The 302 HO engine in my 89 F250 decided it needed to be a boat anchor instead of the great engine it was! I found a 351W out of a 96 F250 and the distributor is different from the harness and TFI Module Distributor I had in the 89. Can I use the old TFI Module Distributor in place of the newer 96 distributor, so my wiring harness still is usable?
TFI Module Distributor vs Newer Style Distributor Without
- Thread starter darylshouseinc1
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302 distributor will not work with a 351
Also check the firing order, they likely are different so there will be some re pinning to be done,
What happened to the engine that is in the truck?
Also check the firing order, they likely are different so there will be some re pinning to be done,
What happened to the engine that is in the truck?
I had the top end off in 2014 and installed new flat tappet lifters with a brake in oil on the same cam. I used new pushrods, injectors, injector rail and any other things with all new gaskets, new distributor and gear. The engine was professionally built by a reputable race shop for the Las Vegas Track back in 2005 and bored 30 over too, yet it just seemed to lack the power it had after the rebuild in 2014. In the last few years I was noticing a minor smell of antifreeze in the exhaust, yet it didn't seem like it was leaking anywhere else. It started great and ran great, along with getting on average 19 - 21mpg on the highway with a load in the truck. When I drove from North Dakota to Washington State a few years ago, I had eight thousand pounds gross weight and still was averaging the same mileage as it always did. Recently within the last couple months it started developing a thumping sound and I could tell by the sound of the exhaust there was something not right. I had to wait until I could afford to tear it down as life had other plans for my money. Last week I pulled the drivetrain out and put the engine on one of my stands. When I pulled the heads, 6 out of the 8 cylinders have multiple gouges and scratches in the walls of each cylinder. I stopped right there and checked the heads only to find two hairline cracks in each head. I'm one of those very anal people about how my vehicles are taken care of and what and when they need something. So all of this damage was very surprising to me! A friend of mine looked at the short block and she felt I have multiple cylinders all with broken rings, which was my first thought when pulling the heads off too. I have for years ran Chevron with Techron Premium and it seemed to perform absolutely great! If I went to any other lower grade now and then it ran less efficiently and lost mileage. I am not sure if this was a factor on what has happened or not. Too Bad, So Sad! Keep going! So checking the yards in the area I'm currently visiting in, no one had a lower mileage 302 for my year, then one I was referred to said they had a 5.8W. I drove for 40 minutes to check it out. It came out of a 96 F250 4x4. The truck was wrecked yet the engine was good and ran before it was pulled and the truck crushed. I thank you on your comment about the difference in the timing, yet I knew that going in when I bought it. I figured I could simply adjust the wiring to compensate for the difference, yet I AGREE WITH YOU THAT REPINNING, would be better! Yesterday, I found a different yard that has the same engine and harness complete, yet they will not sell the harness, so I am back to my harness and computer. I was very impressed with the knowledge of the young man I was talking with. He has knowledge of many types of vehicles well beyond his years, and also build customs at he and a friends shop, however they do not do any fords. We took over 34 pictures of how everything hooks up to the 5.8W versus my old 302HO. I am not really concerned about getting the 5.8W engine working, yet when I saw the different distributor after setting it on my garage floor I thought I should do some checking. So Here I Am! Thank You Again for writing and asking! Daryl
manicmechanic007
5 Year Member
You just need to find a older 351 distributor and put it in the 96 motor. The fender mount TFI module on the 96 is the only difference that I am aware of. Tons of really smart people on here. Never wait to tear it down. Sucked a valve in a priceless 302 Z-28 chev motor by waiting to tear it down. Turns out the piss ass milk toast.... piston hit the valve and ka blewey
I believe the 351 distributor has a different size oil pump shaft diameter and will not work on the 5.0. Also need to make sure the distributor you get is compatible with the roller cam.
Yeah, 302 distributor uses a 1/4" oil pump shaft while the 351 uses a 5/16th shaft.
manicmechanic007
5 Year Member
Daryl,
You are going to be using the 351 motor out of a 96 truck right?
You just need to find a older 351 distributor. TFI modules came out with EECIV in 1984. Earlier in Escort '82.
Daryl, you Look for 88 f250 351 distributor. That distributor will work for your engine harness.
The 96 truck and van 351 has a fender mount TFI module which will not fit your engine harness
You are going to be using the 351 motor out of a 96 truck right?
You just need to find a older 351 distributor. TFI modules came out with EECIV in 1984. Earlier in Escort '82.
Daryl, you Look for 88 f250 351 distributor. That distributor will work for your engine harness.
The 96 truck and van 351 has a fender mount TFI module which will not fit your engine harness
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