So I heard back from the machine shop today...I'm trying to rebuild my truck's 69 302 for my wife and my 10th anniversary this summer. We took the truck on our honeymoon and wanted to take it on a trip for our anniversary.

They gave me a $1200+ quote for a bunch of head work, boring the block, planing the surfaces, a providing a rebuild kit (pistons, gaskets, etc.) That's nearly double my budget.

So calling around I got a lead on a rebuilt 351w long block with '78 heads (don't know the block casting at this point) for $500. Needs intake, oil pan, and carb.

From what I understand, the 351 is essentially the same block, with a little more deck height and different main caps requiring a different oil pan.

This is my best bet if I want to get the truck up and running, and at $500 it's under budget, BUT... we've all started projects where we had a million incidentals crop up that bit us in the butt and/or tanked a project.

I believe the 351w will use the same motor mounts as the 302, so it will bolt in to my existing setup, but will the flywheel transfer over? I think the bell housing/tranny will bolt up, but I'm not sure. I may have a lead on intake and oil pan for just $50, but I'm pretty sure my Autolite 2100 won't feed a 351w and keep it happy happy happy (1.08v) even with an adaptor plate (assuming I could find one!).

I don't think the 351 will come with a distributor, and I doubt mine will work, but is there a chance?

What about water pump and alternator? I doubt the starter's the same...but if the bell housing and flywheel are the same, maybe???

I could really use some input here. What could I re-use/transfer to a 351w from my previous 302 setup?

Thanks,
Jim

P.S.>>>I'm looking for a reliable and economical daily driver, not a boat puller or drag racer.

 

How much is the machine shop charging for the head work? IMO putting any $$ into rebuilding stock heads is money wasted and you would be better off spending that money on used late model('87+) heads that will already have hardened valve seats suitable for unleaded gas.

The 351 block is not the same as the 302 in any way, it's taller and wider and uses a different intake,distributor, oilpan, and timing cover, external balance weight is 28oz which is the same as the early 302(pre 1980) but it uses the same belhousing bolt pattern and engine mounts.

A 351 would be an upgrade but an all stock '78 smog version won't be very impressive, these boat anchors made a wopping 150hp back in the day thanks to heads with massive combustion chambers and tiny cams. If the motor you're looking at has something better than a stock cam and you can afford a couple hundred for some E7TE or F1ZE heads then you'll have a potent power plant that will deliver decent or better gas milage and be a pleasure to drive.

 

They want $340 to overhaul the heads...stock 69 302 heads which I read have bigger valves than even the 70's 351 heads had.

Trying to figure all this out I've run across conflicting reports on whether or not a 302 oil pan will fit a 351w. I know they run a different distributor/oil pump/oil pump shaft, but how is the pan different?

One spot said that the pick up tubes were different, but you could swap them.

Anybody know?

Peace,
Jim

 

The 69 302 heads do have bigger valves but those engines were designed to rev whereas we are looking for torque to get a heavy vehicle moving in rapid fashion.. The 87+ heads with the smaller valves flow better than the 69 302 heads with bigger valves because of the improvements in port and runner design in port design, 27 years later they learned a thing or two about port and runner design and incorporated this newfound technology into the newer heads.. Once again, bigger is not always better..

 

Gman, do I read that right? The later model 302 heads will bolt up to the 69 302 block? If so I might be able to source a set of salvage/rebuilt heads in good shape for a lot cheaper than all the head work on the old heads.

Jim

 

Yeah, the newer heads will bolt right on. The oil pan is different, I believe it is because the 351w has larger main bearings.