Hi everyone, I am a new member and coming over from Fordbarn. I am working on a 54 Customline Coupe. I have done a frame off with Granada brakes and spindles, Cavalier rack and pinion, AOD ****** and a 8.8 rear end with disc brakes, 3.55's with limited slip and Posies super slide springs. I am getting ready to drop an engine in. I was thinking a 302 with a carb. I am looking for something simple and will work on a budget, and hook to my AOD. I am not looking for a drag car, just a reliable powertrain for cruising and the occasional trip to Vegas or Laughlin. What years or models would be the best to look into for an engine donor? Am I stuck with manifolds or shorties? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! BTW...I am going for the old school look with a satin black paint job, hand laid pinstripes, red wheels with stock dogdish hubcaps and olds taillight lenses. Thanks guys!
Got it looking sweet, working from the ground up is the way to go for sure! These guys on here will give you all the info you need so just wait for them to chime in and they will shortly. I am putting a V8 in my 55 and they have been so much help! And keep us updated with pics as you go along we love pics! Welcome
Welcome, that's going to be a great car when you get done. I'm putting a 302 in my 56 from an 85 Mustang, last of the carb engines. Haven't gotten around to actually installing it yet, still working on the hydraulic clutch. Lots of pictures please.
Since the AOD came out in 1980 which was also when the 302 (aka 5.0) started using the 50 Oz balance factor an '80 or later block would be prefered. After 1986 they were roller cam motors the best AOD for your swap is from 1988-93 these AOD's were non-computer and had the improved valve bodies and better internals.The cool thing about a 302/AOD swap (since I have one) is the mounts can be bought over the counter for around $75 O'Reillys or Autozone part numbers are ANCHOR 2725(L) and 2726(R) the transmission mount is Energy Suspension 4.1122 if they don't have it in the store they should have it overnight from their warehouse.Welcome to the group!
If you're lookin for an easy to work on, reliable Ford V-8, you just can't beat the good old 302. I had one with a 2 bbl carb in my '63 F-100 Unibody I just sold that had a C4 behind it, and they both had 150,000 miles on em and were both goin strong. Stay away from the '86 truck 302, since that was the 1st year for fuel injection. Unless, of course, you just feel like pullin and swappin a bunch of parts. I have an '86 Bronco and from my research, that was the 1st year of fuel injection for all the Broncos and F series trucks. I might be wrong, its just what I've found so far. PS: If you need stock hubcaps, I have 3. They're kinda rusty on the surface, but good if you need em. I'd let em go pretty cheap too if you're interested.
Cool! Thanks for the help guys...looks liek a 85 and up 302 HO is the way to go. I will keep you updated. As for the dog...cant run her over, she is my best helper!
Your pooch looks confused! I think it wants to rinse off your tires but can't find 'em Great looking project, keep us updated on progress. Ron
Use a SB Chevy with an adapter... PS: There's one in every crowd, and I guess I'm him! Welcome from Texas!
Since you asked, I would say that a stout 292 or 312 Y block would get my vote. Check out y-blocksforever.com and you will get some great ideas!
Welcome to the group and I am going the y-block route. Though the adapters for the AOD is a bit pricey.
Can't wait to see your progress! Check out my sig for the FAQ page I put together, I tried to compile a bunch of info from the gurus here for my build and put it all in one place. Definitely keep us updated on your build and take lots of good pictures!
love the car man, i have a 55 that i just put a 390 and a c6 in, a little drastic, but i had it lying around. now on to the reason for the reply, i have a 64 f100 that i am runnimg a 68 302 with an 88 aod and a 350 ratio in the rear end. you will love the combination. it is a very simple install, easy to work on also. the only kicker is the aod runs on internal line pressure and needs to be hooked up ecsactly right on the kick down cause if it isnt the thing will never shift right, and it will very quickly burn up the ******. the old c6's and c4's run off of va***e and the kickdown isnt nessasary to be hooked up, but an aod has to be hooked up with like 35 pounds of pressure. here is a link i found on how to set the pressure http://www.tciauto.com/Products/Instructions/instructions/431000_inst.htm. when everything is set up right and tuned in good you can bee looking at running 75, 80 mph turning about 1800 rpm's and getting 15-20 mpg. l
ugh...PLEASE don't crossbreed! Yes I know a SBC would be a lot cheaper, but it would be so much cooler with a SBF under the hood.
