Getting Another 5.0...just A Little Different

criticman

Member
Sep 7, 2003
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Rome, GA
Been a while since I've had my supercharged '93 5.0 hatch and sadly not getting another Mustang but instead a late 80's F-150 with a 5.0 V8. Just wanted to check in here to see a) what differences there were between the motor in the Mustang and the F-150, b) what I should know about carburetor 5.0's (vs EFI), c) what easy tune-up/performance tweaks exist for a carb'd 5.0 (I recall a lot of EFI-specific pointers), and d) is there a good StangNet equivalent site & forum for F-150 owners?

Thanks in advance for any input. I always enjoyed my time here and figured there are likely a lot of you who own both 5.0 Mustangs and 5.0 trucks. Eager to step on the go pedal of a 5.0 V8 again real soon!
 
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'85 should be carb'd, I think EFI was an option in '85 though...I had an '86 a few years ago (2wd, 302, 4speed)...The the truck 5.0's are flat tappet instead of roller. They will obviously have a different cam geared more towards low end torque. They dont have to forged pistons like the mustangs do. I know that the later model truck 302's use the E7 heads, but Im not sure when they started that...There's a few difference between them.
 
'85 should be carb'd, I think EFI was an option in '85 though...I had an '86 a few years ago (2wd, 302, 4speed)...The the truck 5.0's are flat tappet instead of roller. They will obviously have a different cam geared more towards low end torque. They dont have to forged pistons like the mustangs do. I know that the later model truck 302's use the E7 heads, but Im not sure when they started that...There's a few difference between them.

Starting in '92, all F-Series trucks with the 5.0 got a roller cam.
 
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1985 Ford F-150 by Critic_Man, on Flickr

Bought a 1985 F-150 RWD Auto last night. It is indeed carbureted. Thanks for the forum link as well as the differences between the motors. Condition is as you would expect for an '85. I have a nice list going from my recollection on my Stang as far as refresher maintenance to make her a little more solid. Also needing to learn more about carb'd vehicles. I'm guessing I'll find a wealth of info on the Ford Truck forum.
 
8082764302_790f55455c_q.jpg
1985 Ford F-150 by Critic_Man, on Flickr

Bought a 1985 F-150 RWD Auto last night. It is indeed carbureted. Thanks for the forum link as well as the differences between the motors. Condition is as you would expect for an '85. I have a nice list going from my recollection on my Stang as far as refresher maintenance to make her a little more solid. Also needing to learn more about carb'd vehicles. I'm guessing I'll find a wealth of info on the Ford Truck forum.

I've got an '84. F150's FTW.
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