I recently have been asking questions about the 302 I got from the junk yard out of an 84 mustang. Well I read the numbers on the block and heads....Its a 69 block from a fairlane or torino and the heads are "truck heads" from around the same year, weird huh. Would this engine be stronger than a newer 302 block? It hasn't been bored out or anything

 

Post any and all casting numbers you have..

 

heads= "C9TE"
block= "C9OE-6015-C"

 

My info says the heads were originally cast as '69 truck 302 heads with 58cc combustion chambers. The block was a '69 Torino block!! But is it a 302 or 351 block? The deck height is measured from the crank center line to the cylinder head mating surface. The 351 measures 9.48" vs the 302 which is only 8.2". You can also tell by looking at the distributor mount. If it's nearly level with the intake mating surface then it's a 302 block, if it's about 1.5" below the intake mating surface it a 351. Either way. these blocks are heavier than the later blocks and as a result somewhat sturdier.

 

I just measured from the center of the crank to the head mating surface and got 8.2 so it is a 302. I checked The heads again and they have a "C" on them, I didn't see it before so they are "C9TE-C" heads. I looked in my book I have to determin parts and "C9TE-C" truck heads have a 69cc cumbustion chamber...wow thats big right? The valve size is int. 1.78 and exh. 1.45

 

C9OE isn't neccessarily a 302 block from a 69 Torino. That's the car line the engineering costs were assigned to. It could have been installed in any Ford or Merc from that year forward. I believe the C9TE heads were 59 cc, not 69.

 

That is big, if correct. You won't have good compression, unless it has pop up pistons. If you have the heads off, then CC them, and make sure of what it is. By way of comparison, a flat top piston 289 has about 10:1 with 54cc chambers, and a 302 with flat tops is about 9:1 with 61cc chambers. A flat top piston 302 with 64cc chambers is about 8.7:1.

Your going to want a static compression of about 10:1 with a large duration (good sounding) cam.

You may not be able to mill enough, if they are 69cc, and if you use flat tops. Usually it's about a 1cc reduction per eight thousands of material removed.

 

Yeah..I was going to make that point but ran outta time. It's the same with the popular E7TE heads on late model Windsors. Technically it was originally cast by the truck division, but they were found on engines in many of the cars of that era such as the Crown Vic, Mustang, and Lincoln models. The result is.. the casting numbers will tell you the basic parameters of the casting and when it was first produced, but it won't tell you what cam and pistons are installed, or what year vehicle it came from. An original motor would have a metal tag under a bolt head with that information, similar to what you find on a differential.

 

I got my numbers from a SBF rebuilding book, thats what it says but I'm not sure if it is right though on the 69cc.

 

The books I've seen list the C9TE head as having 58 cc chambers. And the final compression ratio also depends on what flat topped pistons you use. Not all have the same pin height. That varies from 1.585 to 1.610, depending on the piston. That .025" difference is enough to vary the ratio by a full point or better.

 

ohh I see what you mean thanks for the info guys

 

The distance from pin to top of piston is 1.605" on stock 289's and regular 302's.

The Boss 302 is 1.530".

It's possible to use aftermarket pistons that are slightly different to adjust deck clearance ect...

 

You should CC the chambers, so you know exactly what your dealing with, rather than inferring based on a casting numbers and so forth.