Actually its a <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">289 </a>so close enough .

Im doing over a set of 65 hi-po heads for a guy and have a question about valve stem diameter.
Motors lists .3416/.3411 minimums for Intake/Exhaust. Looking to confirm those numbers for stock valves.

 

'fenders told me you weren't trustworthy, Carl. Now we get the old "302, Honest" and it turns out to be a 289.

Ya asked for <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">302 </a>numbers so ya get <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">302 </a>numbers.

1956 <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">302 </a>- Standard Intake: 0.3415" minimum P/N B7Q 6507-A
1956 <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">302 </a>- Standard Exhaust: 0.4340" minimum P/N B9TE 6505-A

 

Ms. H. drives an 84 Lincoln with an EFI 302. While my honest question probably belongs on an engine forum, I have come to trust that readers here have the wit and wisdom to field my naive query. I've picked up hints from serious Iowegian engine builders that some 302's are not as ept as others. Would Ms. H's. engine fall into the good category or the other? I plan on parting out that old Lincoln... maybe put some of those slick pushbutton window openers on the truck ... and the salvaged engine and tranny in a 3.8 Jag saloon. Is this engine worth a rebuild? himmelberg

 

Thanks George.

Just as I was about to write up a tutorial of repairing pot metal too. You got great timing

OK I think I answered my own question anyway. This engine was rebuilt 5 owners ago, has only 20K on it and has always smoked and used oil.
Looks like they put in standard valves in untouched guides with oversize seals
So now the poor customer is looking at a big expense. Reamed guides and oversize valves, head assembly and back on the car. At least the car is worth it, a solid Southern, red 65 Mustang ragtop.
If it was in a F-100 I would have told him to get a real engine.

Now, Im beat , been up since 4AM so going to take a shower, grab a good book and relax. The pot metal thingie will be done tomorrow.

 

That's not fair! Carl uses smallblock and HiPo in the same sentence one time and I don't get first post

Carl

You knew exactly what was wrong with the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">289 </a></a>before you even disassembled it. Everybody seems to cheat on the valve guides. Is the engine truly a Hi Perf version and worthy of expensive head work? I assume it is still set up for leaded fuel?

Himmel

While there are different versions of the 302/5.0, they are pretty much the same inside. Excluding the rare issues in select HP cars like Boss Mustangs and such, the major structural differences are whether the engine is a roller block or not. Taller lifter bores allowed use of a roller cam.

Probably the biggest decision, is whether you want EFI or not. I chose a carbureted route because I want a clean and simple install. I want a half dozen wires running to the engine compartment and very streetable performance. I want to be able to afford to drive it so fuel MPG is important to me. I don't want to chase down faulty MAP and throttle position sensors on a 50s pickup. There are lots of guys here that went EFI and love it. It just depends what you want. You can get the same or better performance from a carbureted engine but it requires some modifications such as cam intake etc. If you aren't careful you fuel mileage will suffer. I will soon know how I did. It runs well , but if it gets 6 MPG you will be hearing about my next engine plans.

To get back to your question, your 84 5.0 engine would be fine if you don't choose to go <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">y-block</a></a>. My engine in fact started out as Carl's sister LTD engine, or whatever I said. 70s smogger carbureted 302s won't get out of there own way. You'll never hear me argue different.

There are a bunch of guys around here with more SB Ford experience than I. You'll get plenty of feedback on this forum no matter what way you go. Unfortunately, the facts get lost in all our horsing around sometimes.

For a carbureted engine, a <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">351w </a></a>is an even better place to begin unless you have a free <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">302 </a></a>laying around that doesn't need rebuilt. You have to throw $500 at a <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">302 </a></a>to get stock 351 torque.

BTW, is there some reason why you are not leaning <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">y-block</a></a>? Or are you just tossing around some ideas?

 

Himmel


BTW, is there some reason why you are not leaning <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">y-block</a>? Or are you just tossing around some ideas?

'fenders

I'm leaning toward a solution that abides the schoolteacher budget for my wife's wish to drive an old Jaguar. I thought since I had the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">302 </a>and tranny... rebuilding it and putting it in the Jag would be an answer. Plus, the window openers, plush seats and other odds and ends from the Lincoln might come in handy for grandsons secret summer project.

 

"I thought since I had the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">302 </a>and tranny... rebuilding it and putting it in the Jag would be an answer."

Himmel

I don't know about that one. You're leaving the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">y-block</a> in the Effie I hope. I liked your old plan.

Hey Carl,

Can you give us some feedback here buddy? Himmel is souping up a JAG and wants to know if the chassis will withstand the torqued of a 302?

 

Well I expected seals of course Dewayne, but not incompetence on the part of the rebuilder.

So Peter wants to build an underpowered Jag?

Plenty of kits available for big and small versions of that C brand into XJ6's but dont think Ive seen a Ford. BTW the Jag is unibody with bolt on front and rears. Serious structual rot problems up this way has many begging in the boneyards.

Now, OTOH a <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">302 </a></a>will fit nicely into a Volvo

 

"Well I expected seals of course Dewayne, but not incompetence on the part of the rebuilder."

Carl

I bet over a third of the US V-8s I ever opened up that were supposedly rebuilt, had sloppy valve guides in them. Retail price on a proper valve job takes away all that money you thought you were saving by not just buying a rebuilt long block from the parts house. I still build my own anyway, as I like to know what goes inside my engines.