302 Engine Swap Question
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From: Hollsopple, PA
302 Engine Swap Question
Newbie here. Just bought my first Ford. It's a '73 F100 with a tired and wore out 302. My buddy has a 302 out of a 1980 Ford LTD that is in good shape. Can I swap this into my truck without too much complication? Thanks in advance.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Research the part numbers on the flywheel/flexplates of the two engines. The '80 should still be 28 ounce, but you definitely want to verify it all, because that is one incompatibility which you would want to discover before it's all put back together...
Plus you never know if an old car or truck hasn't been through an engine swap.
Block part numbers can give you a somewhat educated hunch as to the imbalance spec, but the part numbers you really want are on the crankshaft, when it comes to specifying a flywheel and balancer.
In 1980 or '81, Ford changed the 302 from the old 28 ounce imbalance spec to a 50 ounce imbalance check. I know first hand that a '79 302 with an '82 5.0 HO flywheel will vibrate like an earthquake.
Other than that, she will fit like a glove! But one other thing is that you might need a block-off plug for the back of each head on the 1980 engine, where the Upstream Air ports are, for the Thermactor/smog-pump system. Or you can leave the Upstream Air tube in place, as long as the check valve on the hose-end is still holding, but it might look dorky. Others have threaded a spark plug in those holes, but there are proper plugs which you can buy.
Plus you never know if an old car or truck hasn't been through an engine swap.
Block part numbers can give you a somewhat educated hunch as to the imbalance spec, but the part numbers you really want are on the crankshaft, when it comes to specifying a flywheel and balancer.
In 1980 or '81, Ford changed the 302 from the old 28 ounce imbalance spec to a 50 ounce imbalance check. I know first hand that a '79 302 with an '82 5.0 HO flywheel will vibrate like an earthquake.
Other than that, she will fit like a glove! But one other thing is that you might need a block-off plug for the back of each head on the 1980 engine, where the Upstream Air ports are, for the Thermactor/smog-pump system. Or you can leave the Upstream Air tube in place, as long as the check valve on the hose-end is still holding, but it might look dorky. Others have threaded a spark plug in those holes, but there are proper plugs which you can buy.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
If your 1973 F100 has A/T, it would have a C4.
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New User
Joined: Feb 2017
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From: Hollsopple, PA
My F100 has the 3 speed manual. I think I've decided against against the swap. I'm going to do a rebuild on the current engine. Got it apart last night. The block is going to the machine shop on Saturday. Found 4 broken rings when I removed the pistons. Thanks for all the info.
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