or buy a Pertronix distributor and drop it in (or any other aftermarket distributor of your choice) And as V8power stated, the HO roller cam will work great with a carb. Intake ? any of these will work: Performer RPM, AirGap RPM, Ford A321, Weiand Stealth (any high rise dual plane) Top it with a vacuum secondary 4 bbl carb.

 

[shane96ranger]

Use a steel geared points distributor

You just swore at me (points).

 

[baddad457]

And you left out the "rest of the story(sentence)

.Use a steel geared points distributor (you'll have to do the gear swap yourself though) and refit it with a Pertronix unit (two wire hookup) .

 

[shane96ranger]

And you left out the "rest of the story(sentence)

I just pointed out the swear word

It is a good idea though