dad bought an 85' F150 2WD Lariat brand new. I purchace it form him in 96' - It had a MPFI 302 that ran like nothing I've ever seen - Put a tach in an to my amazement it would run right up to 5900RPM before shifting to the next gear, He!! it would run around 3000RPMs in OD down the highway with a 3.73 rearend, this was BONE STOCK!!! I drove it through high school and rodded the salad out of that beast and it never once failed me. It would just anilate tires. Don't know if it was just an eceptional one or what but have never been in anything with a 302 other than mustangs that would run like it did. A spoiled friend got a brand new 97' Z71 with a vortech 350 and couldn't touch me untill around 70MPH. I have since sold the truck to the company I work for and it's now my company truck!! has just under 140K on it and it still runs quite well. it's lost a little power but was still pushing 120-140lbs of compression at 125,000 miles. May very well be the best engine I will ever own - It also pulled a 28' camper to and from the lake many times and had no problem running 60-65mph, yes it was done in 3rd gear at 4000 rpms but it did the job just the same. The truck wasn't even rate to tow that kind of load which explains why it would push you all over the road.I now have updated to an 03' superduty with the 6.8L V10 and all though it's an awsome truck an the V10 is great I don't know If It could handle the abuse that little 302 went through. Like I said it may very well be the best motor I'll ever own.

 

The only problem I ever saw with the 302 was the ones put in cars in the late 70's with those venturi carbs. I know LTD's had them because my family had two of them. To start them in the winter I stuck a screwdriver in the venturis to hold those flappy thingies open the started it. Sometimes ether was used also.

 

3.55 gears and 29 inch tires. Engine redline in second is probably 60-65.

Jim

 

My dad had two 302's both in full size vans. Neither ever gave a hint of any trouble, both were traded with around 145k. The second one a 1994, hauled 6 people, and a boat with A/C on for many 1200 mile trips to Fla. and back. I have one in my 94' f-150 4x4 and its a great motor too. I love the old 300, 302, 351 line up- Can't go wrong with any of them.

 

302 ci Rocks Hands Down. '68 Cougar 302/C4

 

I've got a 351 in my bogger, and I beat the tar out of that thing. I've got the rev set at 5500 and I'll do donuts until the temp hits 230, then I'll slow it down, and do it again. LOVE that little engine. The one on the shop floor is gonna get ported factory heads, 10.5/11 - 1 pistons, fatty cam, stud girdle, rocker girdle, roller lifters, and roller rockers. Gonna set the revs at 8k and hook up a 150 shot just for grins.
On the '65 Mustang I just aquired, it's got a 302. Little 2 barrel, but judging by the looks of the rest of the car (lowered, subframe connectors, slotted aluminum wheels, lo profile tires, monte carlo bar), it was either raced, or set up to do some racing. Hooked up a good battery and dumped some gas down the carb and it fired right up after sitting for who knows how long. The guy who bought it off the guy who bought it off the guy who actually had it said it ran rough. I JB Welded a crack in the header and changed the oil (more like tar, HONESTLY), and now it just sits and purrs like a kitten. It was originally a 289 car, but the 302 went in sometime in the past 35 years, and somehow, it got 4-lug components all the way around. I'm gonna fab my own 4-lug to 5-lug adapters out of 3/8 steel for the front, and narrow a 31-spline 9 inch from an F150 for the rear.

 

On a side note, does anyone know why the Chebby 302 never took off? Well, I KNOW it took off (like a scalded cat), but why did it never see continued life? From what I hear, it would rev to the moon and was one helluva powerplant, giving the 350 a good run for its money. Was it because the cars got bigger/heavier and needed a better torque curve?

 

The chevy 302 was like the Ford boss 302. Developed for trans-am racing and sold in just enough quantity to make it a legal engine for racing. When the factories pulled out of Trans-Am the engines went away. Neither engine was really good for mass users. The Boss with its over large intake ports was a dog at low RPMs in city traffic(low low RPM torque) and the chevy 302 suffered the same problems along with solid lifter cams that required adjustment every 12000 miles or whenever the click got too loud..

 

Sounds like it was originally a 6-cylinder car. Instead of making adapters for the front, I would find a Fairmont/Granada and rob the spindles, calipers, 5-lug rotors, tie-rod ends, master cylinder, and beefy front sway bar off of it. Pretty much a bolt-in swap for front discs for an older 'Stang, did it to the '67 that i raced. For the rear, a Lincoln Versailles nine-incher already has discs and will just need the spring perches cut off the axle tubes and moved in a little. Sounds like a fun project you've got there, good luck. -TD

 

The 68 Falcom I got from my brother was originally a 6 cyl, with 4 lug wheels. We changed out the front and rear end making it into 5 bolt pattern, when we built the 302 for it. I may have never owned one of the fastest cars on the road, but that Falcon kicked more booty than you can imagine. It was the fastest car I have personally ever owned.

 

Hey Tiger
I was thinkin that too, except the VIN actually says that it was originally a V8 car. I was under the impression that the I-6 cars came with 4 lug and the V8 cars came with 5 lug. That's what has me a little stumped. I was lookin around for the conversion pieces (rotors, axle and such) but I don't quite have a decent quantity of fundage going on, so I figgered I try the self-fabbed pieces.

 

That's my usual problem, thus the junkyard scrounging. Grenadas/Monarchs can often be found for free (I got 2 at different times by hauling them away, to the gradtitude of the former owners). The Versailles rear end can be pricey, if the junkyard knows what they have, but I've used a nine-incher out of a '72 Cougar. Drum brakes, a little wider track, but it can work easier (and cheaper) than narrowing a wider one. Plus, I think the truck 5-lug pattern is bigger than the small pass. car pattern. And I thought that V8 cars all came with 5-lug as well, I don't know what you've got, maybe someone was switching VINs around? -TD

 

I have heard many good things about the 302.Old man had one in a 91 ford bronco ran strong for 150,000 miles then he traded it in.

Good thing about them is I do believe u can buy a stroker kit and stroke them out to a 351W I'm not positive.But their a good pick if u wanna build a race motor.

Dan

 

Yep... (I think you're) wrong - it was 88 and 89 - California stangs got mass air in 88 and all others in 89. (At least that's what I've read...but then I'm finding lately that many "experts" have varying opinions about Mustangs ) So...who knows FOR SURE???

Scott

 

My wife's brother has found a nice deal on a 306 (302 bored .30 over) with TFS heads, cam, intake, and pistons, complete with wiring harness/ecu, 24lb injectors , 70mm throttle body and less than 500 miles on it for $2100. He knows the guy and has heard the engine run - says it sounds great! It was dyno'ed at 350 hp/375 lb/ft. It should make a great motor for my 93 4cyl coupe! Sound like a good deal to y'all???
Just the heads and pistons cost $1700 (total). The guy is one of those who is never satisfied and now wants to build a 351 for his 'stang.