Difference between the 5.0HO and the 5.0W

[manlavi95]

What's the difference between the 5.0HO that came in foxbody Stangs and the 5.0W that comes in the Explorers? Also, what parts are interchangeable if any?

 

[snoranger]

The Explorer has better heads and intake.

 

[manlavi95]

So aftermarket parts fit both the HO and W?

 

[imp]

So aftermarket parts fit both the HO and W?

OK here's what I remember. A few points are damned important!

5.0HO in Mustangs used a different firing order from the traditional 221, 260, 289, 302 engine. 5.0HO had a roller-camshaft. 5.0HO Cobra in '93 had that PLUS roller rocker arms.

5.0HO used a STEEL distributor drive gear. 5.0 non-HO used cast iron in cars and trucks. Swapping around, use of the WRONG distributor drive gear will result in gear tooth failure, either on the camshaft or distributor/.

5.0HO used a DIFFERENT firing order from traditional Ford V-8 1,5,4,2,6,3,7,8.

Plug wires must be routed properly.

Eng. mount holes are same. Watch out for balance weight considerations on the flywheel or flex=plate, I forget the differences, but they are there. imp

 

[manlavi95]

So the engines can use the same heads/crank/pistons/rods/block?

 

[snoranger]

I guess I should have said both the fox and Explorer 5.0s Are HO engines.

 

[manlavi95]

Only difference is cam, lifters, rockers, firing order, distributor gear. Am I picking this up right?

 

[snoranger]

Only difference is cam, lifters, rockers, firing order, distributor gear. Am I picking this up right?

Heres the deal:

The 5.0W and the 5.0HO are basically the same. IIRC, They started calling it the HO when they went to a roller cam and 351w firing order.

The fox and Ex are both HO engines.. roller cam, same firing order, etc.

The heads on the Ex are gt-40 or gt-40p depending on the year (pretty close to Cobra spec). The Fox uses E8 heads.

The Ex intake is better flowing then the fox intake.

The Ex cam is the same or almost the same spec as the truck cam.

The rockers and lifters are the same.

They are all the same balance... 50oz.

The timing chain cover and front accessories are different. (the Ex being shorter to fit between the firewall and rad.)

 

[manlavi95]

Thank you for enlightening me, now I can explore my options (pun not intended)

 

[imp]

So the engines can use the same heads/crank/pistons/rods/block?

Yes. imp

 

[imp]

The timing chain cover and front accessories are different. (the Ex being shorter to fit between the firewall and rad.)

Two different front-end styles of accessories were used in the 5-liter Mustangs: in 1995, last year for the 5.0 HO, the water pump was shallower, having a shorter "snout", to shorten the front end requirements, I think mainly due to more slope in the car's hood. Explorer 5.0 may have used the same shorter scheme as '95 Mustang.

I have one of those engines out in my shop. If pics showing the front are desireable, let me know. imp

 

[snoranger]

Two different front-end styles of accessories were used in the 5-liter Mustangs: in 1995, last year for the 5.0 HO, the water pump was shallower, having a shorter "snout", to shorten the front end requirements, I think mainly due to more slope in the car's hood. Explorer 5.0 may have used the same shorter scheme as '95 Mustang.

I have one of those engines out in my shop. If pics showing the front are desireable, let me know. imp

The sn95 stang uses the same timing chain cover, but the Ex uses a shorter water pump.

 

[9050lx]

87-93 had forged pistons in the mustang.Similar to L 2488-f TRW.Heads were E7TE.Lots of Mustang guys use the GT40-P as cheap performance heads.I dont know how a stock Mustang H.O. cam would work in an Explorer.Probably Ok as it makes pretty good low-end.

 

[SoNic67]

I dont know how a stock Mustang H.O. cam would work in an Explorer.Probably Ok as it makes pretty good low-end.

That would depend also of the intake (flow) and especially the exhaust piping (back pressure) - overlap might be different on Stang to compensate.

 

[9050lx]

Think I'm getting the itch to find a 5.0 explorer.