Like I said in my previous post I picked up a total clunker.The engine and tranny were replaced so I have no idea what the thing has.The tranny looks like a NP435.Iron/steel body with aluminum top and mechanical Clutch.The truck was originally a 300I6 with a Hydrolic Clutch(master Cyl still there,new hole cut....errr,Chiseled..... in fire wall right of gas pedal).But on the engine,I was told it was a 302 but I can't tell.There are 6 bolts holding the valve covers on,Separate bolt on water neck on intake,The drivers side head has 2 studs sticking out of the front of it where something was mounted.The water pump isn't bolted to the engine directly.Looks like there is an aluminum thingy between it and the block with a waffle looking rib design.Has a 2bbl holly(what was mounted on the pax side of it?).I am seriously having second thoughts of restoring this beast now.I might just drive it till it Dies and get a better candidate later(I still like this body style better than any of the others except the 92-97).

 

6 Valve cover bolts If I remember correctly is a 302/351.

 

yeah 6 is a 302 or 351 wins a 351mod cleve or 400 has 8

 

Can someone please send me a picture of the front of each engines?I gotta find out fast since it just did a chernobyl.Broke the timing chain I think.Driving along and heard a loud pop.Saw alot of smoke behind me.Didn't stop running and smoke cleared,went to make a turn about a mile later and it popped again this time it died!Pulled the distributor cap(this is a old engine in a newer truck) and the rotor didn't move when I turned it over.Hope to god it didn't break anything in the heads.Now I wish I had bought that Chevy V8 S10 next to it or the V6 Dakota.

 

oops,looks like I spoke too soon.It ain't the timing chain.I performed a little test.The trucks sucks were it should and blows from the other end.Valves are working.I wonder if the distributor gear is busted?I noticed that when I removed the cap that I could move the rotor about 20 degrees before it caught.Now what should I do?I know pull the rotor assembly and check it but should I also pull the pan and flush everything down to make sure there is no chunks floating around?Oh,previous owner was a firm believer in Fram so I hope that over priced thing did its job and stopped any from making it past.When it died I popped the clutch thinking I got an air pocket since I was real low on fuel(half way between E and a quarter).

 

Me and a buddy pulled the valve covers today and spun the engine over Via the starter.Everything worked great except the Rotor.Didn't budge.I did see something disturbing when I yanked the VCs.Small chunks of iron.About 1/8 wide(triangular) and about a 1/16th thick.Found like 3 pieces on the passenger side.Don't remember if my buddy found any on the drivers side but I think everything was on my side.There was a lot of rust build up on the push rods.Over half the rocker arms are loose(you can twist them a little).So,we decided to yank the Distributor.The second the gear made it to the surface there it was.3 teeth sheered clean off.Good news is I found the problem,Bad news is it also took some Cam shaft teeth since we could feal atleast part of one missing down there.Could I just drop a good used cam in there and use the old stuff(might replace those crusty push rods though)?Also,where do you thing the small iron chunks could have come from?There is no oil in the water and no water in the oil so no major holes.No smoke so no oil is getting by the pistons or valve guides(or atleast not large quantities).Couple more questions.is the crank bolt Reverse threads?I found the casting code and it traces back to a 1979 Ford Galaxie.Now what engines did that car come with or is there a place I can look to find out what the engine is?I am leaning towards the 351 side now.