superfastman

So I received an 86 F150 from my grandfather with a valvetrain tap. I pulled the plenum intake and valve covers, and found what appeared to be a failed lifter. Put it back together only to discover a blown head gasket. Needless to say annoying, the truck has a mustang roller motor with an F150 intake on top. My question is can I swap in any injected 302? I know the firing order changed after the 86 model year, if I swap in a later motor do I just need to make sure I stick to the 86 firing order? That's how it is set up now, just want to avoid headaches doing a swap, and if any of you guys are in the Nashville area with an extra motor laying around I'm looking for one. Thanks!

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

You should have the speed density setup (no MAF) so they'll all work. Not sure when mustangs changed to the HO cam, but the trucks did it in 94-95. Roller blocks were installed in the trucks 87 and later, but they didn't actually install roller cams in them till 92-93. The mustangs got the roller cam much earlier.
Upshot is, a 302 is a 302. They'll all work, just put your intake and stuff on.
Problem with a car engine (other than having to put the truck oil pickup and pan on) is that they came with a cam designed to pull a car around (lots of power, very little torque) so they don't pull a truck around very well with the original cam in them. Swap in a truck cam and it's a whole different motor, designed to pull a truck off the line or up a hill even with some weight in the back, but not so much of the spin the tires rev up quick little race car type thing.
Make sense ?