Thread: How to tell the difference ( H.O. or not)

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Originally Posted by Oldf100fordman

Yes, if...... it was a 5 speed. the automatics had throttle body injection.

Found that out the hard way on an 89 HO. HO uses the 351W cam which is a different firing order from the 302. Check your firing order if the wires are still on it.

The early 5.0 fired 1 then 5 which was hard on the front main which brought the 351 w firing order in later engines. I have a 84 HO with factory Holly 4 and Ford aluminum intake and shorty headers and alum valve covers saying POWERED BY FORD on them .. This one was pulled from a Capri which was the test mule for the next mustang year . In 1984 the HO was rated at 187 HP. Some early 1985 5.0 still had hyd lifters and then they went roller.

Do you know what the engine was out of?? Iv found the later 86/87 HO 225HP engines in the Lincoln LSC(i think) which are alot more likely to not have been abused, got mine for $350 complete intake-pan, just my .02

That should be an LSC mark seven or some such. They are good candidates for track lock disc brake rears as well. First clue in a junker car is the HO will have the throttle body on the passenger side. Still, it isn't unheard of to find a generic crate replacement motor that is non HO in there so you have to check further. The 351 firing order, double roller timing chain, forged pistons, E7TE heads, of course the roller cam is a maybe because it could still be the generic cam with just short of 3/8 valve lift. The HO cam has .444" valve lift. The valley on an HO block usually has XXX but may sometimes have YYY cast into it as well.

like these x x x on the block this a 84 carbed engine