A 302 Ford will go anywhere a sbc will go, easily. It's a smaller package. Even 351 Fords which have better breathing than sbc's.

 

ya but i never got a free sbf or a free front clip that one just bolts into so....

 

Nothing "just bolts in" as you will learn.

Sell the sbc and buy a Ford engine for your Mercury.

 

Although I personally would try to keep a vehicle somewhat built of the same brands, a true hot rod, is a reflection of more then just who made what for the parts. Sometimes the extra time/skill/money just isnt worth it! (besides chevy made a pretty decent small block as well!)

The majority of the rods and projects out there use chevy small blocks for a reason, and availability isnt the only reason, due to the 302 being all over the place!

Im sure its due to the engine fitting better, or perhaps the oil pan?

Chris, can you fill me in?

 

my camaro front clip is only 1/4" wider than than the stock frame rails at the mounting locations.

1. the camaro clip allows me to bolt in any 265,283,327,305,350,400 sbc, cant do that with a ford
2. easy power steering with no extra parts sourced or fab, just connect hoses
3. i get a lowered stance with better handling and upgraded brakes (disc)
4. i can build 3 sbc to 1 flathead, 1.5 sbc to 1 sbf. If you look at the price of aftermarket parts for both motors you will notice that sbc parts are almost 20% cheaper across the board than the equivalent part for a sbf
5. The drivetrain is chosen for its reliability and part availability. If i break down on the side of the road in rural anywhere what are the chances i can find a few year specific parts at a farm yard versus parts that fits 6 different blocks and are all interchangeable

opinions are like *******s and apparently we have a large opinion on our hands.

im as brand loyal as the next guy i just dont let that jade my thinking to the pros of something else that may and will benefit me better. Im not a brand loyalty evangelist.

Its not my first rodeo cowboy

 

Ya you know my opinion if it isn't original it doesn't matter what goes in. SBFs can not compete with all the interchangeably options on the SBCs

 

Couldn`t agree more.....cross breeding is only ok for dogs. Don`t make the same mistake as the guy did with my T just for a few bucks.

 

chevy is meant to go in a chevy, fords the like.

 

Short story, took place in the eighties. Bright lad, for all the reasons stated above did the same thing with the camaro clip, sbc in a '49 merc. The unanticipated problem was the distributor didn't fit. He couldn't install the distributor because the whole thing was too far back. Being a smart guy, he wanted the engine as far back as possible for best weight distribution. Had to pull the engine to put the distributor in. Now he was in a rush so he decided to create some clearance using a hammer. Installed the engine and couldn't get the distributor cap in place but he levered things around and got er done. When at long last he fires it up and it shuts down with a broken distributor cap. OK, the hand writing is on the wall so he pulls the engine back out and cuts the firewall and does a nice job with the sheet metal to create clearance. I can't recall all the details but he spent the better part of the next week re-doing some things between the dash and the firewall. But, he did get it done after doing some work on the tunnel, linkages etc.

He was disappointed to learn that the sbc is a hundred pounds heavier than the 302 Ford.

 

he obviously didnt have a measuring tape