302 HO questions
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 44
302 HO questions
ok im new here and i bought a 65 mustang coupe im currently in college and in my class im rebuilding engines and would like something for my mustang.. my teacher has informed me that the 302 high output setup would be a great choice for me so ive been looking around for one to rebuild but i have no idea how to tell if its high output?? what cars had the 302 in them and what cars had the 302 HO in them?? im in real need of some advice here i need to have one by the end of the week so i have time in class to finish it!!
thank you in advance
thank you in advance
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 611
From: California
it will say right there on the plate on the intake manifold, keep in mind the HO had a different firing order than the standard 302
there is one catch, if you plan on using the Electronic Fuel Injection EFI then there were two types made the older Speed Density (avoid it) and the newer Mass Air Flow MAF, speed-density based EFI systems were fitted on all engines through 1988, after which year it was replaced by a mass-air type measuring system
EFI Car Donors not all of these are HO but it will give you a place to start
1986 – 1993 Ford Mustang
1987 – 1993 Ford Thunderbird
1987 – 1993 Mercury Cougar
1986 – 1992 Lincoln MK VII
1986 Mercury Capri
there is one catch, if you plan on using the Electronic Fuel Injection EFI then there were two types made the older Speed Density (avoid it) and the newer Mass Air Flow MAF, speed-density based EFI systems were fitted on all engines through 1988, after which year it was replaced by a mass-air type measuring system
EFI Car Donors not all of these are HO but it will give you a place to start
1986 – 1993 Ford Mustang
1987 – 1993 Ford Thunderbird
1987 – 1993 Mercury Cougar
1986 – 1992 Lincoln MK VII
1986 Mercury Capri
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 13
From: california
2 barrel or 4 barrel? i have 2 barrel carb on my 92ho engine if I remember correct its autolite think is 0.8 ventury or samething like that (the numbers are stamped on carb next a cilcle made with little lines)and runs good
6th Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,635
From: state of confusion
Whether you go EFI or carb, you want to make sure that the block at least is rebuildable. I wouldn't get one that needed more than 0.030" overbore, but others might.
The carb'ed road is fairly well-travelled. 570 - 600 cfm carb, aluminum aftermarket intake manifold, a mild to moderate performance cam, headers, and a Pertronics or other newer ignition system. There is even an HEI swap, and upgrades for that, if having bowtie parts on your Blue Oval motor doesn't bother you. If the budget can stand it, aluminum heads (the exhaust ports are much better than most anything Ford ever put on these engines other than what went on the Boss 302).
Go with a hydraulic roller cam. There are performance advantages and durability advantages for doing so. Flat tappet cams, heavier than OE spring pressures, and most current off-the-shelf oils don't exactly play nice together all the time. Search for, and read up on "ZDDP".
Norm
The carb'ed road is fairly well-travelled. 570 - 600 cfm carb, aluminum aftermarket intake manifold, a mild to moderate performance cam, headers, and a Pertronics or other newer ignition system. There is even an HEI swap, and upgrades for that, if having bowtie parts on your Blue Oval motor doesn't bother you. If the budget can stand it, aluminum heads (the exhaust ports are much better than most anything Ford ever put on these engines other than what went on the Boss 302).
Go with a hydraulic roller cam. There are performance advantages and durability advantages for doing so. Flat tappet cams, heavier than OE spring pressures, and most current off-the-shelf oils don't exactly play nice together all the time. Search for, and read up on "ZDDP".
Norm
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 611
From: California
OK, before we get all caught up in finding you a HO engine, you need to ask yourself what is your goal... It's like me asking my wife is your goal to go to the gym, or is it to loose weight? Know what I'm saying? God I hope she doesn't read this, LOL.
I am not being a d!ck what I am trying to tell you is that if your 65 has the 289 engine in it it may be better than a later model 302 which was castrated of horse power do to the modern day SMOG emission controls. Your stock 289 may have better heads on it and run higher compression. Yes your old engine will need a rebuild but it may yield better results and make the car more valuable.
So are you after horse power, if so how much? 250 hp, 300 hp at the rear wheels. A 302 HO was yielding around 230 horse, nothing to write home about. Some guys will say just get a solid 302 block and throw the GT40 heads on it and call it a day. You can also forget going the HO route and get a decent 302 block and get some aftermarket heads and have a 300 hp little monster.
Or are you reliability, easy starts in summer and more importantly winter, etc. Then I would go with a modern 302 HO or no HO with the EFI, computer, wiring harness, electric fuel pump etc.
