5.0 Ho
 

What is the difference between a non HO 5.0 and a HO?

Depends on the year.

HO's have a different cam & lifters, distributor gear, firing order, ECM, injectors, and method of firing the injectors.

I don't know about the lifters and distributor gear. Both the HO and non HO are roller. The non HO cam is a crappy lift and duration though. The heads are different (E6 casting on non HO usually) the lower intake is the same, but the upper is different, the throttle body is smaller, injectors are 14 lb instead of 19 lb. And on my cougar the non HO had cast iron manifolds instead of headers, don't know about other vehicles with non HO motors. Check out www.coolcats.net and go to the tech section for more info.