1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

[synergy141]

Looking into buying a boat with the 95 Ford 5.0 302 engine with EFI. I know that this was the last year ford was in the marine business. Parts are becoming scarce. Most people say that the Manifolds are hard to find. I looked around the web and they were not that hard to find. There are aftermarket companies making them. What else is bad about these engines and what other parts are Ford Specific??

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

You sure its a Ford motor? Dist is where?

 

[synergy141]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

Im Pretty sure its a Ford. Four Winns boats in the 90's had them until about 96. 95 was the last year because ford abandoned the marine business.

Here's a pic....



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[Brenan]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

I have the same motor, but with a carb on a four winns sundowner 215, 1993. It is a great boat.

I have no problems finding parts for the motor. I found manifolds online, and they were fine. The local dealer here sells evinrude parts that cross reference for the fuel filters, impellers, and all the tune up parts. Not sure on the heads, and bottom end engine parts.

Your problem will be the drive. It's probably an OMC like mine? I haven't had any problems, I'm waiting......Knock on wood. OMC has been gone for a while, and I'm sure you'll here all about it in more posts......

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

Yup, that's a Ford 5.0 (302). Nothing at all wrong with them, they are as reliable as any other small block. Parts are abundant for the engine itself, and as you found out, the manifold thing is a myth. There are manifolds for sale for them all over the place, just not as abundant as they are for SBC's.

Edit: Just saw the OMC label on the engine. :redface:

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

I've got that motor, only it is the carbed one, on my boat. It hasn't given me any trouble at all. My only concern would be the EFI aspect. Not sure how readily available those parts may be.

The OMC/Volvo partnership in 95 should dismay any fears of the drive. Volvo parts will work regardless of when OMC went out of business.

 

[fossill]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

I'd stick with a merc or volvo drive and with a marine engine sill in production be it me. Thats also an obsolete efi system on that 302 as everything went OBDII in 1996. Might be difficult to fix yourself let alone find someone who is familiar with it.

 

[daymienrules]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

if that's still obd1, then its probably the efi system I'd most want to have on a boat.Great combination of simplicity and performance. As long as the distributor is still working, it'll limp home with pretty much every other sensor unhooked. And you can pull codes with a test light, no scanner required.

 

[synergy141]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

I'd stick with a merc or volvo drive and with a marine engine sill in production be it me. Thats also an obsolete efi system on that 302 as everything went OBDII in 1996. Might be difficult to fix yourself let alone find someone who is familiar with it.

I made sure that the Drive was the OMC Cobra SX Made with Volvo Internals. Its the same as the regular Volvo SX.

 

[synergy141]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

Does that cylinder thing on the front of the engine mean it is closed cooling?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

Does that cylinder thing on the front of the engine mean it is closed cooling?

Yes...closed cooling.

You definitely would have the joint venture OMC Volvo drive which is basically just the Volvo drive so that fact that it says OMC on it does not matter.

 

[synergy141]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

Thanks for the Advice!, I think I may buy it if all is well when I look at it tomorrow. Here is some more pics....










He is the Original Owner with all Maintence records.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

Big boat for a single axle trailer!

Any problems buying a boat registered in Washington and bringing up to Canada?

The thing I would be most worried about is the EFI.

 

[synergy141]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

I was thinking the same thing! Maybe the Tandem trailer was an option? Its a factory Four winns trailer. At least it has all new brakes,tires and bearings.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

The EFI is not an issue. The only thing that would be a pain to find would be the ECU if it somehow fried. All of the other parts are factory Ford parts for the 5.0L from the late 90's. They aren't known for failing and will run smoother/more powerfull/efficient than the carb'd versions. Looks like a clean boat.

 

[fossill]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

Nice boat. The efi system is the old EEC4 I believe ( it came out in the mid 80's). As I mentioned the only issue is thats its obsolete and not as easy to troubleshoot as todays OBDII.
Single axle trailer should be ok if you're only going local. Tandem would be better if your driving several hundred miles.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

Looks very nice! However, I would have a mechanical inspection done by a MARINE mechanic before buying it; money well spent.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

Nice boat. The efi system is the old EEC4 I believe ( it came out in the mid 80's). As I mentioned the only issue is thats its obsolete and not as easy to troubleshoot as todays OBDII.
Single axle trailer should be ok if you're only going local. Tandem would be better if your driving several hundred miles.

OBDII didn't start major use until 1996 in most autos. OBDI works just fine and isn't any harder to diagnose problems that OBDII is. Boats don't use 02 sensors in the downstream exhaust, so much of the benefit of OBDII would be lost anyway.

Agreed on the trailer though, that's a lot of boat for one axle. I'd look at selling that trailer off and picking up a tandem axle just for peace of mind.

 

[synergy141]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

Well I went and looked at it today and took it for a test drive. The Overall condition of the boat was very good. The only downside was that I was expecting a full fiberglass floor with snap in carpet like he told me. But it turns out it was the regular wood floor. No rotten spots at all the floor was solid in every area. The only other thing that concerned me was the amount of time it took to get up onto plane. It just did not seem to have as much torque as my 1993 4.3 V6 in my 20ft Wellcraft excel bowrider. Probally because it is a lot heavier?? but it has the V8?? But I think its just because I have been riding my jetskis for the past month and I am used to the quick holeshot. I am taking my boat out tomorrow and compare. I also did not find it that smooth taking waves as my Wellcraft, the Four Winns slammed down , My wellcraft feels much more solid. Also another question, what do these Ford 5.0 engines max out at rpm wise. It would not go past 4000 rpm, does it have a limiter? Another thing is that it was a bit hard to shift into gear at first, but when I drove it for a while is got a bit easier to shift. What does that mean? One last thing was that the trim gauge that shows where the leg is in not fuctioning. Btw he is asking $9300, 318 hours, Original Owner with all maintence records.

 

[synergy141]

Re: 1995 Ford 5.0 EFI Engine Quality/Reliability

Big boat for a single axle trailer!

Any problems buying a boat registered in Washington and bringing up to Canada?

The thing I would be most worried about is the EFI.

It is very easy importing boats into Canada. All you need is both titles and bill of sale for both boat and trailer and pay 13% tax and if your trailer is newer than 15 years you have to pay and extra $200 for an inspection. This will be our fourth boat in 3 years from the states. Prices are so low in the states compared to here. Bought our 93 wellcraft down there last year for $3500 its mint got it with 200 hours and we put 317 hours on it within the last year. Already had offers for $12000 for it.