what to do with 302

[bartowb]

i am pretty dumb when it comes to turning wrenches. if it calls for me to remove a bolt and put a new one back in i am good. my question is i am looking to rebuild a stock '75, 302 with c4. the only things i have done are 3 inch superlift and 285/16's. what are some of the suggestions on what to do with this motor. i am not looking for a lot of power or trying to break the bank but more or less just updating a tired motor with new technology and if i get some power out of it i won't complain. if i could get some input i would appreciate it.

 

[Bully Bob]

Performance mods to a tired eng. is like pumping oats down the throat of a dying horse....sooooooo,

A "fresh" stock 302 is a good eng. for an Early Bronco...(3700 lbs. +-)

Talk to a known, "reputable" eng. re-building shop in your neck-o-the woods. They will give you the steps/ ins-n-outs of what it takes to R&R your motor.

If you did a suspension, you are capable of pulling an eng. & re-installing. (3-4 Banana job)

(KEY; The more you do, the less you pay them to do)

Cherry-picker can be rented.

Pulling the heads(incl. intake & exhaust) yourself allows you to handle re-installing yourself.

The clutch is best replaced while eng. is out.

A "new" eng. is only as good as its carb. & ignition...those need to be in great shape.

HTH,

Bob

 

[rewd10]

Another option is to go to Kragen or somewhere and buy a long block with new heads and all and just put a new intake manifold and carb of your choice. Its easy and fast and you dont have to worry about what kind of shape your motor is in. Like new crank or new heads, all that can be more than a long block. Just my opinion.

 

[trains11tjc]

I know this probably isn't what you're looking for but this site has some awesome engines...quite pricey but **** none the less if you're looking to spend this kind of dough on a engine then more power to you...me myself im on a project of stroking a 302 to a 347 and the specs im doing to it are PRICEY so its gonna take me a while. good luck

http://fordcobraengines.com/302_300lbs.htm

 

[Zdaman]

Another option is to go to Kragen or somewhere and buy a long block with new heads and all and just put a new intake manifold and carb of your choice. Its easy and fast and you dont have to worry about what kind of shape your motor is in. Like new crank or new heads, all that can be more than a long block. Just my opinion.

Any luck with that tired old engine! I don't remember who said it but he is right about the dieing horse bit! After 1971 the cut the horse power from 210 to 145! And the old heads that you have won't stand up to the watered down gasoline that we have to day. The new heads and block will save you the problem of doing this again 50 thousand miles down the road! And if you want more power you could bore .30 over and put a low end cam to give you that pull that you want off the start! I know I made that mistake and put a 1972 engine after rebuilding it and adding an RV cam it just never was the same as myt 1971! Good luck!