Which 5.0s have forged pistons?

[98stangv6]

Been searching and there is a ton of conflicting info out there. Some people argue that all 87-92 5.0s have factory forged pistons, some say just the 5.0s in the Mustangs, some say only HO motors, some say 5.0s in cougars do, etc. So which 5.0s really do have factory forged pistons? still searching for a decent platform for budget build. thanks

[Stangman]

87-92 5.0 HO engines. They'll saw TRW on it somewhere... I just can't remember where. Thought they had forged slugs as early as 86 but I can't remember.

What are your plans? It may not be critical to have them, and just get an explorer motor. Some say the rods in those are stronger from what I have heard.

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

'85-92 HO, with the '86s being true flat tops with no valve reliefs.

[CNTLOSE]

Only the early production '92 cars have them. If you get a late built '92 it can have the hypertonic or forged pistons.

[98stangv6]

so none of the non mustang 5.0s are forged? like the cougars, t-birds, etc?

[superstangOH]

I have a 89 gt and i just had the heads off. Im pretty sure they were forged and its a stock short block. I thought it was 87-89 was forged. But i have never got a clear answer myself

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I have a 89 gt and i just had the heads off. Im pretty sure they were forged and its a stock short block. I thought it was 87-89 was forged. But i have never got a clear answer myself

I just gave you a clear answer :lol:

Starting in '85 the HO engines got roller cams and forged pistons. None of the non HO engines got forged pistons. Sometime in '92 they switched to hypers, which to be fair are a good piston as long as you stay NA. There are plenty of Explorer long blocks out there running low 12s with those pistons.

As for other makes other than Mustangs, as long as it's an '85 or newer HO engine it should have came with forged pistons according to those years.

[Kevin1989]

Not to hijack I have a set of trw forged pistons that need cleaned up if you have a block