supercharged 5.0 true fire 98 explorer sport

[vroomzoomboom]

joe, haha! not sure when i will have it done. i am hoping before the end of October, but it all depends on how smooth things go.......and i am sure Murphy's law will come into play more then once!

dono, yea "little mod"! then again, joe, who is helping me, i dragged him into another motor swap of mine years back when i jammed a 429 big block in my 81 merc capri (which still has yet to be finished). i think this is engine pull #5 between the both of us with our own stuff.

don, i didnt think you could cam these motors in these trucks without problems. i will admit, i am very green when it comes to computer controlled motors. everyone is telling me a 4406 wont fit with the stock tank, but i dont know of anyone that has tried it either. i will have to break out the tape measure to see just how bad it will be. i know i want that transfer case how ever, but i know if i put a different tank in, and the vehicle inspection unit here see it, it will be game over for ever driving it on the street again.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

so as of today, here is where i stand. i dropped the trans off for my buddy to do his magic on it. shift kit, and he will look it over. i know jon had showed me a few threads for the "j mod", but i just dont trust myself to dig into a trans. that and he has been doing this for well over 20 years, and knows his stuff.

this is what the motor looks like as of now

upper, and lower intakes have been dropped off to get powder coated, as well as the alt, and power steering bracket and valve covers

i was very pleased to see that is was nice and clean inside as well

and the parts pile







ordered a complete gasket kit, roller timing chain and gears, belt tensioner, and oil pump which should be here next week. i still need to find a head porting kit, and carbides so i can do the heads as well. when i have the pan off, i might pull one or two caps to see what the crank is like, but judging by how clean everything is, they should be good.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Have the valve covers flamed to match or ban...

 

[vroomzoomboom]

You know Joe, I know you where pulling a funny, but that's not a bad idea. To bad I doutb he can do it.

 

[CDW6212R]

The computer will be unaffected by the change to the OEM 302 HO cam, it won't require a new tune(James). Of course it would be improved by a new tune, but not required. That isn't true for most popular aftermarket cams, most need tweaking of the A/F ratio.

Don't do the "J mod" to the trans, that is not recommended for any Ford truck automatic. The valve bodies are different enough that it usually creates problems. The TransGo kit is very good for anything except a very high powered 4R70W or AODE. Those should have the "J mod" done to them, and only with a car VB used.

The difference between the large and small gas tanks is a lot of length. The electric shifting BW4406 also requires more space, due to the shift motor.

Below is a picture of two 4dr tanks, both 22 gallons. The long one is my 98 Mountaineer 4dr tank. The short one is the identical length as a 95-01 Sport 2dr tank. The pre-95 tanks are plastic and shorter than the later steel tanks. I'm hoping to figure out how to properly swap the late tank sensors onto the older 93 4dr tank you see here. If I can do it, then I keep the 22 gallon size.

You may be able to use your steel Sport 2dr tank, but if not the early plastic tank may be workable.

 

[Joe Dirt]

That was only a half-funny. I think that would look sweet...

 

[vroomzoomboom]

don, can you measure out the tanks for me if you have a moment?

joe, i now really want to get that done, but cant get a hold of the guy. of all the days not to answer the phone!

 

[CDW6212R]

I can measure the plastic 93 tank, the stock 98 is in the truck.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

93 will do. i have the tank from the 5L truck out, and on the ground as well.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

did some more to the motor today. just tare down mind you, but was very VERY happy to see what i found.

you can still see the cross hatches, not really anything for scoring, and there is a very tiny ridge at the top.

ready to sand blast so i can do some clean up inside the ports and what not.

best part

looks like i really wont have to clean these at all as well

well i dropped the ball one night in chat at let everyone there know what i was doing , but the plan has changed once again. i am just going to do a port clean up, and gasket match to the heads and intake as well as put a mild cam in it. i will prob order that in the next few days. the upper and lower intakes should be finished powder coating now and i hope to get them back in the next few days.

 

[CDW6212R]

302 HO cam, really a much better choice than any other mild cam IMO. I plan to never buy any cam unless it's a custom billet cam or a bone stock part.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

302 HO cam, really a much better choice than any other mild cam IMO.

do you have a part #? so far all the companies that i have called and told them what i have, and was doing. i could visualize the deer in the head light look in there eyes. lunati so far was able to give me a cam number. it is 510A1LUN. remember, i dont want to go to insane with this, i want to keep drivability. that and, i will admit, i have forgotten a lot of stuff when it comes to parts matching for motors and what not (last one was almost 10 years ago).

 

[CDW6212R]

I'm sorry, I've been away and busy with work. The HO cam I suggest was in all 302 HO engines, 86-93 Mustang, 87-92 Mark VII, and the same used in the HO Thunderbird/Cougar 302's. There should be tons available on any Mustang forum or at Ford car events. They are all a billet steel cam, unless left outside they will last almost forever.

 

[Joe Dirt]

...and they run- I had a stock HO cam in my '88 Mustang/Explorer speed density motor and it ran mid 12's easy. We stopped even messing with the alphabet cams, like Don mentioned.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

so what, you guys are saying just look and see if some place like rock auto has one, and nab it?

 

[CDW6212R]

I'd start on the Corral, it's a huge site, but avoid new members there just selling stuff. Any drag strip or high performance parts shop should also be a good source for those stock used cams. Someone there usually can help to find one. I'd expect to pay $50 or less for one.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

I'd start on the Corral, it's a huge site, but avoid new members there just selling stuff. Any drag strip or high performance parts shop should also be a good source for those stock used cams. Someone there usually can help to find one. I'd expect to pay $50 or less for one.

after reading the last post, you and joe put up, that was the first place i looked. sol, but that doesnt mean i wont find something on there i am sure

 

[Joe Dirt]

The SSP Mustang site is also good, lots of guys boy the retired cop cars and replace the cams, that's what I had, a retired CHP Mustang cam.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

a little more progress done. NOTE, for all you that ever want to change the water pump, beware of this.

there are two bolts on top of the water passages with a stud on the end of them. when i went to remove them, they were like hercules tight. remembering the sbf motors i had in my capri, they seize in there due to corroding. i took a propane torch to the drivers side (running it on top of the timing chain cover) to loosen it up. it worked just enough to get it out. the passengers side i wasn't so lucky

any of you reading this, and that are on my fb page, you would have notice a status update at about 130 in the morning friday night. yup, that's what that was about. it took me about 45 min to get it out, and that is out in the open, easy to get at. i don't even want to know how fun it would have been in the truck!

cover off, to take chain and gears out. there where also in really good shape, and didn't look stretched at all

and down to as far as i am taking it

joe, i took your advice, and found a used 87-93 fox body cam. i had called a speed shop in winnipeg to price a new after market cam (and it would have been well over 450 shipped) i told the guy i was more after a fox body cam, didn't care if it was used or not as long as it was in good shape. his response "i think i might have two at home" 20 mins and $30 later, SCORE! i wanted to see just how much of a difference there was, and its a lot!

stock explorer cam on the left

new double roller chain and gears

thought i had a pic of the new oil pump, but i guess i forgot

painted up nice and purdy

new water pump, and painted timing chain cover back on. as well as painted the oil pan to

 

[GRNMACHINE]

Nice Nice!!