I have a 1988 f-250 with a 5.0 engine. I only use it for the occasional trip to the lumber yard or hauling job. I need to replace the engine and have been looking for one on craigs list. I see plenty of 5.0 engines but would hate to go out and buy one and then find out it won’t work. Does anyone know of any identifying characteristics I might be looking for or web sites that might be able to help me out on this?
best to try to find one of the same vintage and application. I don’t recall there were too many changes to the 302 Windsor block back then (they made some changes in the mid-90s for the Mustang and Thunderbird/Cougar.)
If yours is EFI, then the truck intake and FI parts are different than the EFI 5.0 in the Mustang and Panther cars.
Mine is EFI but if the block and heads are the same I can switch any external parts.
The parts search at www.car-part.com has the interchange already factored in. Looks like searching for an engine for an 88 F250 with the 5.0L yields engines from 87 to 94 model year trucks. I think all the 5.0 trucks of that vintage had the same fuel systems and everything, so you should have a lot of vehicles to pick from.
Of course, is it really worth replacing the engine on this? 25 year old non-diesel pickups are pretty cheap.
I was thinking the same thing, I paid 1,100 for the truck, clean body and interior. If I can fix it with a good engine for about another 1.200 or so it might be worth it to me, most of these trucks I see for about 1,800 are not quite as clean as mine. Now If I could sell mine with the rod nock for 1,000 then it might be worth my while just to buy another one.