looking to build a stroker out of a 302 from a 79 mustang but i have heard rumor that some engines around that time may not have been made the best for Ford.can someone with better knowledge let me know if this would be a good candidate????? the car is being sold for 450$ with 56,000 miles.
That block should have a D8 casting number on the side. They were a little bit stronger than the 5.0 blocks that came afterward. Depends what you're gonna do with the car. If just cruising around I would get a roller cam 5.0 block.
the engine assembly is goin (331) to be done part at a local shop and part at home however could i just put together a roller cam setup or is the block configuration different to where it would not allow me to interchange those parts?(i have a roller cam and lifters out of a motor with 15,0000 miles but no block thats why i ask)
Look at your block, if it's set up for a roller cam it will have tall lifter bores with machined tops and two threaded bosses in the lifter valley that the lifter retainer (spider) bolts to.
If you are just trying to make 1HP per cubic inch then I'd say the late block is fine................but if you are trying to make 1.5/1.6HP per cubic inch I would start with an early 289 or 302, personally I believe the early 289/302 blocks are much stouter than the late model stuff.......although not as strong as the Mexican 302 blocks. There is one 331 that made over 500hp on motor alone...........no N02 or blower...........just a single carb, AFR heads, and 640 lift cam. Here is a 67 289/302 in your area; http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/pts/2371592352.html
If the casting numbers are D8VE, then you've got a winner. If not, look for a roller block. The D8VE is thicker all over like a Mexican block, but with the std main caps. It'll weigh 16 pounds more than an 80-85 block and ten pounds more than an 86-2001 roller block.
