cjsmith0703

Hello all. I recently started getting into cars and such. I have had to fix my 99 camry on many diff occasions and that has led me to a new found respect and want for more when it comes to cars. This past weekend, my bro in law called and said that he had recieved a 98 Gt40p 302/5.0 block. He already has a motor and wanted to know if i was interested in trying a build. Needless to say, I am real interested. Only problem, is that i'm still extremely green when it comes to cars/motor builds. I have no idea of anything motor build besides what I have read online the past few days. I have a couple questions. If you have an article or anything you could link me too that would be great and help alot b/c i need to know more.

One question i have is...what is gt40p 302? I have looked online and i have seen help building a 302 motor and help building a gt40p motor. Therefore, i'm not real sure which one would be my guide when i start the build. Any info you have about the motor would be great.

Also, Where do you start? I see alot of things that need to be done but have no idea where to start. Do i get headers first, crank, cam, just what order do I do everything in? I'm new so where to start seems to be the biggest problem.

Any other info you have will be really helpful bc i know nothing. Just figured it would be fun project to take on and it would help me get to know the ins and outs of a motor. Thanks

jthorn9

Well it all depends on what you're trying to put that motor into. The 96+ 5.0s were only used in Fseries trucks and some of the XLT, Eddie Bouer, and Limited edition Explorers.

Since you're green I'll explain to a basic degree the 5.0 motors.

The standard 5.0 motor was used in a ton of Ford/Lincoln/Mercury cars. In a nut shell, it was just a basic (under powered) V8.

The H.O. 5.0 motor was used primarily in Mustangs and some Thunderbirds. It used a slightly better intake, and head design which gave it around 20-40 bhp over the basic 5.0.

The GT-40 5.0 motors used SVO/SVT designed "Ford Racing" parts. This included better GT-40 model intakes, and heads with slightly more refined cams to produce more power and torque over the H.O. 5.0. These motors were used in the Mustang Cobras and some Ford Explorers. The motor used in the explorer is quite a bit different from the one in the Mustang and as it sits, won't exactly drop into a Mustang body.

cjsmith0703

so if i build this motor up. What kind of car could I put it in?

stanglx2002

You can put it in a mustang with only a couple changes including different headers (which you would want to change anyways with a build), the oil pan as the explorer is a rear sump and the mustang is a double sump to fit over the k member.

If it was me I would build the motor the same way I did mine a couple years ago. It ran fantastic.

Took may GT40P heads to the shop to be cleaned 3 angle valve job and install a TF Spring Kit (the stock springs suck)
E303 cam installed 4 degrees advanced with Ford Racing 9 key adjustable timing chain
gasket matched the lower intake
opened up the upper intake to 70mm for TB
installed 1.7 cobra roller rockers
Headers
Spark Plugs wires (got them from MSD bc you need 90* boots bc the 135* wont fit bc of the spark plug angle is different)

Thats all i did nothing special but it ran great. This is just my opinioin

capri debris

The best I can do for you is a link to my complete restoration of an '86 Capri. Feel free to read the whole thing or just skip to page 13 where the section on the engine build starts. I didn't show/explain every little detail, but it will give you a fairly decent amount of information... at least enough for you to get familiar with the 302 engine.
http://captocapri101.smugmug.com/Car...091526&k=Zz76h

Venomantidote95

If it ran fine before just swap the pan, headers and intake and put it in and wear it out then later after homework and research come back and build it!

bluebeastsrt

I like that advice. If it ain't broke dont fix it.