Hi all,
I'm a member of the fordification dentside forum but new to FTE. I already see that there is quite a bit more knowledge to be aquired from FTE, and seems like a great community. I have been meaning to start a project thread for Grandpas '74, the F100 2wd I inherited from my late grandfather. It has a 302 with a C4 automatic transmission. More info with pics to follow when I get chance to start the build thread.

For now, I have a question regarding engine compatibility between 302s. I'm sure you will recognize my inexperience, but I have an opportunity to purchase a 302 block that has been bored .030 over and has new freeze plugs and cam bearings at a good price. Not sure of the year, but I believe it came out of an early 90s Mustang. I was planning on building up the original 302 anyway, but this way I was hoping to be able to get some more miles out of the original while I build up the new block instead. My question is would there be any significant differences bewteen the engines and will this engine work with the C4 that is currently in my truck? What do I need to look for when scrutinizing this block? Thanks for any help y'all can provide and comments/suggestions are always welcome.

 

It is a direct fit. You can use the mustang block with no problem. Nothing really to "look" for on the 5.0 blocks. You will need to make sure you have the correct flywheel with the correct balance, but will fit fine with the correct one to the C4. Most Mustang Performance Parts houses have those flexplates. Early 302 were 28oz balance and late model 5.0's were 50 oz balance. I am referring to the rotating assembly, the harmonic dampner, and the flexplate.

 

So I picked up the block last week. It was a little rougher than described , but still a good deal as I was able to talk the seller down a little since I could tell it had been run a good bit after the machine work was done unlike what the seller originally revealed. There was a little surface rust from the seller letting it sit uncovered in his garage in FL. I took it to my local machine shop to have it hot tanked and blasted. The machinist told me he may have to hone the cylinders a little to get the surface rust out and replace the cam bearings and freeze plugs since it was being hot tanked, but I figure no big deal as I should still have a nice block to start a build with when the work is done. I wish I had done a little more research before buying the block, however, because I am not sure if I can go with my original plan to build a 400+ hp carbureted street/strip engine or not. The only casting number on the block I can really make out is E6SE, which through some searching on the forum I beleive means it is an '86 block possibly out of a Thunderbird I also beleive that 1986 was the first year Ford introduced FI in these motors, so can I still go carbureted??? or are the blocks setup differently???

The seller also had a lot of other engine parts and I ended up buying a "brand new" Eagle crankshaft (28 oz external balance) pretty cheap. I say "brand new" bc while it was still in the plastic wrap and box, the box had been opened and i spotted a little surface rust through the plastic. Haven't been able to investigate the crankshaft further, but it is probably usable after a machine shop gives it a good polish. Thats is, if i can even use it Looking at Summit the same Eagle crankshaft is for '67-'85 302s and '86 later 302s use the 50 oz balance. Can I still use the 28 oz if I take it to a machine shop to balance with my rods and pistons??? Can they add weight if necessary to balance??

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

You have the crank you want, matches your truck. Eliminates confusion when ordering parts such as starters/flexplates at a later date. For example, I for the life of me, can't remember if I built my Th350 with Dexron or Type F. It was too long ago.