302 EFI questions
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Posting Guru
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From: Pittsburgh,Pa.
302 EFI questions
Hi all. Although I'm an old hand at Ford pickups I'm a noob at Ford small blocks. I have a 72 F100 that came with a 302/C4 combo. When the 302 started drinking oil the original owner found a deal on a reman 289. It runs well but I would like to swap in a 302 EFI. The swap and wiring are no problem for me. My concerns are the balance issues I've heard about. Also a couple guys told me all of the 302 EFI engines have roller lifters. Is this true? Another question I have concerns the pulleys and belts. Is it possible to use the older style vee belts and pulleys or would I have to run the serpintine setup?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
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You'll get the 'for sure' answers in a minute, but I think the flywheels are the same from 81-up. I've seen 81 and 83...
Not all the 302's are roller motors. Mine is flat tappet. Was it 87 when they all went hydraulic, or was it 93/94?
Sorry for my lack of memory.
Not all the 302's are roller motors. Mine is flat tappet. Was it 87 when they all went hydraulic, or was it 93/94?
Sorry for my lack of memory.
FTE Legend
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Yeah '81 is when the balance changed on the 302, if you use an EFI motor you have to get a 50oz C4/C6 flexplate for it. Some 302 blocks were moded for roller lifters in '86, but the E7TE and later castings are all roller ready regardless if they have a roller cam installed or not. The car motors got roller cams right from the get go but the trucks didn't until '92. You can run either belt setup on these motors, the bracket bolt pattern never changed. I suggest you get an '87 or newer EFI motor because the heads used in '86 were bad, and the best motors to get are the '87-92 Mustang 5.0HO, it has a nice roller cam and 9:1 forged pistons.
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Thanks Paul. Since this is a future project I have time to look around to find a decent deal. I do have a line on 93 F150 that's a rust bucket. If that doesn't pan out I'll find something else. Since I'll need all the small stuff I want to buy a whole vehicle. A 92 thru 96 truck would be ideal since my DD is a 96.
Since this is a future project I have time to look around to find a decent deal. I do have a line on 93 F150 that's a rust bucket. If that doesn't pan out I'll find something else. Since I'll need all the small stuff I want to buy a whole vehicle. A 92 thru 96 truck would be ideal since my DD is a 96.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
I'll just add, the second best motor to get would be an Explorer 5.0(96-97), it had GT40 heads, the F4TE roller cam(a good TQ grind), and the low profile car style GT40 intake. Late '97 to 2k Explorer motors were the same but had GT4P heads, these perform a little better but require special long reach plugs and custom headers. Third on the list would be a '94-96 truck 5.0, it also has the F4TE roller cam but only the regular heads and truck intake.
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I've seen several Explorers parked due to various problems. I've just sort of ignored them because I'm not a big SUV fan. I think it's time I paid them a little more attention. Rust takes a big toll on everything around here and I've seen a lot of 90's stuff heading for the crusher. A running vehicle brings around $200 at the local yards. I just have to find one before it goes there.
Rust takes a big toll on everything around here and I've seen a lot of 90's stuff heading for the crusher. A running vehicle brings around $200 at the local yards. I just have to find one before it goes there.
