im going to start a new engine build for my f100 short box (4x4) and i have a few questions that i cant seam to find the answers for.

so far i have one complete efi truck engine with a 4 speed trany bolted to it, the engine has been sitting out side for the past 4 or 5 years so is probably f#@$ed. and i have a semi complete 302 siting in the back of a international scout this engine had piston slap when it was pulled, but i think everying is still good. there is also various peaces of ford stuff around like a efi intake and a set of heads and a 4 speed with a few transfer cases.

anyways my question is how can i make low end power in a 302? can some one recommend how i should build this 302(cam,Heads), it will mostly be used for offroading and highway driving.

i would like to convert it to efi but carb is very possible to and i would like to use up as much of the stuff lying around as i can.

thanks for the help

 

Put a stroker kit in it.

 

lol that always works. i was thinking more along the lines of how i should set up my cam and heads.

 

Stick with anything that says RV in the description. If you get too radical, you will have to change the rearend gears so the motor can rev.

I remember when my 1980 had the 302 I rebuilt, I added a stock 4bbl manifold and holley 600 4bbl, and I had to get the kick-down linkage on the tranny hooked up before it would even open up the rear barrels of the carb. It had 31 10.50's with 3.50 gears and a c6.

 

ok thanks i don't know to much about cams, im not looking for crazy torque just more that stock. the truck already has towing gears so im going to try to stick that 4 speed in it.

 

Long tube headers...Gt 40 heads..or similar..Low to mid range cam & intake..

 

350ft lbs is about all it will do naturally aspirated on pump gas, so the trick is to get that TQ in the rpm range where you need it most. Build it so the compression ratio is between 9 to 9.5:1, select a short duration cam(250-260deg advertised) with lots of lift, and bolt on a small volume intake like a performer and 500cfm carb or the 5.0HO or Explorer intake if going EFI. Add longtubes and as much ignition advance as it'll take and you have all it will deliver.
If that's not enough find/build a stock motor and put a blower on it.

 

Summit SUM-4400 - Summit® Camshafts

i think this cam is what im looking for. will it work with stock springs and valves also can i use pre efi heads with a efi manifold thanks for the help

 

...Yes you can use pre efi heads with a efi manifold...Im no cam expert but i think you can do alot better on the cam..Thats one of the most important parts...Its worth it to put some more money in to that end of it...Listen to the advice your going to get before you buy it ...Lew

 

im no where near buying anything yet im just doing some reaserch. thanks for that info on the heads, i have not build a ford engine yet so didnt know if i was going to be in the same boat as chevs and the diferent efi heads.

 

...You can try looking on craigs list i have seen some good deals on there for heads....289...302...351w heads will interchange with out to much modification...I wouldnt go bigger than 194 int 160 exhaust..

 

got the engine in the shop and the head off its not seased, but that one piston has a chunk missing maybe i can steal the other pistons from the second engine i have. more pic later

 

If you do end up using EFI heads, you will needs lots of spark, and premium gas or it will clatter. I'm not sure why, but i have built and bought new engines where this occured. An engine builder said it was due to high compression. A mallory distributer/coil solved the problem.

 

ill probably use the heads that came with that block, their not half bad good size valves and good compression chamber. now that i think about it, that missing chunk of piston probably was caused by detonation. i found a fully built and ready to go 4v carb in a cupboard so i might just have to use it, a eddelbrock performer will fit on efi heads wont it?(i think their efi how do you tell?)

 

Yeah the performer intake will fit with no problems. If it's the one in your pics, it looks like a non efi engine. If it's an older engine (pre '82), the camshaft is different, thats why pre '82 302's have a different firing order. They changed cams to reduce crankshaft stress. If yours is a pre '82 that would explaine the missing chunk of piston. When I worked in the wrecking yard buisness, you could bet that when you tore into the older 302 you would find at least 2 cracked pistons.