If any engine defines a Cougar, it's the 5.0L V8. Sure, that might be a bit cliché but as any V8 Cougar owner will tell you, there's nothing like having the power and torque of an 8-cylinder engine under the hood. If your car has the 5.0 engine then you will find a lot of information across this entire site about modifying it. But in stock form there were several different versions and this page will help clarify the differences.

In 1983 the 5.0L V8 was not carbureted, as was the V6 engine, but rather used central fuel injection (CFI) from 1983-85. This motor retained the traditional circular air cleaner and had a throttle-body type injection sytem (1-bbl with 2 high-flow injectors). Output was rated at 130 hp. In 1983 the 5.0 had Ford's EEC-III engine management system, but in 1984 it received the EEC-IV electronics for greatly improved reliability (power output remained the same). There were slight head revisions between both model years. These engines respond very well to, of all things, carburetion. It's relatively easy to replace the intake with one set up for a carb, and install a carb with automatic choke using a full older Duraspark ignition system. Unfortunately they do not respond very well to any computer tweaking in its stock form, although some head porting will gain 10-20 hp.

The 1986 version of the 5.0L made the modern step up to a full sequential electronic fuel injection (SEFI) with speed density management. This was nearly the identical system used on the 1986 Mustang GT. The Cougar's engine received a new camshaft that used the older 351W firing order. The heads were redesigned, although not for the better: they had "high swirl" exhaust ports which were very restrictive. The biggest change was the running addition of roller tappets to the block, which helped with longevity and fuel economy in a tremendous way. All 1986 Cougars were supposed to received this change but early motors still had the 1985 flat tappets. The 1987-88 5.0 engine were virtually identical to the 1986 engine, save for minor wiring harness revisions each year.

Where the Mustang and Mark VII went to a more desirable High Output (HO) version of the 5.0L beginning in 1987, the Cougar, Thunderbird and some other Ford cars maintained this Standard Output (SO) version throughout the life of their body styles. The Cougar even maintained the 1986-style throttle body, intake plenum and exhaust manifolds.

There is much more information about 5.0L engine modifications in the Tech Info section of this site.

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