1988 foxbody swap?

[dr_brewer]

Hi,

My '73 302 has been misfiring. I did a compression test today. Results were between 95-110 with most right at 100. This seems low to me?

I have a good deal on an '88 foxbody with 80k miles on it for $200. It will need a gasket kit and to be put back together. Is this a good option to drop into my bronco?

Is it a simple swap with no surprises? Good deal? My apologies for my ignorance. I am trying to learn.

I also found a good deal on a Cleveland (freshly machined), but I understand this to be a tight fit and more complicated.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Dave

 

[Broncobowsher]

Your title is misleading and won't get the responses it should. What you are trying to do is a late model 5.0 engine swap. The title reads like a redneck body swap, a 4WD mustang. I only clicked on it for the entertainment value of the horror show that I was expecting.

With that out of the way, the later pushrod 5.0 engines are a common swap. But there are some surprises. The big ones for a first timer that cause a lot of grief, expense, damaged parts are...
Engine inbalance characteristics. The crankshaft has external counterweights on the flywheel and crank damper. Those changed in ~'82. So engines newer than that require the newer 50 oz-in correction flywheels and crank damper. Older than that require the 28.8 oz-in correction. which leads to...
The 5.0 car engines use a smaller flywheel and clutch. The starter will never engage when bolted to a Bronco transmission. you need a late 80's 302 truck flywheel.
The crank pulley on the new engine is 4-bolts. The old Bronco uses 3-bolt pulleys. And the offset is different as well so you just can't redrill. Aftermarket damper will fix this. OR use the mustang accessory drive, which you will typically find the cooling fan will now want to be in the same locating as the radiator, not behind it.
Clutch linkage (if present) won't bolt to the engine due to a deleted hole. Venders have a quick bracket fix for that.
If trying to use the engine without EFI, just putting the old carb and distributor on the new engine, the new roller cam is not compatible with the old distributor gear. They will self destruct in a few thousand miles.

 

[JGbronc]

If trying to use the engine without EFI, just putting the old carb and distributor on the new engine, the new roller cam is not compatible with the old distributor gear. They will self destruct in a few thousand miles.

An 85 Mustang GT 5-speed distributor will work for this setup. First year of roller lifters, last year of carb.

You will like the Stang 5.0. Big improvement over the old flat tappet engine.

 

[roundhouse]

Hi,



My '73 302 has been misfiring. I did a compression test today. Results were between 95-110 with most right at 100. This seems low to me?



I have a good deal on an '88 foxbody with 80k miles on it for $200. It will need a gasket kit and to be put back together. Is this a good option to drop into my bronco?



Is it a simple swap with no surprises? Good deal? My apologies for my ignorance. I am trying to learn.



I also found a good deal on a Cleveland (freshly machined), but I understand this to be a tight fit and more complicated.



Thanks in advance for any feedback.



Dave

Gasket kit as in head gaskets ??

If the head gasket is blown the bearing are very likely damaged by the water that got in the oil

 

[HoosierDaddy]

The title reads like a redneck body swap, a 4WD mustang. I only clicked on it for the entertainment value of the horror show that I was expecting.

Exactly what I expected too, but stated soo much better! LMAO

But as far as the rest of the post, spot on.

I too, am wondering what you meant by gasket kit and reassembled?
Normal oil leak stuff, valve covers, pan maybe, etc etc. No problem with that, but if it's the head gaskets ... hmmm. I sense trouble on the horizon, in that case.

I bought a new distributor from Advance Auto when I did my EFI swap. I had noticed back then that you could order the distributors with either gear for EFI or carb set up. That was about a decade ago though.
As I recall, the difference between them is a cast gear or a steel gear. I needed the old style gear(cast?) on a EFI distributor (normally steel?).
(Somebody correct me if I got it wrong)