Which 302 can I use?
 

I need some guidance here on what year Engine / block I am able to use to get what I want for my 56 F100.

My preference would be to have a 302 with Carb, mechanical ( cam driven ) fuel pump, and points ignition. Please, lets not debate Point vs elec, carb vs. Injected, or electric pump vs. mechanical. That would be a long rabbit trail away from my question.

I have read that Points dist and Electronic dist engines have some different bushing , or roller to run them?? One is brass , one is steel?? No idea where I first read that, or if its true.
I also read that a carb engine has different heads than an injected engine. Holes that would have to be plugged??

I know the simple answer is to find a 72 or older 302, but finding a good one, or finding a rebuildable one at a decent price is not that easy. I understand the intake and timing cover will be different, but is a long block, a long block? Searching for this info through forums is tedious and time consuming. I know there is a guy out there that has the knowledge.

Thanks, Jeff

I think you would be safe with any 302 from 1985 or older. If I remember correctly 1986 is when they started the changes you do not want. Wanting an engine that is EMP proof?

Hee, hee, Hee, yes I do.

I have an 86 F150 with 5L/302 EFI and I can tell you the TFI (thin film ignition) distributor has always been a royal pain. Stick with the earlier.
Later heads have a threaded port at the back for the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) system. Cap those off for a non-emission engine.

If you get into the 81/82 era 302, they changed to a different size flywheel/flex plate with a different tooth count. I think the bigger one has 164 teeth.
Also around that time you will find external balanced vs. an internal balanced crank. It's been awhile - details escape me at the moment.

There was a lot of head development going on for the 302 in the mid-late 80's and through the 90's to the end of production. Some of those later heads made really good power and will work fine on a carb'd engine. Like Tim said, there's a hole in the ends of some that need to be capped with (iirc) an 11/16 freeze plug. No big deal. Early heads will work fine, too. Pre 72 heads will have better flowing exhaust ports from later 70's and early 80's. If you can find them, 351W heads pre 74 had larger intake ports, and was an old school way of upping the power of 302's. They bolt right on. Just be sure to use the 351 intake gaskets.

For your distributor, go to NAPA or other quality parts house and ask for a 66-67 289 distributor. It will have a better advance curve and a simple one port vacuum advance can. It will drop in place on any flat tappet cam 302. Even on a reman dizzy, I would recommend finding someone with a distributor machine to check the curve and adjust if necessary. There's no guarantee any dizzy is curved right.

General production 302 crank and rods are pretty much the same, nothing to get excited about. 1981 saw a change in balance weight from 28oz to 50oz, so you need to know what year your engine is as cranks, flywheels and balancers do not interchange.

1985 was the beginning of roller cams in certain applications and were phased in throughout production for the next several years. By 89 or 90, everything was roller. You can use a points distributor on a roller cam if you change the driven gear to a steel one. Research that on the internet if you're curious.

You can set up any 302 as you want it, I would really suggest you go with a roller cam. It can be a gamble breaking in a flat tappet cam these days. The 331 in my 53 started as a 95 truck 302, its carbed and I can run a mechanical fuel pump if I wanted to. Explorers are a good source of 302's if you can find one.

Long block simply means engine with heads as opposed to a short block without heads . If you want a mechanical pump you need to have the proper timing cover . Pretty much the last thing you want is a roller cam engine as you are not going to need or use it .

Awesome guys, This is exactly what I was looking for.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I will filter this info when looking at the motors and or blocks available to me.

Thanks, Jeff

302
 

I always use the 5.0 engines--has roller cam and always convert them over to CARB engine-- EASY JOB and then you got a SUPER engine-- C-4 trans--- 1999 -2002 Explorer rears with disc brakes--TCI leaf spring kit---Mustang II front suspension -- THEN YOU HAVE A HELL OF A SAFE RIDE---
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...3286321321.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...5f39f7a20d.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...3413360e64.jpg

302
 

Great info already posted. As pointed out, due to emissions, Ford made slight modifications to the heads in the 70’s. I think it was in 77, they increased the chamber size on some of the 302 heads to further lower the compression. If you decide to replace the stock heads with aftermarket aluminum, verify the chamber size. Some match the later heads versus early heads (58cc versus 62cc).

As you know very well, I am very old and not all that smart so I need clarification on what you mean that the roller cam engine "you are not going to need or use it". Need or use what ? :-huh
Statement of conflict of interest and reason for asking: My next project (and last) is a 1956 F100 Panel truck using a 1990 mark vii LSC 5.0. HO that is a roller cam I think.
Thanks for helping the old, feeble and mentally handicapped. }>

Maybe need or want was not the best choice of words lol . Absolutely nothing wrong with a roller cam engine imho , just the op wants a mechanical pump and I am unsure if that's possible with a newer block - roller cam . That and cost of cam and valvetrain related parts are substantially more . My 408 stroker valve train got very expensive " somewhat due to aluminum heads " cam's $ 400+ , lifters $200+ , hardened pushrods $ 150+ , guide plates $150+ and this is all American dollars and as a fellow Canadian you will know that a good rule of thumb is double it by the time it's in your hands . If you are not changing the cam and or heads to aluminum then it's mostly irrelevent . Knowing what I know now I would not have searched so hard for a factory roller cam 351 c to build an engine that will not see any substantial yearly use . Are you staying with fuel injection and also using the trans from the donor AOD or AODE ?

Mustangs used roller cams and mechanical fuel pumps 1985.

Yes, this will be my seconed project with OEM FI, and much to my surprize the first one runs ! I am prety sure that in '90 the trans was a AOD with the wonky TV (?) bushing but stand alone electronics,, just not there yet. My two to four year per project time frame is just wishfull thinking, the older I get the longer every project takes. Looking forward to some simplicty (and room) with a truck again. Thanks.

I believe the AOD I am using is from a 91 crown vic and has the tv cable . There is a valvebody available that eliminates the tv cable that I ran across somewhere but mine was already built .