Last carburetor year

[LARIAT 85]

When they went to the bricknose generation in '87, carbs went away on all engines too. '85 and '86 were transition years with the advent of the 5.0 EFI; 1985 could be EFI or carbed while (correct me if I'm wrong) 1986 was EFI-only on the 5.0.

The move to EFI was the most significant change, and that came about in several steps. The 302/5.0L had EFI as an option in late '85.

I've always wondered about the 5.0's transition from carburetor to EFI. I've always known that it was 1985, but how exactly that was rolled out, I don't know. Gary, I'm not questioning what you're saying, because a lot of people will say that EFI was optional in 1985 with the 5.0, but I thought Vinny said one time that there were no carbed 5.0's built after February 1985 (Certification label date, not dealer sold date). The end of February would be roughly the middle of the production year.

Of course there would have been weeks, months, and probably many months in some places where carbed 5.0 trucks were on the dealer's lots with the EFI 5.0's, so in that sense you'd definitely have options to choose from, at least temporarily. Or, was it an actual option in the 1985 brochure that you could choose one or the other?

Splitting hairs here, I know, but I'm curious being a bit of a 5.0 fan boy and all.

Where's Lariat Rick?...He might know.

5.0/302

1980 - 1984: 2V carburetor, Duraspark II ignition

1985: 2V feedback carburetor, TFI ignition, EEC-IV computer [before November 1984] (This is how Lucille was ordered)

1985/1986: EFI, TFI ignition, EEC-IV computer [starting November 1984]

Interesting fact:

On page 154 of my 1985 Owner's Manual, there is a section titled "Specifications and Capacities." There is a "Motorcraft Service Parts" chart that lists the part numbers for batteries, filters, spark plugs, etc. The interesting part is the footnote (7) referenced for the 5.0L engine for the spark plug part numbers:

5.0L (7) - ASF-32C

5.0L EFI - ASF-32C

5.8L (5) - ASF-42

______________________________

(5) 5.8L 4V use ASF-32C.

(7) 5.0L High Output use ASF-42.

According to the manual, there was supposed to be a "High Output" carbureted 5.0L that would use a hotter plug than the standard 5.0L 2V or 5.0L EFI engine. But the "High Output" carbureted 5.8L 4V used a colder plug than the standard 5.8L 2V engine.

While the 5.8L 4V H.O. was introduced in 1984 and is an improvement over the 5.8L 2V with a better cam, exhaust, and a 4V carburetor, I have never heard of the "5.0L High Output," except in the Ford Mustangs. I don't see this engine listed in the 1985 F-Series sales brochure, either. I wonder if this was a planned special performance engine for 1985 (like the 5.8L 4V H.O.) that never made production?

 

[Gary Lewis]

5.0/302

1980 - 1984: 2V carburetor, Duraspark II ignition

1985: 2V feedback carburetor, TFI ignition, EEC-IV computer [before November 1984] (This is how Lucille was ordered)

1985/1986: EFI, TFI ignition, EEC-IV computer [starting November 1984]

Interesting fact:

On page 154 of my 1985 Owner's Manual, there is a section titled "Specifications and Capacities." There is a "Motorcraft Service Parts" chart that lists the part numbers for batteries, filters, spark plugs, etc. The interesting part is the footnote (7) referenced for the 5.0L engine for the spark plug part numbers:

5.0L (7) - ASF-32C

5.0L EFI - ASF-32C

5.8L (5) - ASF-42

______________________________

(5) 5.8L 4V use ASF-32C.

(7) 5.0L High Output use ASF-42.

According to the manual, there was supposed to be a "High Output" carbureted 5.0L that would use a hotter plug than the standard 5.0L 2V or 5.0L EFI engine. But the "High Output" carbureted 5.8L 4V used a colder plug than the standard 5.8L 2V engine.

While the 5.8L 4V H.O. was introduced in 1984 and is an improvement over the 5.8L 2V with a better cam, exhaust, and a 4V carburetor, I have never heard of the "5.0L High Output," except in the Ford Mustangs. I don't see this engine listed in the 1985 F-Series sales brochure, either. I wonder if this was a planned special performance engine for 1985 (like the 5.8L 4V H.O.) that never made production?

Good info on the 302/5.0L, Rick.

On the owner's manual, what version/printing do you have? I'm going to guess that it is the first printing as my second printing version, the one we have on here, doesn't have that footnote, as shown below. So maybe they caught that mistake? (I'm not questioning that yours says that. Just trying to figure out what the differences are.)

