What mods would it take?
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2013
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From: NW Ohio
What mods would it take?
I was wondering hat mods it would take to make a 302 top out the old shock tower front suspension?
Back story: 65 merc with a beefy 302( engine is now tired). Back in the day i could get on it from launch and make the front lift so hard the shock towers would top out and make a thud. I do not believe the front wheels came off the ground. But I sure couldnt see much over the hood.
I know the engine is 30 over and has Ford heads with 302 cast on them. With 2.02 1.60 valves. The 9 inch is one wheel peel.
The question is could a cam and some head work make this vehicle do this? Or would it take a stroker to make it happen?
If it can be done with out it, then i wont bother tearing the old one down. If it takes a stroker , I will be angry and my new block has 1 piece seal.
2 cents appreciated!
Back story: 65 merc with a beefy 302( engine is now tired). Back in the day i could get on it from launch and make the front lift so hard the shock towers would top out and make a thud. I do not believe the front wheels came off the ground. But I sure couldnt see much over the hood.
I know the engine is 30 over and has Ford heads with 302 cast on them. With 2.02 1.60 valves. The 9 inch is one wheel peel.
The question is could a cam and some head work make this vehicle do this? Or would it take a stroker to make it happen?
If it can be done with out it, then i wont bother tearing the old one down. If it takes a stroker , I will be angry and my new block has 1 piece seal.
2 cents appreciated!
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
If it's got what you posted, it's already had both a cam swap and head work done. 302 heads never came with those valve sizes from Ford. Need more wight in the trunk and fixing the trac-loc unit in the 9" rear (if it has one) Don't expect the T10 to last long either subjected to that kind of punishment.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 317
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From: NW Ohio
I was guessing the tired engine wasnt stroked. My purpose in asking was I did not want to rebuild the engine and actually make the tires come up. Sporty yes, wheelie bar no.
The new block is a 1980 block. The weird thing is it has 69 rods and 71 rod ends. Someone must have spun a bearing at some point. I am hoping to get the old engine pulled this weekend,and see what mysteries are held inside.
Im not a resto guy but its very tempting to get a cast iron 2 barrel intake. I have an autolite 1.14 but I believe 289/302's had 1.08's.
In terms of the t10... the tired engine has been in this car or a very long time. I know one of the PO's, his kids would hot rod the crap out of the car. The t10 held up to those wild children. It has a BW on the side, not sure if borg made tranny's for ford back then or not. If i dont go resto, The 4 speed will come out for a 5 speed. Im more of a cruiser guy then a speed freak.
The new block is a 1980 block. The weird thing is it has 69 rods and 71 rod ends. Someone must have spun a bearing at some point. I am hoping to get the old engine pulled this weekend,and see what mysteries are held inside.
Im not a resto guy but its very tempting to get a cast iron 2 barrel intake. I have an autolite 1.14 but I believe 289/302's had 1.08's.
In terms of the t10... the tired engine has been in this car or a very long time. I know one of the PO's, his kids would hot rod the crap out of the car. The t10 held up to those wild children. It has a BW on the side, not sure if borg made tranny's for ford back then or not. If i dont go resto, The 4 speed will come out for a 5 speed. Im more of a cruiser guy then a speed freak.
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
An 80 block with those rods is completely normal. The C8OE rods were used until the early 90's in production. You definately do not want to hot rid or stroke an early 80's block. These were the true "lightweights" among 302 block castings. Thin everywhere. Also, you're going to need an adapter bracket for your clutch linkage with that 80 block, it lacks the clutch pivot hole where the Z bracket mounts to. You can buy these brackets at most of the classic Mustang venders. You will also need to verify that the crank in that 80's block has a 28 oz/in crank and not a 50 oz, othewise the flywheel on the old engine may throw the balance out of whack.
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