1987 5.0 Distributor Question

Can anyone tell what points distributor will work on a 1987 5.0, I dont want to use the EFI. Thanks CURT

 

Roller cam 5.0`s used a steel cam gear......easiest thing to do is convert it to Duraspark and buy a distributor for a `85 Mustang GT with a 5spd.There about $45.00 new.Very easy to wire up a Duraspark box to any car.Google it and you will see.

 

I think the easiest thing to do is buy a steel (or bronze but it will wear faster) distributor gear that fits the shaft of the distributor you want to run and run it.

Ford Racing Performance Parts and MSD both make steel gears. I'd look at M-12390-B, M-12390-C, M-12390-E and M-12390-F (C & E are bronze, B & F are steel) from FRPP and also check out the MSD website.

 

Use the gear on the EFI distributor. Any 260/289/302 distributor will work - just be sure to use the EFI distributor gear.

 

The shaft sizes are different for the gears. The late model distributors are a larger diameter so you will need to get a aftermarket gear for an older distributor. I just bought a rebuilt points dizzy from the local parts store and put a MSD steel gear on. Works fine on both my cars.

 

Isnt this a little O/T? or is it just like the HAMB classifieds and its ok to be uncouth?
Am I the first one to wonder this or am I talking out of my ass?

 

Why do you say OT? Sounds like tech to me, nice to know info if you're a small block Ford guy. Powerful, compact, and lightweight motor with a roller cam that gives it tons of torque, what's not to like?. And once you put it in the car, it's not easily distinguished from it's older, more acceptable to the tradition police versions.

 

I've never heard anybody complain when it's a crapass planned obsolescence 350.

Is is uncouth just because its a 5 litre Ford??


From what I recall, The 87 used a billet camshaft so you Have to use a gear that is compatible with billet hence a bronze gear is recommended. They were available from motorsport but don't know if they still are.

Years ago I ended up buying a compatible motorsport distributer thanks to the excellent advise from John Veersmich at the motorsport hotline..

....... The roller cams came out in mid 85 when the duraspark II was the norm. Look for a rare 85 1/2 mustang duraspark from a car that was not fuel injected as it's gear is compatable with the billet roller cam..
Not sure if you can order a complete 1985 1/2 (or 86?) distributer directly from Ford anymnore or not.

I wonder what ever happened to John Veersmich????

 

I would've sworn that I've done this in the past...but maybe I put the 5.0 gear on an older 351W distributor...I know I put the damn gear on something!

 

Well ,It's good info for me I'm trying to put a '87 5.0 from a Crown Vic in my 29 Tudor and I need all the help I can get on Ford'na'Ford .
I don't post much because I have found that some people on this forum will jab you just for the hell of it . I'm an older man who still loves to learn about our hobby ,even if it isn't what I am working on at the moment. Live and learn ,live and help those who want help.
sorry for the long rant ,But damn. If I want to hear bitching I will pull up a chair in front of the old lady. JimB.

 

I got the impression he was going to use the 302 in his rod. Probably wrong but why put a points dizzy in a late model? Right?

I see old trad looking rides with crate motors and everyone is all gaw gaw over 'em. Those are considered on topic.

Now we got a fella asking a legit question about swapping parts in a motor and this is OT? Its not like he said "hey fellas I just bought an 06 Something or other GT that I'm gonna paint flat black and wonder if i should pin stripe it or not."

 

Let's back to business.....If it's a roller cam engine, a bronze gear is required. If it's a flat tappet, use a hard gear. I perfer to uae a point distributor w/Pertrinox, but to each his own.
Pat

 

First I would like to say thanks for everyone help. I did try to put a late model dist in hole b ut the shaft wont fit the guide thats in the block where the cam gear is. any ideas?

 

When I swaped a 89 5.0 into a friends 65 mustang, I used the steel gear from ford motosport on the stock 65 distributor. He wanted the motor to look stock. It is still running strong 12 years and 100k + very hard miles.

 

I just assumed since it was the guys first post and his question was about a 5.0 with efi that he was maybe lost. I don't know the guy or what kind of rig he was working on, I just assumed. That's why I asked, and that's also why I said I might be talking out of my ass. Sorry to offend if I did.

 

It was a good tech question. I'm sure everyone who read it learned a little. There's a reason God gave you two ears and one mouth.

 

I think it's a good question as I recently aquired a 89 5.0 to put in my 51 M-1 to replace the 68 302 due to bad main bearings. And here's a link to add to the tech part for wiring up a Dura-Spark..http://www.mustangsteve.com/conversion.html
Dura spark works well, and to make it look more like a point dizzy, cut off the big plug end and wire directly to the wires and then tape or shrink wrap them and then you don't have the stock plug ends.

 

Many a man has gone down that path.

 

This is a great post. I'm in the midst of pulling '90 5.0 out of a truck I got for the right price (dad gave it to me) and I plan to stuff it in the Crestless Crestline this summer. Now I'm wondering about what AOD (non electric) to run with it. I've got the truck 5 speed with it but haven't decided which way to go. I'm supposed to be getting a dizzy from a guy on here I sent some stuff to in trade so we'll see how that works out!

 

Also FYI to you guys, the roller cam 5.0L engine does not use the same firing order as the early 302's did. You must use the later model firing order. I've seen some guys get real stumped by that one.

 

Ford hydraulic roller cams use a steel gear - not cast like standard gears. You could use bronze, but you'd be replacing it eventually...too soft for daily driver usage IMO

 

If it's out of an 87 Crown Vic, it's probably NOT a roller motor, and will have the regular 302 firing order. All this steel/bronze gear stuff will be null and void in that case.

I sent you an email.

Mercman

 

But it would accept all the roller stuff if you want the roller cam setup.

 

FYI, The 1987 302 IS a roller block. If its an unmolested engine from a crown vic/grand marquis its the lo-po version (not to be cornfused with the HO in the mustang), firing order is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8.
1986 and later EFI blocks are all roller in the cv/gm. No ifs ands or buts about it. =-) (Box cv/gm's absorb a lot of my time. Its a roller).

That said, always check the firing order on the engine before ripping the wires off. The HO swap is semi-popular, so save yourself some headache if you can't be certain if its the original engine.

Alex.

 

Oh shit! I forgot about the firing order difference. When I did my first 5.0 H.O. swap, I about went nuts until a clammer vioce said to use the 351 firing order....Imagine my red face.
Pat

 

we were just talking about this at work today and couldn't remember if it was steel or bronze on a roller motor...but thanks to this ON TOPIC post i now know

 

Sounds like you have a 351W distributor.

 

Was the oil pump hex drive lined up?

 

As in, Hit the starter and the distributer will fall down into place???


Question??


From what I recall, The Lincolns and the Mustangs got the first actual roller cam engines...

Ford was casting two different blocks at that time..

The regular 302 and the new block that has a deeper boss for the somewhat taller roller lifters..

If I recall right, Ford dropped the old casting in 1989 so all 1989 302 blocks will be the taller lifter boss design..
This does not mean that all 302s have rollers, It just means that Ford stopped producing two seperate 302 blocks...


???Does anyone no for sure when the actual roller cams were standard in Crowns and Mercs??

I have an 88 running CV and was going to hall it away as the driveways full...

How would I know with out tearing things down if the engine includes factory rollers...???


Anybody have opinions here????

Thanks

moe

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All `85-up 302`s were roller cams....not all were HO`s though.Look at the first reply to this tread....all the answers you needed