Hey everyone; I'm the new kid in town for now and I have a few questions about building a new engine. Currently I have a 302 with the same firing order in my 92 Nite F150,just purchased a 5.0 HO block and heads.Is this a good thing or not? I understand the problem w/the 7-8 cyl.firing order and realize why Ford would want to go to an HO firing order. Question is do I have to change cranks also or if mine checks out spec-wise can it be used? Also do I need to change out distributors or dist.gears and change the firing order w/ the plug wires? I was told that a 302 was a 302,but is that true? Well you can probably tell I'm not really up on these things too much,but I'd rather ask now than later. Thanks for any help. I'm sure I will be picking your brains again

 

Thats a good question, im not a pro either, but i think that i might be able to help. If the firing order is different, then NO, ur crank is not going to work. If it calls for cyl. 1 to fire, and ur crank is down, then u arent going to get a great running engine. If the firing order is different then the pistons arent going to come up in the right order. U should try and get the crank and distributor out of an HO, that way u r 100% sure, and know that it will run. Im not sure that it will even start if u were to use ur old crank and distributor. Plus, i believe that the HO, has a higher spark power, so no ur distributor will not work either. All of this is just my opinion, im not 100% sure, hopefully someone else wth more knowledge can give u a better answer, but hopefully this will help.

 

That sounds like what I was thinking,but I've heard a couple different things.Ther es a guy at work thats into mustangs and the question kind of confused him.speaking of not being a pro,the last rebuild I did,you could crawl into the engine compartment with the motor.I believe they were still using generators. well I'd better b queit before a T-REX hears me. Thanx

 

I rounded up some more info on the HO deal. The only thing that I was told that makes an HO is th cam.he same crank and distributor can be used,you have to change out the dist.gear and lifters to match the roller cam if you're not running a roller cam at the present.I believe but don't quote me Jeg's carries a roller cam for 302 truck w/ excellent low to midrange power 260 duration and 488 lift.It seems like problem solved.At last this one.Hey,thanks for your input and maybe if the question comes up again we'll both know. NITEPACK

 

Crank is fine, cams are different.