FoxBodyStang88

Got an 88 with what I though was an HO, but come to find out, I believe is just a 302 Standard Output. Seems to have a timing problem, lacks power and just about dies at about 5000 rpm...... any suggestions?

50Trippin

I'm not positive but isn't the firing order on a H.O. different than a NON - H.O. ??? Some one on here will know for sure.

83gtragtop

Pretty sure your car has an HO. All Mustangs with 5.0's came with HO's. A stock 5.0 HO will die at about 5000rpms.

FoxBodyStang88

Well it probly had an HO in it at one time, but the motor has been rebuilt, and the firing order is not the same as an HO. So I'm really not sure what specs the motor was rebuilt to.

Liquid_02

Are you sure it's not an HO? Take off the plaque on top of the plenum and look underneath, HO's had "HO" stamped on the plenum underneath the plaque. If it's a non-HO then the car will have no ***** at all, non-HO's were terrible motors for power, somethin like 150 horse and 200 torque... somewhere around there... There are 4cyl N/A cars that make more power than that

FoxBodyStang88

Well, the upper and lower intake are HO, as for the block and heads, I have no idea, I'm guessing SO

Liquid_02

If the Intake is HO, most likely the heads and cam will be as well. Check your firing order, if it has an HO firing order then it's an HO, if it doesn't then it's not. I'm betting the intake port and head ports wouldn't match up properly if they were mix-matched, HO would probably be slightly bigger, so I'm doubting they mix-matched them, and I have forgotten where they stamp the heads... should say E7TE for HO heads anyway if I remember correctly.

83gtragtop

What makes you think that the firing order is different on your car?

Tims 88GT

what is the firing order? count it out. try making it a ho firing order that might fix the problem. 13726548

FoxBodyStang88

I changed the plug wires the other day and wired 'em up for an HO and got nothing out of the motor. So then I rearranged the plug wires to a standard 302 and it fired right up. Still doesnt explain why its dying out at 5000rpm, unles the computer is still thinking it's an HO when it's really not.