I have not posted in a long while. I have a 1967 Ford Mustang with a 302 out of a 68 ford. I believe it to have stock 2bbl heads. It has an Edelbrock Preformer RPM intake,(4v) and a Holley 600 cfm 4v carb. It also has an HEI distributor.

Towards the end of last fall I parked it due to a slew of small problems.(This was my DD, and want it to be this summer.)

It developed a bad habbit of stalling on me after about a half hour of driving it, then not starting back up at all/starting really hard (would have to leave it sit for multiple hours then it would finally fire up). Or sometimes it just wouldn't start at all (cold start)

I know the piston rings are probably worn, there is oil on the plugs, and it is burning oil, it has been like that since I got it. My dad seems to think that is what is causing it to not start/stay running.

A friend thinks that it may be fuel related. He said he thinks it is a bad fuel pump (stock replacment) causing vapor lock in the lines. He knows a lot about cars, but is still learning, like me so even though a new fuel pump is only about 25 bucks I would rather not replace it if I don't have to.

However today (live in michigan, it was finally nice out) I decided to try and start it. It started a little rough,(Stalled out a few times) But considering it has 6 month old gas in it, and hasn't been started in about 4 months it wasn't too bad). It seemed to be running pretty strong after I advanced the timing a little.

Also, how hard would it be to put Cleveland heads on a 302? I know it can be done with modification, but how hard is it?

One last question, if I were to go with a Cleveland should I get the 2v or 4v?

 

i think the only way it would be getting vapor lock if the fuel line is too close to the exhaust

 

if your too cheap to buy a 25.00 fuel pump you don't have the money for cleveland heads and machine work to make them fit.

if the heads are giving you problems (oily plugs) you can pop the springs off while the heads are on the motor and put new umbrella valve stem seals on the valves. thats *probably* whats causing the oil problem.

if you have a little more cash, i'd be looking at a cheap set of better performing heads like some GT40's

 

It is not that I am too cheap to buy a 25 dollar fuel pump, its just it would make so much more since to me, not to replace it if mine is fine. Maybe I should have been a little more clear in my original post.

If you don't think there is much of a chance at all that it is the fuel pump I would rather keep that 25 dollars and use it towards something I actually need for the car. After awhile the money from those cheap parts adds up which equals more money to be spent on the car.


Also, please don't assume you know what I do and do not have the money for. Let me decide that.

 

you came across sounding broke/cheap, which is why i tried to take the economical route to help you.

also, be thankful for the good information i spent my time to give you

 

If I came across as an *** in my last post I apologize, I'm just trying to get this engine going for as long as I can while I deal with finding a new engine/ buying a used and rebuilding/having rebuilt so I can drive it as much as possible when the weather is nice.

So if the fuel pump is not going to solve anything I would much rather use that 25 towards something else.

 

If the fuel pump is supplying enough fuel when its cold, and it starts relatively easily, chances are it isnt the pump. Yes there could be something wrong with it, but usually they just stop working or dump fuel into the crankcase.

A hot hard start is often caused by the fuel bowl on the carb draining down and flooding the cylinders, wet plugs don't like to start. You could also be having some issues with your ignition if it does it once its warm, most electrical components don't like heat, when they get old they sometimes do weird things. Something to check. Chances are the HEI is somewhat new, but the modules used in them can do the same weird stuff, including running just fine, then never starting again. My guess is look to the carb, a leaky gasket or a power valve that is letting fuel drain from the bowls, I will assume it is the side hung carb with the transfer tube. If so the problem would be on the primary side more often than secondary. After it is warm and sits for a while, see if fuel shoots from the accelerator pump orifice when you pump the throttle, if it doesn't then the bowl is leaking down, or there is a problem with the accel pump circuit.

About C heads on a 302, yeah it can be done. With a $300 manifold, a new set of pistons, new headers, new pushrods, blocking the square coolant port by machining it round then tapping in a soft plug. Then you still need to figure out the brackets for the alternator, since they will be different. If you are rebuilding the engine, and replacing everything anyway, and you have some 2V heads from a C or M, then its more feasible. I have been considering it since I have 2 sets of 4V heads and a set of 2V on the shelf, and a bunch of 302/5.0L engines. 4V heads are too much for a 302, if you stroked it to a 347 it would help, the 2v heads would be a better choice for the average daily driver. There are things you can do with 4V heads to help flow, like filling the lower part of the ports to eliminate the dead space. Doing that does two things, it increases velocity as well as improves flow numbers. Its a bunch of work just to run Cleveland heads, you can get aftermarket heads a bit cheaper that will be sized better for the 302 and they are a bolt on and go deal.

I will assume you live downstate, most guys here in the U.P. are into 4x4s and snowmobiles, and they don't have extra money for old cars.

 

Thanks, I am getting ready to go tinker with it some more. Yea I am downstate, I live in Portage, about 45 minutes from the Indiana border.

One last question, I have yet to deal with Carbs too much so I don't know much about them. What do you mean by a side hung carb?

 

if the bowls look like rectangles they have side hung bowls. if the bowls look like upsidedown V's they are center hung.

 

Sorry for the off-topic question, but what is the process for filling them? Thanks in advance.