Fox body SERP setup

[McChargue]

Will a 302 out of an 82 Foxbody fit in a Bronco? I have an opportunity to get one
For a pretty decent price complete with all the dress on the front. If it won’t fit though I don’t think it’s worth it. Anyone have any previous experience with this vintage of mustang swap?

 

[904Bronco]

I cannot say the 82 vintage Serp will work or not. Haven't seen one in a long time

The 87-93 Mustang serp will fit but the fan clearance > Rad is like 1/4-1/2". Just enough room to install a radiator protector. Explorer serp is still the best to use IMHO.

 

[bronconut73]

I think those early serp systems were a little fat.
Like even though its serp the a/c or smog pump ran off of a v-belt...making the whole thing fatter/less clearance.
The fireman (904) is right.
A used 5.0 '96-'01 Explorer makes more power, has a roller cam, and a wicked thin serp system.
It is perfect for an eb. When I say more power I mean like a hundred more horsepower than the stock 5.0 offerings for an '82 Fox Body.
Another bonus. There are fellas here that have thrown an Explorer 5.0 with a 180,000+ miles on it in their eb and run it for years. They really are the best 5.0 Ford ever made in mass production.
Look around carefully and you can find one for less than $750 bucks. The 4x4 tranny (4R70W) is excellent too.
And the rear axle is prized by Jeepers.
Part out a '96 to '01 Explorer instead Hoss.

 

[bigmuddy]

I used to run the 5.0 that was an 86 model out of a fox body, not sure if the front dress is the same? The 86 fit OK but it took some spacers and trimming of a flex fan to get it back off the radiator. Others have moved the radiator ford by cutting the core support, which is an option but not a great option IMO. You could also source the explorer front serpentine dress that would likely fit?

As bronconut73 said, if you don't mind waiting and looking the explorer motors put out better HP than even the 86 model, which was better than the earlier models of 5.0. And you can get the serpentine system to boot. Explorer 5.0 has better heads, better cam to carry the heavier explorer, in fact the EFI intakes flowed better than the mustang intakes in general.

 

[toddz69]

The '82 serp drive was very similar to the 85-93 stuff - one benefit back in the day was that the serpentine setups through '83 or '84 came with a York A/C compressor with a serpentine pulley on them. When a lot of people were running A/C compressors for on-board air, they were very desirable.

I wouldn't consider an '82 5.0 desirable for a Bronco at all anymore - if it ever was.

Todd Z.

 

[Quick & Dirty]

Make sure it's a 302. The 255 V8 was used '80-'82. Common in the Fox bodies. A 302 block with a reduced (3.68") bore and tiny valve heads to fit it. They're disappeared and forgotten for a reason.

The 5.0HO was introduced in '82, but it was just the 2 barrel 302 coming back. Still a step up from the 255.