Anyone know if engine computers and wiring are different between non HO and HO motors?
You do want the HO motor, especially if the wiring and computer are identical or easily swapped because the non HO motor which you have now is a turd compared to the HO (150 horsepower, 275 lbs ft of torque versus a little less than 225hp and 300 lbs ft of torque). You will have much improved throttle response and merging capability with the HO engine. Passing and merging will be much easier with the HO. It should cost the same or less to use it if the computer and harness are the same. According to prices from Jasper, the non HO engine, VIN F, will be the same price as an HO, VIN M or E. VIN E is preferable as it will have slightly more power than the VIN M and will be slightly more desirable if you ever sell the car. After sampling the HO, you will have wondered how you ever lived without it and how Ford could have offered it at all. It's like McDonald's versus prime rib if you like beef. It's that much better. (I have both engines by the way.)
Remanufactured is essentially the same as rebuilt. They're just two different words to describe a similar process. A thorough rebuild will be a remanufacture. Marketing types like remanufacture because it sounds better and imparts a certain feel.
Ford doesn't rebuild/remanufacture engines. There are places that do this, however. Some of these places, like Jasper, make it part of their specialty and they sell their engines throughout the country or even globally. (
http://www.jasperengines.com/gas-engines.htm) You don't have to get a reman engine from a place like Jasper, but they have a credibility and level of experience that you will want to find. If you have any friends who are into cars or know of any hot rod shops that build or restore cars, ask them if they know of a reputable local shop than can rebuild an engine for you. Most engine builders who specialize in performance will be able to do a better job than someone who just does it on the side or just does it as a job. This is not always true, but I say it because people with performance in mind should know the weaknesses of the engine better and should be aware of the remedies or processes needed to alleviate or cure problems and should be aware of costs versus benefits more accutely. To someone who routinely builds engines to the more exacting standards of a performance rebuild, a factory spec rebuild will be easy. I would also like to think a level of care that may not exist at a place that does an engine rebuild every few months will go into the engine at a specialist builder. Some repair shops also do good rebuilds and will do a fine job as well. How do you find them? Ask around and see if you can find a place that does rebuilds often, especially on the Ford 5.0.
A new engine, if properly maintained, will last 200k miles or more easily on conventional oil (as you have seen) and much longer with less wear and longer lasting performance if using a quality synthetic oil like Mobil 1. One gentleman has 265k miles+ and counting on his Mark VII without an engine rebuild and it is as good as new. He's largely used regular Mobil 1 with lengthened oil change intervals. 5-8k miles between changes is a safe, conservative number with Mobil 1. I would not recommend the extended performance Mobil 1 as it's marketing hype. Whether or not the maintenance of original perfomance and reduced wear is worth the slightly added cost is your call though.
You should ask about the length and coverage of warranites, how many rebuilds they do, and what their rebuilds include that others don't. Your Lincoln motor is a Ford motor and so that is what you will be asking for and getting.
