So, there was a factory dual snorkle air cleaner for trucks with 5.8L H.O.???

You just want to argue for the sake of arguing, no basis. I've been restoring and building Mustangs since '74.  I started with Fox Mustangs in '82. I don't need your approval and I am just trying not to allow you to hood snooker someone else that might read this and think what you are saying is true. I've grown tired of your antics. . . it's all BS. I'm done. You think you know what you know . . that's why everyone can't be correct or a leader in this world. <yawn>

Question for the Fox Mustang experts...

I bought a set of what were advertised as 1984-1985 5.0 GT valve covers.



Maybe you guys could confirm...

Anyway, what I'm curious about are the valve cover bolts. Obviously, the factory bolts in my factory steel covers are too short to use with these covers. I know I can just go buy longer bolts...that's no problem. My problem is that I'm currently using the factory bolts (4 of them) with the skinny little posts on them for the plug wire retainers.

Did these Fox covers use the same style bolts, albeit longer, with the little posts on top for the plug wire clips? Or were the plug wires managed some other way on the 1984-1985 GT 5.0's?

Should I be looking for a set of factory bolts? Or should I just go buy longer generic bolts and find another way to manage the wires?

Looking at these bolts on Ebay, they would be what I need, but they look like they're still too short...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/86-87-93-Ford-Mustang-Valve-Cover-Bolts-Set-Factory-5-0-EFI-302-351-Original-OEM/173596779117?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Those are indeed [late] 1984/1985 valve covers.  You can tell by the thicker bosses for the valve cover screws.  The earlier 1982 - [early] 1984 valve covers didn't have that extra material.  They look nice, but somebody painted them with blue accents.  They left the Ford factory in a natural, raw aluminum condition.  In my opinion, those are the BEST valve covers you can get for a 5.0 engine.  :)

Those valve covers did use longer screws with the posts on top for the plug wire dividers.  Good luck finding the correct bolts, because they are very difficult to find.  I have those same valve covers on Lucille, and I never could find a set.  

I don't know if the bolts for 1986 - 1993 valve covers will work or not.  If you purchase them and they fit, please let me know!

LARIAT 85 wrote

Those are indeed [late] 1984/1985 valve covers.  You can tell by the thicker bosses for the valve cover screws.  The earlier 1982 - [early] 1984 valve covers didn't have that extra material.  They look nice, but somebody painted them with blue accents.  They left the Ford factory in a natural, raw aluminum condition.  In my opinion, those are the BEST valve covers you can get for a 5.0 engine.  :)

Those valve covers did use longer screws with the posts on top for the plug wire dividers.  Good luck finding the correct bolts, because they are very difficult to find.  I have those same valve covers on Lucille, and I never could find a set.  

I don't know if the bolts for 1986 - 1993 valve covers will work or not.  If you purchase them and they fit, please let me know!

Excellent, thanks for the confirmation Lariat.

The 1986-1993 bolts look like they'd be too short...but if I find something that works, I'll for sure pass the word along.

That raises a question though....what are you using to hold your wires? Something else? I really like the factory dividers on the valve cover bolts.

While I have your ear, I do have a related Fox question...

I also purchased a 1983 Fox 5.0 air cleaner assembly, and in my efforts to restore the plain aluminum cover, removed the original black stripe decal. I ordered a new one (two actually) from Mustangs unlimited, but it doesn't fit...it is just a little too small unfortunately.

Do you have another supplier to recommend? LMR did have them, but they were showing out of stock until further notice (last time I looked).

I used regular stainless bolts for the valve covers, and used remote "FORD" spark plug wire holder dividers by ProForm.  These work great and the 2-plug wire holder divider is spaced further apart to help prevent crossfire on cylinder numbers 7 and 8:

https://www.amazon.com/ProForm-302637-Blue-Holder-Divider/dp/B003JE2MLO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540219524&sr=8-1&keywords=Ford+Racing+302-637



You know what?  I had the exact same problem with that 1983 black stripe decal.  No matter how I positioned it, it was just a little too small to fit correctly on the lid.  I ended up purchasing THREE of them from different vendors - all with the same result.  So then I purchased the 1984/1985 decal, and it fit perfectly the first time.  

Maybe I can help?

Here's what the master parts catalog says for the valve covers, with F being for Mustangs and J being for Capris:




And here's the illustration for the engine and valve covers.  Notice that it shows two different bolts to hold the valve covers on: 387549 and 387883:




And here's the catalog entry for the valve cover bolts.  The two #'s listed above are highlighted in yellow.  Notice that there's one that is 5/8" long and another that is 1.81" long.  But then there are the ones circled in blue that are for the 85/86 Mustangs (F) and Mark VI and VII (K).  They are 1" and 2.14" long and you need 8 of one and 4 of the other, presumably the ones to hold the plug wire separators.  Maybe you can find those part numbers?

