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Hello y'all. Got some questions about an old 302. This engine was dropped in a 1959 f100 many years back. I was "told" it's out of a 72 or 75 Thunderbird. I've gotten to the running stage of life again. Despite pouring gas out the accelerator pump, but I've got a 2150 to drop on it for now. Replaced the coils & a couple wires. I've not done anything else to it.
This truck is going to be a field welding rig for my little fab shop, after a bunch of work. With that goal in mind, what modifications are needed to make this a good reliable little beasty? I'm not overly concerned with massive amounts of horsepower with this. I want torque. Gonna see lots of pulling, driving, & off road use. I wanna keep it carbed. Iron heads would be preferred, but not set on that. Will be building headers once heads are sorted out. After that, I'm open to most things.
Forgive me for such a noob question. I'm a big block guy & a jeep guy. This little 302 is a new critter for me.
If the engine vintage is correct it should have decent CR, add a set of late model GT40 heads(casting #'s F1ZE, F3ZE, F4ZE) form a Mustang or Explorer and an RV style cam like the Comp 35-231-3 and it should make much better power than it does now.. upwards of 300hp/350tq. The thing you may have to get used to is that the meat of that powerband will be 3000-5000rpm but that is the nature of the beast with a small displacement V8.
Well it didn't come out of a T-Bird. For what you're doing, leave it as is. Maybe add electronic ignition if it doesn't have it now. Otherwise you're throwing money into something that's not needed. The comp ratio is right around 8 to 1 for a 72-75 302. Pretty sure those year's T-Birds didn't have 302's. Doesn't matter anyway, that era 302 was a Lo-Po motor in all applications.
Well it didn't come out of a T-Bird. For what you're doing, leave it as is. Maybe add electronic ignition if it doesn't have it now. Otherwise you're throwing money into something that's not needed. The comp ratio is right around 8 to 1 for a 72-75 302.
Pretty sure those year's T-Birds didn't have 302's. Doesn't matter anyway, that era 302 was a Lo-Po motor in all applications.
1977 was the first year that Thunderbirds had a 302. 1972/76's had 460's.
I see the white ID/emissions sticker on the side of the valve cover. What year and displacement does it say it is.
302 from 1977. And I feel like a moron now for thinking to look at it.
My only reason for using this motor is simple, I've got it already. Will go diesel eventually, but ain't got the time for that kinda conversion. Then the little 302 will probably go in a jeep. That should be like a 5.0 in a fox body mustang. Only lighter.
Thank you everyone for the info. Kinda disappointed that this beasty is a turd for what I'm doing, but at least I know it now.
302 from 1977. And I feel like a moron now for thinking to look at it.
My only reason for using this motor is simple, I've got it already. Will go diesel eventually, but ain't got the time for that kinda conversion. Then the little 302 will probably go in a jeep. That should be like a 5.0 in a fox body mustang. Only lighter.
Thank you everyone for the info. Kinda disappointed that this beasty is a turd for what I'm doing, but at least I know it now.
77 just had **** poor heads with 70 cc combustion chambers. But had flat top pistons, so just swapping the heads to ones with 58 cc chambers would increase the comp ratio substantially. That and a cam swap would do wonders, if it doesn't need a rebuild after 40+ years. Good news is the block crank and rods are fine as is. Far better than what Ford went to in the early 80's.
Just what I was going to point out. Before 1977 they used deep dish pistons with a slightly taller deck block. So for best performance/pulling power with what you have if the short block is good I would throw in a RV cam and do a head swap. (and a little exhaust work)
GT40 heads are easy to find. There are two basic versions that are easy to find. Both are on for explorers from 96 to 2001. The GT40 three bar and the GT40 P heads. The 3 bar heads are 64cc and the P are 58 cc. It will just depend on how much you want to boost your compression up too.
Just what I was going to point out. Before 1977 they used deep dish pistons with a slightly taller deck block. So for best performance/pulling power with what you have if the short block is good I would throw in a RV cam and do a head swap. (and a little exhaust work)
GT40 heads are easy to find. There are two basic versions that are easy to find. Both are on for explorers from 96 to 2001. The GT40 three bar and the GT40 P heads. The 3 bar heads are 64cc and the P are 58 cc. It will just depend on how much you want to boost your compression up too.
If the 3 bar heads are off a 5.0 Cobra Mustang, then they're around 60 cc. These heads got a couple extra passes at the factory on the milling machine before being bolted on. Best to check the chamber size before doing any more milling. Me ? I'd wait till the motor comes out to go into the Jeep before doing anything.
Doesn't matter anyway, that era 302 was a Lo-Po motor in all applications.
