5.0l Swapping 5.0ho

[Ruben Rivera]

Hey guys I just bought a 87 Foxbody t tops and it came with a 5.0 liter and I have a 5.0ho sitting with 90,000 miles I was wondering what do I need to put the 5.0 HO in my Mustang is something different what about computers I heard that Ho has more power so I would like to use that motor

 

[mikestang63]

your 87 SHOULD have come with the same 5.0 HO motor unless someone swapped it out. What makes you think it has a regular 5.0 in it?

 

[Ruben Rivera]

I took it to check the engine light and on their scanner is said if the VIN number is an F then it's only a 5.0

 

[Mustang5L5]

yeah I wouldn't go by that.

When I run my codes it says my engine is a V6.


What scanner are they hooking up to an OBD1 car that is pulling the VIN number out with it? I'm pretty sure these early Mustang computers don't have VIN info

 

[Ruben Rivera]

Botch scanner What car came with a 5.0 Non ho

 

[jrichker]

Simple to find out: look at the spark plug wiring order...

This doesn’t prove that the block is a HO block. Some trucks evidently use a HO firing order
with a low lift cam (this will result in less than the desired HP output). However, it will definitely prove that a block can’t be HO because the firing order is wrong.

Remove the #1 & #3 spark plugs. Put your finger in #1 spark plug hole. Crank the engine over until you feel compression on #1 cylinder. Slowly turn the engine until the TDC mark and the timing pointer line up. Mark TDC on the balancer with chalk or paint. Put your finger in #3 spark plug hole and crank the engine 90 degrees. You should feel pressure trying to blow past your finger. If you do not feel pressure, repeat the process again. If you feel pressure, it is a HO engine.

No pressure the second time, remove spark plug #5. Put your finger in #1 spark plug hole. Crank the engine over until you feel compression on #1 cylinder. Put your finger in #5 spark plug hole and crank the engine 90 degrees. If you feel pressure now, the engine is not a HO model, no matter what it says on the engine.

Using a small carpenter or machinist square to mark the harmonic balancer off into 90 degree sections may be helpful here.

A 15/16 deep socket & breaker bar or ratchet may be used to turn the engine.

The HO firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8.
Non HO firing order is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8

 

[Ruben Rivera]

As soon as I get home from work I'm going to do that I'll let you know tonight thank you

 

[Mustang5L5]

Or you can pull the computer and take a peek at the part number and computer code on it

 

[Ruben Rivera]

Sorry been busy with the kids an all didint have time to get to the car but we're is the computer located

 

[Mustang5L5]

pass side kick panel.

If you remove the interior trim, you can pull it out. There should be a part number on it.

I think for a stock 1988 Mustang it should be E7SF-12A650-


Top right, you'll see a 2-digit or 3 digit code.

DA1 is for a 5-spd car
DC is for an automatic.

 

[Ruben Rivera]

As soon as I find out I'll let you know thanks alot