72f100

Hey guys, this is my first post here so I thought I may as well start out by asking for some help with my current 302. I am building a 72 f-100 and just recently opened up the motor to see the condition. I have a good amount of carbon build up in a couple pistons, and (what i would call) minor build up in the rest. It was obviously burning oil, maybe running a bit hot, and just all around not what I wanted to see when I opened up the motor. I have attached some pictures for you guys to kinda see what I am working with here.






I have been told that I should go ahead and do a full rebuild since the internals are coming out anyways. I see that point, but I also only have 1200 dollars to work with, and the less money I have to spend the better. When I say that, I don't mean I expect to do this for 100 dollars, but if I could keep from breaking 1000 dollars, it would be awesome. My only concern is what parts to buy company wise if I just want a stock rebuild, or if I should just save up as I go and try and pull a little more power from this? The cylinder walls seem to be smooth, no obvious scarring on them, but my finger isn't a precision machine either. I will take pictures of the crank and rods and pistons up close a little later for better viewing. Any help is appreciated.


Grant

nightrunner

iTrader: (4)

are you going to be racing this or just a more powerful daily driver or a street/strip truck

72f100

Honestly, something that runs good, will do good on road trips, but still have a little power. I was thinking cam/headers/intake/carb to start with and go from there.

MustangPunk

iTrader: (1)

You can rebuild the bottom end on a 302 pretty darn cheap if you have too, if your not about racing it. See if you can get them to clean up alright and hone it out and re-ring and bearing it. A good little 302 combo that usually works great is GT-40/GT-40P (cast iron/Exporler) heads, (p's require special headers) convert it to a hydraulic roller cam, nice intake/carb, and a good exhaust system (IMO the 302 ford is one of the damn best sounding engines) It'll make decent power, run and drive like a daily (if you can tune a carb).

72f100

That was my main question that I didn't as quite yet. Will mustang parts fit, even though the block is from a truck? I was looking at doing just a hone/ring/bearing job but I am going to let the machine shop check it out really good and let me know what they think.

MustangPunk

iTrader: (1)

Yes, mustang parts will fit... The only real differences between your block and a late model 5.0L block, yours probably has a two piece rear seal where as later would be one, no big deal. Your block is also probably a non-roller cam block, which doesn't have to be converted, but the benefits outweigh the price in my opinion, if you stick with the flat tappet break in is CRITICAL... You can eat up a flat tappet cam in a heartbeat. Lucky the 5.0L aftermarket is huge, OEM and used parts are plentiful... Let me know if you have any questions.

72f100

I am looking at possibly buying a 5.0L out of a 66 Mustang, for 700. My only concern with this is that my motor RAN, and ran fine and when I opened it up there was plenty of carbon build up as you can see, and just last night I turned it over on the stand and a piece of the piston skirt fell out. So I don't know how to tell if an engine is worth that 700 if mine ran good....I was just going to fix a leak.

Joey5.4L

You can rebuild a 302 for around $700 and have pretty much a new engine. How many miles is on the 5.0 in the mustang? Like Mustang Punk said, You can rebuild one cheap, and because of the 5.0 aftermarket, you can also build to run decent cheap.

72f100

he said he used to race it on spray 5 years ago, and has put 20-30,000 on it since. How can you rebuild that cheap? Is that with me assembling, as I have not a clue how really. I may have found someone willing to "help me" a little with the machining so hopefully all works out.

Joey5.4L

Yea, that is doing most the work your self. Parts for them are really cheap, the most expensive thing will be the assembling and the machine work(depending on who does the machine work). If you was to buy a used race engine, I would make him back it with a gurantee.