I have an '89 F-150 4x4 short bed with 5.0/302 that I bought for a fishing/hunting/camping vehicle. I plan to rebuild the engine this spring and was looking for any recomendations. At this point I was just planing on returning it to "stock" but would like any affordable upgrades (I would like to keep the overhaul price under a long block price). Any ideas?

 

The real short coming on those older 302 and 351w engines are the poor flowing heads. Best bet...A set of new GT-40p heads. They flow much better than stock and will make a ton more low end torque.

I had a friend that put a set of Mustang shorty headers on his truck, with the 302, and a custom exhaust, high flow cat. It made a world of difference.

 

Thanks, I like the idea, would my gibson headers bolt onto the gt40p head?

 

It might...although I don't know for sure. The spark plug angle is different on the gt-40p head. Some long tube headers will work. Not sure about the Gibsons.

 

Before blowing $400 on a set of gibson headers go to www.summitracing.com and purchase a set of summit's shorty headers custom made for your engine and year they bolt right up to factory exhaust for around $160. Also go with a cat back 3 inch dual exhaust $150 from summit. Did both mods myself in my garage in 3 hours nice noticable torque gain for right around $300 total and a few hours of work and several longnecks. Good Luck

 

Also if you have the time and ability tear that old engine down to the block, can be done without pulling the motor. Clean everything and if you want to really get into it take the heads off and have them bored. Try a set of undersized pulleys, Toss some new gaskets at the old girl and replace old brittle vac lines, new plugs, wires and cap and fuel filter and you will be suprised as to how much more power a clean, fresh engine will give you

 

I already installed the headers and 3 inch cat back exhaust. I plan to have a custom cat welded up as well. I am thinking on tearing the engine down to the block this Feb.

 

Why not get a crate motor? They're pretty reasonable, and come out of the modern production line, so any problems have hopefully been addressed. Have you heads cleaned up and rebuilt, and bolt them on.,,,,98

http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts...tKeyField=1810

 

I thought this was a fishing/camping truck. I don't know about sinking all that dough into it. I'd do a master rebuild and grind the EGR hump from the exhaust ports, gasket match the intake with the heads and headers/manifolds that'll help them flow a lil' better. Iron is a pain to grind but it'll save you a bunch of money. Or pickup some cast iron Dart heads and save a few bucks. If you're going to change the heads you might as well upgrade the intake exhaust and cam or you won't get the full benefit. Now before I get yelled at we're talking a Fishing truck not a racer. These parts will provide you years of trouble free driving but won't take the WOT redlight runs like the parts the other members are talking about. Just trying to keep a budget in mind.