nohostang

hey guys im new to the mustang world. I just bought a 1986 mustang lx. but only to find out its not a High Output motor! I have been asking around and everyone says to change the cam and it will be a ho. but the race shop said i cant because of the pistons?? Does anyone out there know what engine mods i can do toget the best performance out of it. It already has long tubes and no cat with 3.73sbut what else can i do. and is there a big difference in power between an ho and non ho? All help WILL help, thanks guys

19stang86

Hey noho we are in the same boat, I put mac long tubes and offroad h pipe, flows, have 3.73s about to be installed and a fireball ignition system, and i played with the timing a bit. im trying to find out the same stuff bro. the reason for the cam is because the pistons i believe but im not sure either.

Stroked91

i read somewhere the non ho only had like 150hp and the ho had 225hp. depending on the miles and your bank account just rebuild the motor you have and get pistons that will work wit any cam. but then again it depends on what cam you get cause u may be able to use what u have

86GreenMachine

There has to be a way to make it an HO without rebuilding it.Mine is an HO and i have the flattop pistons.Call ford and ask for a 86 HO cam.

86 5.0L

the 86 HO only made 200HP so even though its an HO it wont have the same HP as the 87-92 HOs

but yeah all you need is the 86 HO cam and swap it, the cam was designed for the flattop pistons of the 86 5.0