If you're going to use a carb, then why go the HO route if you are going to toss, the upper intake manifold, the lower intake manifold, the fuel rails, the fuel injectors, the computer, the wiring harness, the oxygen sensors, the MAF, the throttle body, possibly the distributor and coil (that I'm not 100% sure about), you're esentially getting a block and heads that's it, it's all those things that made the HO the HO, lol
here's a good resource to see how the ford small block evolved over the years look at the 289 and the 302 links please
http://www.hotrodders.com/kb/ford-en...-codes-specs-3
I am not being a d!ck what I am trying to tell you is that if your 65 has the 289 engine in it it may be better than a later model 302 which was castrated of horse power do to the modern day SMOG emission controls. Your stock 289 may have better heads on it and run higher compression. Yes your old engine will need a rebuild but it may yield better results and make the car more valuable.
So are you after horse power, if so how much? 250 hp, 300 hp at the rear wheels. A 302 HO was yielding around 230 horse, nothing to write home about. Some guys will say just get a solid 302 block and throw the GT40 heads on it and call it a day. You can also forget going the HO route and get a decent 302 block and get some aftermarket heads and have a 300 hp little monster.
Or are you reliability, easy starts in summer and more importantly winter, etc. Then I would go with a modern 302 HO or no HO with the EFI, computer, wiring harness, electric fuel pump etc.
If you're going to use a carb, then why go the HO route if you are going to toss, the upper intake manifold, the lower intake manifold, the fuel rails, the fuel injectors, the computer, the wiring harness, the oxygen sensors, the MAF, the throttle body, possibly the distributor and coil (that I'm not 100% sure about), you're esentially getting a block and heads that's it, it's all those things that made the HO the HO, lol
here's a good resource to see how the ford small block evolved over the years look at the 289 and the 302 links please
http://www.hotrodders.com/kb/ford-en...-codes-specs-3
Last edited by Gregski; Mar 14, 2011 at 11:31 PM.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 459
From: az
OK, before we get all caught up in finding you a HO engine, you need to ask yourself what is your goal... It's like me asking my wife is your goal to go to the gym, or is it to loose weight? Know what I'm saying? God I hope she doesn't read this, LOL.
I am not being a d!ck what I am trying to tell you is that if your 65 has the 289 engine in it it may be better than a later model 302 which was castrated of horse power do to the modern day SMOG emission controls. Your stock 289 may have better heads on it and run higher compression. Yes your old engine will need a rebuild but it may yield better results and make the car more valuable.
So are you after horse power, if so how much? 250 hp, 300 hp at the rear wheels. A 302 HO was yielding around 230 horse, nothing to write home about. Some guys will say just get a solid 302 block and throw the GT40 heads on it and call it a day. You can also forget going the HO route and get a decent 302 block and get some aftermarket heads and have a 300 hp little monster.
Or are you reliability, easy starts in summer and more importantly winter, etc. Then I would go with a modern 302 HO or no HO with the EFI, computer, wiring harness, electric fuel pump etc.
If you're going to use a carb, then why go the HO route if you are going to toss, the upper intake manifold, the lower intake manifold, the fuel rails, the fuel injectors, the computer, the wiring harness, the oxygen sensors, the MAF, the throttle body, possibly the distributor and coil (that I'm not 100% sure about), you're esentially getting a block and heads that's it, it's all those things that made the HO the HO, lol
here's a good resource to see how the ford small block evolved over the years look at the 289 and the 302 links please
http://www.hotrodders.com/kb/ford-en...-codes-specs-3
I am not being a d!ck what I am trying to tell you is that if your 65 has the 289 engine in it it may be better than a later model 302 which was castrated of horse power do to the modern day SMOG emission controls. Your stock 289 may have better heads on it and run higher compression. Yes your old engine will need a rebuild but it may yield better results and make the car more valuable.
So are you after horse power, if so how much? 250 hp, 300 hp at the rear wheels. A 302 HO was yielding around 230 horse, nothing to write home about. Some guys will say just get a solid 302 block and throw the GT40 heads on it and call it a day. You can also forget going the HO route and get a decent 302 block and get some aftermarket heads and have a 300 hp little monster.
Or are you reliability, easy starts in summer and more importantly winter, etc. Then I would go with a modern 302 HO or no HO with the EFI, computer, wiring harness, electric fuel pump etc.
If you're going to use a carb, then why go the HO route if you are going to toss, the upper intake manifold, the lower intake manifold, the fuel rails, the fuel injectors, the computer, the wiring harness, the oxygen sensors, the MAF, the throttle body, possibly the distributor and coil (that I'm not 100% sure about), you're esentially getting a block and heads that's it, it's all those things that made the HO the HO, lol
here's a good resource to see how the ford small block evolved over the years look at the 289 and the 302 links please
http://www.hotrodders.com/kb/ford-en...-codes-specs-3
forged pistons
in some cases billet steel roller cam
roller lifters
nearly the same flywheel HP as a K code while using hydro lifters, arguably more
unleaded fuel compatibility
legendary longevity
cheap
cheap
cheap
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 459
From: az
Because I am picky, 91-93 mustang because of the forged pistons, otherwise 87-95 mustangs are your best bet.
Later years are a better chance for a billet cam.
Try to find one you can hear run and see the oil pressure.