Donor engine

[83countrysquire]

my friends had a 1970s for f150 with a 302 in it and it carb it needs work but it has a trans and moves so i m gunna take it i think what do ya think

[turbo2256b]

Sounds like a plan Stan. Depending on the year 75 t0 79 might have some stuff for it.

[gadget73]

Find out what year exactly. The engine itself will work, but all things being equal, I'd go for an 86 or newer roller block. Less valve train friction, and a roller cam can have a steeper ramp to get the valve to full open faster. Some 70s heads were good, some were crap, so you have to watch out what you're getting. Mid-late 70s often had smog heads with little valves and poor design for performance.

Also, how much are you planning to pay for this? You can possibly get a better donor vehicle, or just snag a u-pull-it yard engine for a reasonable enough price. Most u-pull yards are maybe $250 max for a complete engine. i think the local good one here is $175 or something. I got my Mark VII for $200 complete, and all I needed/wanted was the engine. If I'd had more time, I could have made a portion of that back selling parts but it had to go right away.

[mrltd]

The balancers will probably be different...
I would also suggest a roller block. They have better seals and of course the roller cam is a bit more efficient. You can get one of those motors, rip the EFI off, slap a carb and a 85 distributor and have a strong reliable motor.

[Lincolnmania]

i have several rebuildable roller shortblocks mang

[Mercracer]

Some 70s heads were good, some were crap, so you have to watch out what you're getting. Mid-late 70s often had smog heads with little valves and poor design for performance.

All 70's 302 heads are "smog" heads with small valves and ports.

[Tiggie]

You'd have to get the special flexplate with the 28oz balance for an AOD. Classic Mustang shops sell it.

By the 1970's, especially later, it is going to give you about the same performance wise. I'd get an Exploder motor from the junkyard, or an HO. Just make sure you can hear it run first! I've had some very bad experiences with junkyard engines that I bought without running them first.

[gadget73]

All 70's 302 heads are "smog" heads with small valves and ports.

True, apparently 1970 heads were good but pretty much most things beyond that were crap.

[Mercracer]

You'd have to get the special flexplate with the 28oz balance for an AOD. Classic Mustang shops sell it.

That would be the 351W CV/GM flywheel available from Auto Zone, Advance, etc.....

[N A]

Rebuild it for the CS. You need big cubes, 347 should be plenty!!!

[83countrysquire]

i was thinkin that but cant ibore over the small block adn performance it up

[gadget73]

You can bore them, but a 347 is a stroker motor. I think it has some block boring too, not sure on that. I'd still suggest a roller motor if you're going to start with something for performance. Might as well get the latest and greatest Ford had to offer. Any 5.0 car from 86 onward had a roller cam, and someone must have an old clunker box or mustang or something you can gank a motor from. Or just go directly to a 351 block and work from there.

[N A]

I was thinking that, but I can't overbore the small block and performance it up.

OK, just do a 306 or 308 motor and E7TE heads!!!

[gadget73]

stock e7 heads ain't all that. If you want real performance you're gonna need either some properly ported e7 heads or something better.