Hello all, Finally ponied up and picked up a 85 302 and AOD, and I have a few questions. Who has done a similar swap (i.e. mechanical to electric components) and what distributor did you use in place of the stock electrical one? Should I just buy the wiring harness or is there a better option? It's a roller, and I know about the steel and cast gear situation. Any advice on motor mount setups as well.
No truck 5.0 had a roller cam in the '80s but blocks are generally roller compatible, must have been swapped from something else... Have you actually verified it has a roller cam??
He said it was pulled from an F-150, which could be false since it needs the steel gear. I had him pull the valve covers to get a quick peek at the valves and I don't know the difference. I can post a picture later on today
AFAIK there are no differences in valve appearance, all 5.0 from '78-ish(eight years before any roller cam) used bolt down rockers whether roller or flat tappet cam... Without pulling intake, only definite way to know which cam type is installed is measure a push rod... The roller engines use a 6.27", while flat tappet push rods are 6.80 ... If engine isn't roller cammed, it doesn't have or need a steel gear dist, though dist will require replacement if you plan on using a carb..
It was MFI but it has the carb intake currently. Good to know on the rods. also, if I don't plan on using the wiring harness from the 85 then is there anot her option as to what I can use for the distributor and has anybody done this AFAUK
So you're saying it has a carb but has TFI dist(one with module on dist)? That would have been correct for most any '84-up fuel inj 5.0, though later trucks used a remote mounted module... All the factory carbed 5.0 used a Duraspark dist... That includes the '85 HO Stang roller cammed engine that required a steel geared Duraspark(a one year only application)...
http://m.oreillyauto.com/mt/www.ore...h_distributor_1121623_566&keyword=distributor here's the one picked up
You don't want to use that dist as timing advance is computer controlled... They can be wired to run in a carbed application but will have zero timing advance... If you are currently using points and don't want to upgrade to the factory electronic Duraspark(a bit of wiring necessary), then get a '74-earlier 302 dist and either keep using points or convert it to a Pertronix unit... Really before you buy any dist, the cam in engine needs to be verified...
I'm gonna take the easy out... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pertronix-I...429-/361072562425?hash=item54119a10f9&vxp=mtr
Well what would you recommend tom? Pertronix setup or points? I've never had issues with my points but I know others have.
I drove cars with points for years while they are OK, electronic is always better(of course it's a little hard to remember when one fails and you're setting beside road)... For Duraspark I consider keeping a spare in the car is a must... I keep a set of points and condenser in my Fairlane just in case the Petronix pukes... I have a Duraspark dist in the Comet triggering a Street Fire ignition... When traveling any distance I'll have my orig points dist along just in case... Points will require no wiring mods and you can always convert the dist to the Petronix unit in the future...
Alright so I've got some more needs I have no brackets for the alternator or power steering and I plan on keeping ps Can I buy a pulley that will adapt my current setup ('71 w/ 250 I6) or what do I do for that? Also, can I just go to a junkyard for the alternator bracket?
You may be able to use the P/S pump but bracket, pulley and maybe hose must be from v8... Alt bracket is a small triangular piece that mounts to water pump, should be same on any '70-'73ish 302...Earlier prob won't fit and defiantly not for P/S... Also for alt you'll need a spacer/bolt hole alignment bracke that bolts to head... If it has a EFI timing cover you'll be doing some spacing/adapting as those are approx 1/4"-3/8" deeper... Does the timing cover have a opening for fuel pump? Picts taken of mine during engine bay restore... Yeah not necessarily great details of P/S & alt... Does show bolt alignment bracket bolted to head for alt, spacer not installed...
