MG Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" and Costello V8s

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Brownwood
Keith Montague

(176 posts)

Registered:
01/25/2014 08:08PM

Main British Car:


Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: Brownwood
Date: March 11, 2014 04:55PM

In collecting parts for my MGB V8 conversion, I picked up a good deal on a new HEI for my 5.0 Mustang motor. Now as I look at all the builds i dont see anyone using them. Is there a hood clearance problem with them?

I hope I didin't blow it!


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: mgb260
Date: March 11, 2014 05:42PM

Keith, most use the old style point distributor converted to Pertronix as it is the smallest. The Duraspark can be used with the small cap and 4pin GM HEI module also. For hood clearance I'd put that much larger unit up for sale.


Brownwood
Keith Montague

(176 posts)

Registered:
01/25/2014 08:08PM

Main British Car:


Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: Brownwood
Date: March 11, 2014 05:46PM

Thanks, When I dropped it in the motor, still on the engine stand, I knew I had trouble. It was taller than the carb!

Its new and I thnk i can return it. Cost me some shipping but a cheap lesson...


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: mgb260
Date: March 11, 2014 05:53PM

Keith, Look through the "How it was Done" threads on Ford V8 on this site. Graham Crestwick, Rob Ficalora and Dan Masters come to mind.


Brownwood
Keith Montague

(176 posts)

Registered:
01/25/2014 08:08PM

Main British Car:


Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: Brownwood
Date: March 11, 2014 06:15PM

Thanks, I will. This is my 1st Ford motor and I find them really confusing, unlike my beloved Mopars. Seems like there are different distributors with different gears and lengths. I just want a distributor for a 1990 roller motor but darned if I can figure out what I need!


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: mgb260
Date: March 11, 2014 07:08PM

I like late 70's early 80's Duraspark with external GM HEI setup. You just get the distributor gear for the later roller cam and swap them. I have a few threads on Mgexperience board if you do a search. Use a 90's GM truck heatsink with heatsink paste with 75-80 GM 4 pin module. No resistor and easy hookup. 2 wires from distributor and 2 wires to coil. Plus ground on distributor and module. Here's a couple of pictures:
imagesELVXLMK3.jpg
imagesTP8NJNVQ.jpg



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/2014 07:23PM by mgb260.


rficalora
Rob Ficalora
Willis, TX
(2764 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 02:46PM

Main British Car:
'76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: rficalora
Date: March 11, 2014 09:13PM

Keith, can't go wrong with a distributor for a 1985 Manual transmission 5.0L Mustang. It has the steel gear you need and is available through local parts stores. Cardone part# 30-2831. It comes with an adapter and the large Ford distributor cap, just toss those and use a small cap (if the guy at the counter doesn't know how to find one without a year/make/model, give him a 70's 302 pickup). The small cap will fit.

Double check the gear though. I got one that had a cast gear on it instead of steel (roller cam needs steel). Look at the flats on the ends of the gear. Cast has a sand/small pebble appearance. Steel is machined on the flats.



Brownwood
Keith Montague

(176 posts)

Registered:
01/25/2014 08:08PM

Main British Car:


Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: Brownwood
Date: March 12, 2014 09:23AM

Thanks for the info. A motor is a motor and a car is a car, but each platform has its quirks!


Addicted
Mike Hagadorn
Warren PA
(132 posts)

Registered:
09/27/2013 03:46PM

Main British Car:
1976 TR7 Victory Edition Ford 302

Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: Addicted
Date: March 12, 2014 09:40PM

As far as gear height, I reference this instruction from Ford Racing.
[www.fordracingparts.com]


Brownwood
Keith Montague

(176 posts)

Registered:
01/25/2014 08:08PM

Main British Car:


Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: Brownwood
Date: March 14, 2014 10:57AM

OK, I started checking on non HEI distributors and I'm confused again. My motor is a 1990 HO 5.0 and I seem to need a long shaft distributor. The only long shaft distributors I can find that aren't hundreds of dollars are HEI distributors. What are my options for this budget swap?


Addicted
Mike Hagadorn
Warren PA
(132 posts)

Registered:
09/27/2013 03:46PM

Main British Car:
1976 TR7 Victory Edition Ford 302

Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: Addicted
Date: March 14, 2014 02:06PM

edit: did some looking, and it does appear that the oil pump drive end of the distributor is what's long vs short. Ford racing doesn't seem to offer the long (older) drive shaft, and I can't tell how long any aftermarket shafts are (ARP, Miloden, etc)

I just bought Cardone 30-2899 for an 1985 flat tappet engine (non-roller, so I need a cast gear). The one Rob mentioned looks to be the same distributor, but with a steel gear for use on a roller cam.

It seems to be a fine distributor, and I'd certainly buy another. It was $65 including the core charge (minus some coupons). I am running an MSD 6AL. For cap and rotor, I got MSD 8414. This was also confusing to me. I can take some measurements on heights, diameters, etc if you want.

I have an '89 Mustang GT, and the Cardone distributor looks like it would fit fine around the intake manifold.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/2014 08:55PM by Addicted.


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: mgb260
Date: March 14, 2014 02:23PM

85 and newer 5.0 use a 1/2" longer distributor than the older 302. For going to carb with distributor on the 5.0 your only option for a factory Duraspark distributor is 85.You need 85 and newer oil pump drive also. Specify manual or auto trans also. Like Rob said steel gear for roller cam and Mike said cast gear for flat tappet cam. There are aftermarket ones but they are usually taller height.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/2014 02:41PM by mgb260.


Addicted
Mike Hagadorn
Warren PA
(132 posts)

Registered:
09/27/2013 03:46PM

Main British Car:
1976 TR7 Victory Edition Ford 302

Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: Addicted
Date: March 14, 2014 02:51PM

Keith, The distributor and cap I mentioned is shorter than my intake, carb, and air plenum. I have an edelbrock performer intake, a holley carb, and spectre low profile plenum style air cleaner setup.


pspeaks
Paul Speaks
Dallas, Texas
(698 posts)

Registered:
07/20/2009 06:40PM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB-GT 1979 Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: pspeaks
Date: March 15, 2014 11:14AM

I have a ProComp7002 electronic distributor and a RV8 Bonnet, so it isn't to tall, but it has a module on the side that hits the Ford Typhoon intake restricting the amount it can be rotated and I don't think it's enough to time the motor so I'm going to go with the Cardone distributor as well. This thread has been a great help for me; thank you guys!



Paul


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: mgb260
Date: March 15, 2014 01:16PM

Paul, Remember to get a Duraspark distributor for 302 if you have a 302, the 85 is for later 5.0 and is a 1/2" longer.



pspeaks
Paul Speaks
Dallas, Texas
(698 posts)

Registered:
07/20/2009 06:40PM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB-GT 1979 Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: Ford 5.0 with HEI
Posted by: pspeaks
Date: March 18, 2014 11:46PM

Thanks Jim, I didn't know that. I'm an old Chevy 350 guy where a 350 is a 350, but Ford is a little more complicated.


Paul


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