I'm picking up a '74 302 2dr Mav soon off of my buddy for my new daily driver. I've been looking at options for cheap power with the 302 and the more I read the more it looks like I'd be money ahead to swap in a different engine altogether than try to get power with the low compression smog victim engine it's got now. I came across an article on fordmuscle about swapping to a later model roller motor and this seems like a great way to go because of how plentiful and cheap the 5.0 is, thier reliablity and the power they make right out of the box. Problem is, my hands on mechanical knowledge is pretty much limited to the 22R in my current DD/weekend wheeler Toyota, and my dad who I'd normally turn to for this type of idea hasn't played with the SBF much, knows FE's and that's about it when it comes to Ford stuff. Do I have to track down a mustang motor specifically or is a Crown Vic/Truck/Explorer 5.0 the same thing? I can just swap all my accessories onto the later motor right? All the mechanical fuel pump stuff as well? I would be running the 4bbl/intake the car comes with now for induction and the C4 plus a Transgo 40-2 and maybe a mild stall converter. I'm going for a nice sleeper street car witht his, I don't expect to keep up with the current owners 302 swapped ranger or his 5.0 Stang once it's together (It's getting all kinds of fun motor work, and proceeds from my buying the Mav are going toward a nice J&G turbo as well) but I wouldn't mind being able to keep pace with the imports in my circle of car buddies.
You can use any 5.0. You will need the timing cover off of your current 302 so u can use a mech fuel pump. I believe the newer 302s use a reverse rotation water pump, so you may want to use your old one if it is still good. I'm sure someone will be along to clarify the water pump issue. Everything else will swap over. Enjoy!
If you want power without having to rebuild, steer clear of the 87-91 Crown Vic/Marquis Towncar 5.0's. These had crappy heads and pistons with no valve reliefs. The best pickup/van 5.0's were the 94-97's. Same heads as the Stangs, but a slightly milder cam. There are others too, only I haven't the time to list em.
To clarify, yes, the 5.0 engine has a reverse rotation water pump due to the usage of a serpentine belt system as opposed to the non-roller engine's v-belt pulley system. Also, the harmonic dampers/flexplates are different on the two engines: '74 302: 28.2 oz. balance, 157 tooth flexplate, C-4 tranny '82-'94 5.0 liter: 50 oz. balance, 164 tooth flexplate, AOD tranny ('86-up) Therefore, you need to find a 50 oz., 157 tooth flexplate designed for the C-4. Most new flexplates have a dual bolt pattern, though, so you should be fine. Just check and make sure. Both Summit and Jeg's have several options. Good luck and smooth sailing, bud. Eric
Oh yeah, almost forgot... don't try to re-use the distributor off your '74. It will have an iron gear on it to sync up with the iron cam drive gear. The 5.0 liter roller engines need a steel/bronze distributor gear because the cam is ground out of steel to compensate for the extra load of the roller tappets. If you try to use the '74 distributor with its original gear, the gear will get chewed up in no time. You can, however, retrofit a new steel/bronze gear onto the old '74 distributor. Just until you pick up the new MSD system, of course. Sorry 'bout the double-post, Eric
I wouldn't bother with a bronze gear either, for just the same reason. Steel only for anything but a race engine.
Yeah, I've already read up on the balancing stuff and the distributer swap. I may just try to find a wrecked fox body (not hard) and do the full swap EFI and all (provided I can get a mass-air injected car for cheap).
