i have the stock original 302 engine in my 1976 f 100. it is backed by a 3 speed on the column. this winter i am changing the transmission to either a T5 5 speed 4 with OD, or a 3 speed with OD, i have both transmissions. i am also going to build a 302 engine to put in it, something with more HP. i dont want anything to happen to the original engine and trans because i want to just keep it and cover it over under the bench. i have a 1968 302 block that my dad bought a while back from a guy it was in a older ford truck. he just wanted the cab from the truck but the guy wouldn't just sell that so he ended up buying the whole thing. the 302 engine is bored .040 with flat top pistons it has also never been run i took the whole thing apart and other than the heads it is brand new. the heads that were on it, (now on my bench) need to be rebuilt due to the valves looking quite thin after taking apart. i know in fact it hasn't been run since being rebuilt because even the underneath of the valve covers are brand new not a spot of anything was on them on the inside. case and point is that i want to build the engine to put out mid to high 3s in HP but it also is going to be a daily driver, i wont be dumping the clutch all the time either because i want the transmission to hold up. it has a 270H comp cam that came in it which i heard is a good mild to race cam. i plan on buying a new set of heads for it and intake seeing it only has a Torquer 2 single plane on it. i want the engine to still be reliable for an every day driver but have more power than my stock 302 in the truck now.
any help is very much appreciated on how you think i should go about doing this build making a lot more power but still being reliable for everyday use.
sorry for the long post,
thanks Scott

 

If the T-5 is out of a Mustang you'll have to run bucket seats and an interesting shifter, it puts the shifter back far for a truck. It should be OK if you go real easy on it, but power shifting and Wide-open blasts in low gears will kill it quickly in a heavy truck.

You can swap over an S-10 tailhousing with some work and it moves the shifter forward 3-4 inches IIRC.

With the right cam that intake you have could work. I'd go custom cam from Buddy Rawls. That's who I'm using for my 408. I'd go with Trick flow 170cc heads with a 58cc combustion chamber, should get you mid-300 HP at the flywheel.

 

Ok thank you that's what I was looking for. And no I bought the t5 it came out of a s10 just for that reason of the shifter location, now all I think I need to get is the bell housing to mate the two. Do you have any experience with this cam or bad things on it?
Thanks Scott

 

And also any more recommendations for heads I don't have 1700$ to put down for just heads right now I'm still in high school. Haha, and are you sure about that single plane intake I think it's only good for to start at 1500 or 2000 RPMs that's when it kicks in this is an everyday driver. And with the OD trans I want to be cruising on the highway at around 2 grand.
Thanks again Scott

 

I would stay away from a T5. I blew up two in my 94 mustang which had about 220hp. Also if your looking for high 300s your going to need some serious heads or a stroker kit. IMHO. Good luck. Take lots of pics of your build.