Gary Lewis wrote

And here's the catalog entry for the valve cover bolts.  The two #'s listed above are highlighted in yellow.  Notice that there's one that is 5/8" long and another that is 1.81" long.  But then there are the ones circled in blue that are for the 85/86 Mustangs (F) and Mark VI and VII (K).  They are 1" and 2.14" long and you need 8 of one and 4 of the other, presumably the ones to hold the plug wire separators.  Maybe you can find those part numbers?

Gary, I'm wondering if the ones I need are the two 1984 numbers in the middle...one being 2.65" and the other 1.81". The bosses on these covers are quite thick...it wouldn't surprise me if the standard bolts are 1.81" the bosses themselves must be 3/4" thick or more...

By the way, what does AR mean in the quantity section?

LARIAT 85 wrote

You know what?  I had the exact same problem with that 1983 black stripe decal.  No matter how I positioned it, it was just a little too small to fit correctly on the lid.  

Thanks for this. At the very least I feel better knowing that it wasn't just me...lol.

You can measure and see what you think you need.  But I think the really long ones have threads that match the adjoining bolt but have studs above for the spark plug wire holder.

I think AR means "as required".  Apparently some took more studs than other applications and then you'd need fewer bolts.

LARIAT 85 wrote

You know what?  I had the exact same problem with that 1983 black stripe decal.  No matter how I positioned it, it was just a little too small to fit correctly on the lid.  I ended up purchasing THREE of them from different vendors - all with the same result.  So then I purchased the 1984/1985 decal, and it fit perfectly the first time.  

Hey Lariat,

I'm back at these stupid air cleaner decals again. What do you think the problem is with the 1983 black stripe decal? Against my better judgement, I ordered a 2nd decal kit from another seller (this one on Ebay), and it too doesn't fit...and it's actually worse than the other one I bought. See the picture below...oddly, the front portion of the decal is too small, same as the last one, and the rear portion of the decal is much larger. The front decal even says "Ford" on the back side...

There's gotta be something up with these, no? You've had three that didn't fit, and now I've had two.

I can find no other info online of others having this problem.

Maybe there is a procedure using heat and stretching them or something?

I'm being stubborn on this one. I want that 1983 decal kit.

Maybe I'll just take it to a local shop and have one made...it would likely end up being cheaper than me ordering these over and over from the US.

I don't know.  I spent a couple of hours trying to make them work, but was unsuccessful.  Every time I thought I was getting them closer to fit, they ended up being wrinkled.  I ended up using the 1984/1985 style on Lucille, and I am very satisfied.

Look at it this way:  Ford stopped using that style of air cleaner decal in 1983.  The style they used in 1984 and 1985 on the Mustang 5.0L 4V H.O. and even the truck 5.8L 4V H.O. is what you see on my air cleaner.  Since you have a 1984 model year truck - with 1984/1985 Mustang GT valve covers - the "correct" decal would be the 1984/1985 version.


Capiche?

LARIAT 85 wrote

 Since you have a 1984 model year truck - with 1984/1985 Mustang GT valve covers - the "correct" decal would be the 1984/1985 version.

Capiche?

Ya, I know...it's just that I prefer the 83. Oh well. I'm not really trying to make anything correct really...most people have no idea anyway...lol.

LARIAT 85 wrote

- From 1984 - 1985, Ford used CFI (throttle body EFI) on the Mustang GT when the AOD A/T (automatic transmission) was introduced.

Although the diameter is the same as the 1983 - 1985 for cars with M/T, The 1984 and 1985 air cleaners  for cars with A/T are different because the opening is larger and the locator prongs are in different locations to fit over the larger throttle body.

Hey Lariat 85,

I know there were some changes in the 5.0 GT air cleaner housings between 1983-1985, but the aluminum lids were all the same correct? It was only the decals on them that were different?

Specifically, an air cleaner lid from an 84-85 5.0 EFI H.O car would be the same as the lid from a 1983 carbed 5.0 H.O? Only the decals were different?

From reading through this thread, I'm pretty sure the answer to my question is yes, but wanted to ask anyway.

The '82 lid is smaller, but the '83-85 lid is the same.

PetesPonies wrote

The '82 lid is smaller, but the '83-85 lid is the same.

I thought so. Thanks for confirming. Thanks Pete.

YES, the 1983 - 1985 lids are the same.  

I picked up another '83 5.0 H.O. air cleaner assembly. It was cheap and local, so I grabbed it for some spare parts. It had been hanging on the guy's garage wall for 12 years, and he too bought it to put on a truck he had years ago (Dentside). The base is pretty beat-up, but the cover was salvageable.

Do you guys have a source for replacement cover gaskets? I did a quick Google search and didn't see anything.

I just glued vacuum hose in.  But someone on FTE found the right gasket a few years ago.  Wish I remember what it is/was.

Little more digging around, looks like NPD has a couple versions...

https://www.npdlink.com/product/seal-air-cleaner-lid-cut-to-fit/107279/50572?year=1961

https://www.npdlink.com/product/seal-air-cleaner-lid-cut-to-fit/107278/50572?year=1961

Those look good.