5.0L cam in a 5.8L????

[smoked77]

Just need some help thinking through my logic.....

A 5.0L HO mustang cam should work in a 5.8L right? Both are the same firing order, I am using a mustang harness and ECM...

The cam is driven off the crank, so the valve events will be driven by the crank. Basically, it should act like a bigger 5.0L.

The 5.8L is the same bore as a 5.0L, so the cam should fit. The only difference is the stroke.

Am I missing something?

 

[Dirtyboy]

your fine you got it.

 

[DRBRONCO69]

You will have to use the 5.0 distributor.

 

[dieselracer]

The cams are the same, 260, 289, 302, and 351W engines are all in the Windsor family. The first three engines until 1985 came with what we know as the 302 firing order. All 351W, and 5.0L engines from 1986 and newer should all have the windsor firing order. But aside from duration and lift, there are no physical differences. The 351W is basically a 302 with 1" taller deck height, bigger mains and of course the intake is wider because of the taller deck. The 351W distirbutor is longer too.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I will also toss out the mix of roller vs. flat tappet.
The 351 was not set up for roller cam until the '94 castings. The 5.0 get them in '85
If you want to use a 5.0 roller cam in a 351 you have 2 options. Use a late block set up for roller cam or use retrofit lifters.
There is another option using stock 5.0 roller lifters in a early 351 block but that requires a special small base circle cam to put the lifters in the right place, that isn't a stock 5.0 cam though.

As mentioned the cams will physically interchange. firing order is based on the cam selected, not the base engine. You will need to use the correct distributer drive gear to match the cam material or the 2 will self destruct.

The 5.0 cam will NOT fit the 351, the 351 has a larger oil pump driveshaft (5/16" vs. 1/4")

 

[smoked77]

You will have to use the 5.0 distributor.

Got one!

Thanks everyone...

 

[smoked77]

I will also toss out the mix of roller vs. flat tappet.
The 351 was not set up for roller cam until the '94 castings. The 5.0 get them in '85
If you want to use a 5.0 roller cam in a 351 you have 2 options. Use a late block set up for roller cam or use retrofit lifters.
There is another option using stock 5.0 roller lifters in a early 351 block but that requires a special small base circle cam to put the lifters in the right place, that isn't a stock 5.0 cam though.

As mentioned the cams will physically interchange. firing order is based on the cam selected, not the base engine. You will need to use the correct distributer drive gear to match the cam material or the 2 will self destruct.

The 5.0 cam will NOT fit the 351, the 351 has a larger oil pump driveshaft (5/16" vs. 1/4")

OK, the 5.8L is is a '97, so it should be a roller engine already. So, that should not be an issue. The distributor I have is for a roller 5.0L (out of a Bronco, I believe). Does this mean I need to swap drive gears to make it work with the 5/16" driveshaft? Or will it not work at all?

I am trying to inexpensively build this 5.8L to be a good runner and don't want to spend 400 on a cam and springs. That's where the 5.0L cam idea came from. Is this a good idea or not?

Good call on the firing order. I guess the cranks would not be different....just the cam and ECM.

 

[iwlbcnu]

The 5.0 dist will NOT work, it is to short. You have to find a 351 EFI dizzy, or if carbed 351 with steel gear.

 

[smoked77]

The 5.0 dist will NOT work, it is to short. You have to find a 351 EFI dizzy, or if carbed 351 with steel gear.

I plan to use the 5.0 wiring harness. The 5.8L TFI unit is mounted away from the distributor. Is there a way incorporate the 2 distributors? (This is the whole reason I got the 5.0L distributor - the TFI unit). Will I have to use the remoted mounted 5.8L TFI module?

 

[Broncobowsher]

A little cutting and splicing you can get the remote TFI to work with the mustang harness.
There are different wiring diagrams listed on www.fordfuelinjection.com in the technical papers that can help you out.

I would just work at making the '97 351 distributer that you have now work. It is already set up for the roller cam and fit everything except for a few wires. Splicing wires is cheap and easy. Buying parts costs money.

 

[smoked77]

Damn, good thing the 5.0L distributor was only $20.

 

[smoked77]

So, the 5.0L cam will work but the distributor will not.

 

[iwlbcnu]

correct, the cam is the same 5.0L and 351 roller.

 

[dieselracer]

The 5.0 cam will NOT fit the 351, the 351 has a larger oil pump driveshaft (5/16" vs. 1/4")

The size difference on the oil pump driveshaft is probably true, I don't have a 351W to look at. But the 5.0L distributor gear and the cam are the same as the 351W distributor gear and cam. I swapped EFI on my 75 302 with a flat tappet cam, and needed to get a cast iron gear from MSD to match the cast iron flat tappet cam. The distributor gear is advertised as a 351W gear(MSD-85852), but it was a great fit to the 5.0L distributor. Older carbed engines had a smaller diameter distributor shaft(.491"). The newer 5.0L and 351W distributors have a larger shaft(.531").