How high is safe?

I built my 302 a coupla months ago, and I am just still a bit concerned on how high is safe as far as the RPM's go. I have never hit 5 grand in the car, gotten close, but I just let off, cause I'm not sure. What do ya'll think is redline for this setup?

302 (+40)
Flat top aluminum pistons
268 duration cam
new main bearings +10
new rod bearings +10
ported/polished/shaved heads
long tube headers
2 bbl intake
2bbl carb (motorcraft)
Electric Fuel pump
Straight Fan and block on engine (no clutch)
hi-po plugs and wires
dual 2 1/4 pipes and glasspacks


That's the basics, I just don't want to tear anything up.

I have noticed, that when I really hammer on it on the highway, I smell something hot, at first I thought I was losing oil somewhere, but upon inspection yesterday, I found that brake fluid was leaking onto the headers. It appears to be coming from the master cylinder, but I only notice it during really hard acceleration. Any ideas on this? I'm kinda confused. Thanks guys and gals. I appreciate it a bunch. Take care, Country

 

5500 should be fine.

I had a stock 302 up to 5300 without any problems. That was cruising at 120mph woth 3.55 rearend gears. At least nothing came apart...

 

Limited by the cam and 2 barrel carb setup , that said 5500 seems reasonable Brake fluid problem should be looked at ASAP
Ya gotta stop that monster

Richard

 

Revs

Limiting factors IMO will be the rods and the heads. Did you resize the rod ends or do anything to them? And are the valve keepers stock? When I first started building engines I paid no attention to the valves and lost my first engine when a stock keeper let go at 5500 and dropped a valve through the piston. I will NEVER forget that sound! Was tuning the carb in my driveway just before leaving for the track. Sounded like metal rain!
Second engine let go when a stock (very stretched probably) rod bolt let go. Nice drain hole in the pan after that!
I have built engones and taken them to 6000 with nothing more than a shot-peened rod with resized ARP bolts and three groove (10deg)keepers. I would agree with Valley, 5500 should be fine! Have fun, and YES brakes are a priority! Scott

 

leak

check the rubber seal on the bottom side of your master cylinder cap.
Sounds to me like that's where the leak is.

 

Thanks, and a new problem

For some reason the Mav has started acting up. Today, I was running it and I got the smell again, (which I thought was brake fluid, now I'm not sure) the oil pressure never changed, and suddenly smoke started boiling out of the back end (the grey oil kind of smoke ). Once again, oil pressure remained constant at just under 70 lbs. RPM's were at 3400, speed was about 90. Well, I let off of it, and the smoking quit, drove a little ways, and punched it hard. No smoke!? But, at a red light, idling in gear, oil pressure went to between 40-45 lbs. Is this dangerous? In nuetral, oil pressure is about 60. Driving, oil pressure is in the normal range or about 70. What is the deal? Can someone please help me, I am at a loss. Thanks in advance, Country:confused:

 

with Auto trans ? pos be sucking trans fluid from the mod valve,i Shift at 6800 rpm

 

I have noticed a small tranny leak under the car, nothing major, but it is still a leak. Could this be the culprit of the smell and the smoke? And what causes the oil pressure to fluctuate like that? I really appreciate ya'll's help, and please keep the advice coming! Country

 

Just a thought on it, seems a bit high on pressure at idle depending on pump you have and what weight oil and engine temp. Running at 70lbs there is a lot of oil being thrown around inside the valve covers. If you have breathers and no baffles in them, sometimes small amounts of oil will run down the cover on to the headers, or could be just a leaky cover gasket at the rear of the engine. another issue could be valve seals or stopped up drain back holes in the heads. The worst could be a broken ring or blown head gasket letting out some steam which would look like smoke. JMO

 

Old Guy

I have a Mellings High Volume oil pump, Castrol GTX 10W-30 oil, and I use a PCV valve. What is a safe oil pressure at

idle in neutral
idle in gear
cruising at about 60-70 mph

This is really worrying me, and I appreciate your help!

Country

 

same brand pump as you and same oil
engine is a 393 with 11.2-1 com.
comp cam I 245 dur@50 E 248 dur@50 lift in 578 E 600
mine when Hot at idle 58 psi in gear 60 out of gear
at 2500 rpm its about 70 psi
at 6800rpm its about 80 psi

 

Is my oil pressure reasonable? I mean is it safe, or if not, what do I need to do? I am kinda scared. Would the tranny modulater be the culprit of the smoke? I'm at a loss. Thanks, Preston

 

Oil pressure sounds fine to me...mine runs just about the same...this sounds like a tranny ventin some fluid... I had a Ford do that to me once and never did it again. Depending on were the vent is in relation to your exhaust you should find a fine film of fluid on the underside of the car or on the back of the car.
Just my experience with C-4's

 

the other thing you should be checking preston is if the vent on top of the tranny is pluged up........this could cause your problems as well if the vent is cloged it will find the next easiest route (ie....a seal....) now also on my short bed once I had the same problem......it only smoked when I was in it hard(big block go figure) but what I found on it was when the machine shop replaced my freeze plugs and oil galley plugs was they failed to get one of them tight(mine was on the back of the block inside the bell housing area) so when I stomped it it built extra oil pressure and sprayed out there and on the exhaust.......it took me a few days to find it.......and the oil level never seemed to change because it leaked only under hard acceleration.......but here are just a few places to check......good luck preston and no worrys man your preasures are fine

 

Whew!

Thanks you all very much!!:bananaman I feel MUCH BETTER!! Aww man, I am sooo relieved. I will check on the tranny vent, and tighten everything up. Ya'll are greeaaaatttt!
Oh, and if you think of anything else, BY ALL MEANS FILL ME IN!! please Thanks, Country