I have a 1996 Explorer 5.0, the fuel injection is getting too expensive and too complicated for me, so I am going to get rid of the EFI and put on an Edelbrock intake, 600 or 750 cfm Holley (I havn't decided yet), and the trusty ol' C4. I belive it would be cool to see a restomod, late-model 5.0 carb'd and backed by a C4 select-shift. The engine is a roller-cam, roller-rocker plant with the coolest stock 5.0 heads ever...the GT-40/P's. Are these wise decisions? This is what I'm goin with and any advice, comments, or help would be greatly appreciated.

 

if you stick with the C4, rip that engine apart and be sure to have it balanced for your balancer and flywheel or it will never run right. Also, the P heads have funny spark plugs so you will need special headers.

 

Why rip the engine appart? What is needed is a flex plate balanced to 50 oz. that fits the C4.

Unless your going to spin that 302 up to very very high revs, the 600 cfm carb is plenty. Holley makes great carbs, but for street cars Edelbrock's have an ease on the owner edge.

 

the flyweel and the balancer are just half of a propperly balanced engine. Chances are that this engine could have rolled, It is cheap insurance to put new bearings and a timing chain in, and balancing is cheap too and will make the engine run longer and better

 

I agree if he were talking about rebuilding the short block, all he mentioned is replacing the EFI with a carb and mounting the motor to a C4. I wouldn't take his aproach, but.... As a minimum he should do a compression test to evaluate the health of the engine.

 

This engine is extremely clean and healthy. The car was not rolled. It was hit by a Honda[:@] in the front right fender. I know the previous owner personally and he had to shut the motor off after he got hit. The local Ford mechanic (he is an absolute genious) said the was the best and easiest thing to do. I may even get a 2 4-bbl intake...what am I saying? I dream too much. I have found a factory 1968 aluminum 4-bbl intake and I have found a Holley high-rise intake. I currently have a Edelbrock Performer 289 sitting in the shop and the Holley 4160 600-cfm carb ready to go on. This is going to be a daily driver and my main means of transportation.

 

Oh yeah, I'm going to use the stock tubular headers and just expand off of that. It's hard to believe but the Explorer V-8s had shorty headers already on them, so I am just gonna use them.

 

um, watch out for steering gear box clearance.....

 

I dont have to worry about that, the headers exit almost straight down

 

You will have to put a bronze gear on the distributor since it's a roller motor. Unless you go through the hassle of getting the explorer distributor wired up.