hello guys.
i need your input on the best small block. i have read various books on the Ford V8 and for my intended application the 302 serves my purposes well. i intend to give it a light warming over with a few bolt on goodies to maintain good torque at low and mid range with a smooth idle. the most work this engine will do is the occasional gunning from the lights with the possibility of becoming a daily driver. heres the thing though.
i have read that the 302s before 1972 produced the most power. After that the EPA did what they do best and ruined it all with tighter emmissions and Ford had to fit a head that produced less power as a result. i also know that until 1985 the small block had a 2 piece main rear seal which, if not fitted 100% was prone to leaking. Help me out Guys. which year 302 with which head is considered best.

 

Well the best blocks would be the 85-01 since they have roller cams (Only the Mustang had a roller block in 85). Heads are another story as there are many that could work. 2 piece rear seal was replaced by the one piece in 1983.
I'll list them from best to worst:

GT-40P 1.84/1.54 valves 64cc (stock on 97-01 Explorers) requires different headers
D0VE 1.84/1.54 valves 60.4cc (70-74 351W) I have a pair of these
D5TE 1.84/1.54 valves 60.4cc (75-77 351W have air injection)
69-76 302 heads 1.78/1.45 valves 58.2cc
E7TE 1.78/1.45 valves 64cc (87 and up 302/351W cars and trucks) Can flow pretty good with some porting

 

That's crap. The ONLY 302 before 85 that made any power was a real low production 4v engine in 68. IIRC, it was a mid-year replacement for the 4v 289. And obviously, you've never read of the late 80's through 90's 5.0. More torque, AND better economy, AND lower emissions, AND they last longer. Where are you getting your information?

Bull****. Engines got better, partly because of the EPA, partly because of CAFE. Starting in the mid-80's, the 302 made more torque, AND got better economy, AND produced lower emissions, AND they last longer. And if you try to remove any of the so-called emissions equipment, you'll some of these qualities.

Leaking seals is an overstatement, too.

The F7TE head is the best ever produced. A smog head. Go figure.

 

eeeeezzzzz there pcmenten, He is asking so I would ASSume(me being the *** cause I dont know) he needed help and was "asking" for the truth.

I have no clue but read all threads to learn.


So give him which to use, you have the knowledge so share it with us.

 

Some of this I can attest to personally because in '86 I had an '81 turbo'd Firebird and the only thing I didn't want to race was an '85-86 Mustang.

This is the first time I've heard that the '68-69 Mustangs and Cougars lacked power though.I thought they did rather well...?

-Shawn

 

I still believe you'd be better off w/ using a McCullough/Paxton VZ-57 Supercharged 223 I-6, as you've more than likely the original 215 I-6.
You'd not have to worry about Changing Engine & Transmission Mounts, Altering your Propeller Shaft or having to have a New One Manufactured, Altering the Wiring & Cooling system, etc.
Especially if you wish to do Light to Light jump off's & for the Wow factor.

 

i have an 89 302 with 1965 289 heads that i had rebuilt..... In my opinion the 65 289 heads are awesome, but then again you have SOOOO many different choices out there...

 

Well the 65 289 heads have 1.67/1.45 (HIPO have 1.78/1.45) valves and 54.5cc chambers. Just bolting them on a 86-01 block with stock pistons will put the compression over 10:1 which makes it unable to run pump gas.

EDIT: Looking at your site, you have C5AE which are the HIPO 289 heads and you had bigger valves put in which changes things. They aren't bad but they aren't the best flowing 302 heads.

 

yeah i forgot to mention they are HIPO heads.

 

IMO, GT-40 heads from an Explorer are the best heads with a more likely chance of finding them in a JY. Try and find a set of Hipo 289 heads, lol. Also, remember hp was measured from the flywheel before 1972. A roller block shouldn't be hard to find either.

 

You are right, of course. I was a bit harsh with my comments and I apologize for that. Sorry.

But it chaps my *** when people say things like "EPA" screwed things up, especially when it comes from an ignorant point of view. The EPA didn't hurt anything, of course. American car companies in the 70's were at fault for their terrible engineering. The Japanese ate their lunch.

The easiest thing to do if you want a nice 302 is a bone-stock 5.0 from a 90's Explorer. Everything from the headers to the computer, and don't forget the AIR pump. If you leave the 'smog' pump off, you'll be paying for Oxygen sensors and fuel when the sensors get fouled.

 

The GT40 heads from the '95 & 96 Explorer are slightly more desireable than the GT40P's (97 up). The GT40 head uses a standard port configuration for the headers, whereas the GT40P requires special Header. The GT40 heads were also used on the first generation Lightning and some Cobra Mustangs
The mustang 5.0 boys like the GT40 as a quick bolt on for horsepower

 

The sole purpose the air pump is to maximize catalytic converter efficiency. It has no effect of the oxygen sensor. There are many vehicles that don't have an air pump. My 1999 Mystique is one and the oxygen sensor lasted 160 000 kms.

 

thanks for all your input guys. Especially you, pcmenten, youre a real help. i could give you the title of the book i read but i dont think that is needed here. what i did want was information to back this book up. if i got it wrong then the book is wrong. i havent made it up.
so lets re-cap. an engine after 85 (had a roller block) and if i can find them, GT40 heads would be good combination?

 

I just did a GT40P engine swap in my Mustang, and some of the information above is a little off. The Explorers/Mountaineers got the 302 from 96-2001, and the 96-mid 97 or so Explorers got the regular GT40 heads. The P heads and their specific headers aren't an issue, since all of the 302 headers FRPP sells now are supposed to be made to clear the sparkplugs on the P heads.

Also, it wasn't 85 or later that the 302s got one piece rear main seals, it was more like 82 and later. I'm not sure of the exact year, but my early 84 GT has a one piece rear seal.

FWIW, after swapping the Explorer engine in my Mustang, that's the way I'd go. I bought the entire engine for $410 from a local yard, ebayed the fuel injection setup for $255, and installed a stock Mustang roller cam in the thing and dropped it in my GT with the factory Holley four barrel. I'd estimate that my car picked up roughly 100 hp with this Explorer engine versus the stock 84 HO. If you don't go that route, but an 85 or later Mustang block, as it will be set up for a roller cam. Some trucks got the roller cam blocks (like my 94 F150), but came with a flat tappet cam. Not all 85 and later Fords got a roller block though, as I have seen several Crown Victorias and Lincolns that did not.