[BigBrother-84]

5.0/302

1980 - 1984: 2V carburetor, Duraspark II ignition

1985: 2V feedback carburetor, TFI ignition, EEC-IV computer [before November 1984] (This is how Lucille was ordered)

1985/1986: EFI, TFI ignition, EEC-IV computer [starting November 1984]

Interesting fact:

On page 154 of my 1985 Owner's Manual, there is a section titled "Specifications and Capacities." There is a "Motorcraft Service Parts" chart that lists the part numbers for batteries, filters, spark plugs, etc. The interesting part is the footnote (7) referenced for the 5.0L engine for the spark plug part numbers:

5.0L (7) - ASF-32C

5.0L EFI - ASF-32C

5.8L (5) - ASF-42

______________________________

(5) 5.8L 4V use ASF-32C.

(7) 5.0L High Output use ASF-42.

According to the manual, there was supposed to be a "High Output" carbureted 5.0L that would use a hotter plug than the standard 5.0L 2V or 5.0L EFI engine. But the "High Output" carbureted 5.8L 4V used a colder plug than the standard 5.8L 2V engine.

While the 5.8L 4V H.O. was introduced in 1984 and is an improvement over the 5.8L 2V with a better cam, exhaust, and a 4V carburetor, I have never heard of the "5.0L High Output," except in the Ford Mustangs. I don't see this engine listed in the 1985 F-Series sales brochure, either. I wonder if this was a planned special performance engine for 1985 (like the 5.8L 4V H.O.) that never made production?

Geeeeee...

[Gary Lewis]

Geeeeee...

We like the details. And some of us have a bit of documentation to help find those details.

[LARIAT 85]

Good info on the 302/5.0L, Rick.

On the owner's manual, what version/printing do you have? I'm going to guess that it is the first printing as my second printing version, the one we have on here, doesn't have that footnote, as shown below. So maybe they caught that mistake? (I'm not questioning that yours says that. Just trying to figure out what the differences are.)

I have the first printing, as my truck is an early 1985 [carbureted] model.

As you know, I also have the early "new for 1985" upper trim molding - that was quickly and completely dropped not even half-way through the model year.

Another interesting fact is that the early 1985 sales brochure advertises "new cloth covered sun visors." This was deleted from the later 1985 sales brochure and didn't actually show up until 1987.

Was the 5.0L H.O. engine a mistake? Or was it intended to be an option that was never actually delivered? After all, there was a 5.0L 4V H.O. already available in the Mustang GT. And there was a 5.8L 4V H.O. already available in the F-Series trucks.

So why not?

 

[85lebaront2]

We like the details. And some of us have a bit of documentation to help find those details.

A little bit more than I have, but I also have Chrysler books and a full set of available parts catalogs as PDF files on the computer.

[Gary Lewis]

A little bit more than I have, but I also have Chrysler books and a full set of available parts catalogs as PDF files on the computer.

Yes, you can't see what's on the computer, and there I have the 1980 - 89 MPC, the '96 EVTM and FSM, and some other things. Then there's the microfiche copies of the MPC and two viewers.

But my MOPAR library just has the Dodge 1969 FSM.

[Gary Lewis]

I have the first printing, as my truck is an early 1985 [carbureted] model.

As you know, I also have the early "new for 1985" upper trim molding - that was quickly and completely dropped not even half-way through the model year.

Another interesting fact is that the early 1985 sales brochure advertises "new cloth covered sun visors." This was deleted from the later 1985 sales brochure and didn't actually show up until 1987.

Was the 5.0L H.O. engine a mistake? Or was it intended to be an option that was never actually delivered? After all, there was a 5.0L 4V H.O. already available in the Mustang GT. And there was a 5.8L 4V H.O. already available in the F-Series trucks.

So why not?

You are right, Rick. It might not have been a mistake. Perhaps it was actually planned and someone pulled the plug on it.

Anyway, that's at least one difference between the 1st and 2nd publications for '85. Good to know.

[LARIAT 85]

You are right, Rick. It might not have been a mistake. Perhaps it was actually planned and someone pulled the plug on it.

Anyway, that's at least one difference between the 1st and 2nd publications for '85. Good to know.

Or maybe, just maybe, one truck *did* escape the Ford plant in early 1985 with the 5.0L 4V H.O. engine, cloth-covered sun visors, AND the upper trim molding:

I named her Lucille, by the way. And I wouldn't do anything to Lucille that Ford themselves wouldn't have done.

[BigBrother-84]

We like the details. And some of us have a bit of documentation to help find those details.