Landcruisin60

Hey, so I got a free 302 from a family friend and I want to rebuild it to handle some boost and eventually swap it into a Mustang, probably a notchback. Pretty much all I know about it is that it turns over, besides that I have no clue. Not sure what vehicle it came out of and no clue what year it was manufactured in. I have a little expirience building engines...well I helped rebuild a 4.0 out of a Ranger to handle some boost. So I have the basic idea of how to build an engine. I figured I'd start a thread where I could post questions and get answers, I also plan to keep it up to date with my progress.

Soo I was looking through Summit at rebuild kits and it looks like I can get a full rebuild kit with forged pistons for $550ish. I know just the pistons for the 4.0 I helped build were over $600, so a full kit for $550 sounds a little sketchy. Is it a decent kit? My plan is to retro fit an m112 from a Cobra onto the 302. Since I built a mount system to mount the m112 from a Lightning onto a Ranger 4.0 I feel like building the mount for the 302 would be a cake walk. I'm not really sure what HP target I'm looking for. Where does the fun stop and the money start really adding up? Whats it take to get 350-400rwhp out of a 302? I want something really fun to drive but it also cant be breaking all the time, you know? I've been searching around quite a bit and am learning a lot. Feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions..

Thanks.

mjr46

how can you be picking out parts for a motor you have no clue what year it is out of??? it could be a roller motor or a non roller motor, you really need to get casting numbers off the block down by the starter on the ear by the dowl pin, after you know what you have, you can then start to formulate a build

Landcruisin60

Yup I had been trying to find the casting numbers but with all the grease on the engine it was hard. Heres what I have..it's possible that some of the 0's could be D's...not sure

D20E-8015-AB
3C24
and 10 in larger numbers

mjr46

check that first letter and make sure it is not a D, IF IT IS, THAT is a 72 302 flat tappet equipped block, if it is such those blocks are decent and slightly stronger than a latemodel block

Landcruisin60

Yup went out and double checked that it is infact a D. So is it a good block to build? Will it go into a late 80s-early 90s Mustang?

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...0&autoview=sku

Thats the rebuild kit I'm looking at, of course I'd order it after I tear it apart so I know what size bearings and such I'd need. But is that decent? Is there a better place to look?

mjr46

yes it will, however, a 72 302 will be a 28 oz balance 302, so you'd need a balancer that'd work with serpintine belt config, Profesional products sells one, and you'd need a flywheel for 28 oz balance or flexplate for such depending on tranny used, also I assume it has a front sump pan on it, so you'd need a pick up and rear sump pan for a fox mustang, and most likely the 72 motor had a dipstick in the timing cover and a fox had provision cast in the block so you'd most likely have to get a pan with the provision for such in it or mod a stock fox pan..also if the carwill be efi, you'd need to swap out that cam for one with a h.o firing order as 289/302 FIRING ORDER WILL NOT WORK WITH SEFI

Landcruisin60

Could I take the balance and flywheel from the engine I pull out of the Mustang I buy? Whats a good cam? Think I read something about a Ford racing cam that was decent? Something pretty mild since it's probably not going to make it to the track more than once every month or two. BTW thanks for the help!

mjr46

you can't put a ford racing cam in that block without the 400.00+ retro fit link bar roller lifters and no you need 28 oz specific stuff made to work with a fox = easiest solution to conversion

Landcruisin60

Am I looking for a mechanical flat tappet cam or hydraulic flat tappet? Whats the difference with the balance I'm going to buy and the one that will be on the 302 that comes in the fox I'm going to buy?

mjr46

motor that comes in a fox is a roller cam motor and is 50oz balance your 72 is 28oz...balanceer and flywheels are not interchangable, the 72 motor has a hydraulic flat tappet cam if stock