I've been seriously toying with this idea as my next project, but after some thought and talking to various engine builders, the newer 5.8 (up to '01) is kind of a dog for a vehicle for anything OTHER than a truck or van. Anybody have a link which compares the HP/torque curves of the stock versions of the
5.0L HO and the 5.8L? I was thinking of grabbing a salvage motor from a F or E series vehicle and swapping on the Explorer upper intake manifold as the truck manifold is WAY too tall even for a cowl hood..Obvious swap to Mass air instead of speed density. I want a lot of torque, but it sounds like that's ALL these motors have and not much else really useful for what would be a daily driver. That is unless I can find a complete n/a lightning motor (and their just SO easy to find ) *sarcasm off*).What block was Saleen using for the S351's? Was he using the same block as what was going in the trucks and vans but changing the internals and top end?
Can you build a lightning motor from the 5.8 block out of a stock truck/van?
After talking with Ron Morris. In his opinion, it sounds like the 5.0 used in the Explorers until just a few short years ago would be the best heart for this car. Nice and torquey because of the heavier original vehicle used, but not ALL torque for towing or toting heavy loads. Just get the wiring harness for the swap with the mustang ECU and I'm done (sorta).
Suggestions? Is the newer, taller deck 351W/5.8L really not that great a motor? Please don't suggest the newer modular motors. I don't want to work that hard and jack around with the shocktowers.
I'd also want to run an automatic, not a manual tranny and I want OD. If I went with the 5.8, which OD auto tranny would I need to run? Will the standard AOD handle a fairly stock 5.8?
Scott W. '66 HCS