Wow...this is all great info! Just what I needed! Dont worry Firerod...my Fords get SBF's and my Chevy's get SBC's!
Glad you found your way here. Hope the directions weren't too hard to follow. BTW welcome from Ontario Canada.
Im glad to be here. Looks like a good group of folks! I had to take a break from Fordbarn and my 54 while I built my rock crawler. Out here in the desert, that is a huge sport and alot of fun. It has been from coast to coast wheeling and even featured in a few magazines and a once in a lifetime trip with Petersens Magazine on the Ultimate Adventure. Now, the truck is pretty much finished and works extremely well, I can get back to my hotrods and get some progress made! Here is a quick pic of my crawler...while not even close to stock, its all FORD! No Jeep or Chevy parts used! Hotrod folks might not be interested in crawlers, but they can appreciate the hard work that goes into building one at home, without any bolt on goodies. Handmade and hand fabbed is the way some of these old cars get done too!
Nice! I rebuilt a 77 CJ7 from the gound up and it was alot of hard work but thanks to the help from forums like this one I was able to get it completed..unfortunately an untimely divorce got that one sold for me cause it was sell it or cut it in half and I would have probably ended up with the gas tank and she would have got the engine! LoL
Eric, I've got a stroked 350/700R4/10 bolt/Camaro sub-frame in my 56F100. It must have something to do with old age.
Yea I am NOT one for the mixed breeds of the orange engines either BUT use what ever you have to work with . That is always the cheapest way to go . It's your car so use what you want to but just be happy with your choice and keep the hood closed to stay away from the har***ment from the Ford guys ! Honestly just look on C/L or the local paper and pick up a 302 or 5.0 . If it's an EFI just pull the intake and top and buy a dual plain intake and a 570 to 600 cfm carb . It will be all you need to do ! Very reliable engine and if you do break down , the parts are very easy to get ! Pick up a different distributor and coil and your done . You will have to get an electric fuel pump if it's an EFI engine but not a big problem at all . As for a distributor , if you are low on $$$ , just go to Advanced Auto and you can get a points distributor with the points and condenser already in it for about $35 ! Hard to beat and points will work just fine ! Have done that before with no problems and cheaper that an electronic distributor plus it looks stock ! Just a thought ! Jim
Great info! There is a 302 out of a 93 Bronco on craigslist right now. But I wasnt sure about the distributor until reading your post...that might be the motor to get!
It is a lot easier in a '54 to go with a mechanical fuel pump,since you will need a front sump oil pan it is best to use an early timing cover that has the fuel pump provision and front dipstick hole.You can pm me if you like for links to parts suppliers with the best deals and part numbers for the swap.
The only problem so far I ran into about using an early timing cover on a later 5.0 is my timing cover hits the fuel pump gear in the cam . It was 3/16 " to damn short ! So I went down to my machinist and he dropped everything to give me a hand . He put it on his lathe and turned down the 3/16 " for me . He said to give him a couple bucks for the work but gave him a $10 instead . I told him that a new one would have cost me a lot more and he was great full . I got a good machinist so I always keep him on my good side ! Anyway that was the only problem I had but don't forget to block off the block oil dip stick hole or you will remember real fast when you start the engine up for the first time ! Front oil pan is about $50 to the door . The intake I would look for a good used one for less that $100 and a I am using a Holey 570 Street Avenger on mine . An Edelbrock 600 will serve you very well also ! Either one is a good out of the box carb ! Don't need a costly MSD distributor either for a stock engine . Just my opinion ! Jim
Just picked up a 302 with EFI from a 93 Bronco. I am going to convert it to a carb and stuff it in my coupe. My question is, is there a way to use the factory distributor? Can I run the TFI as a stand alone or do I need to swap out the distributor? Thanks!
you can but it will have no spark advance. or you can take off the module and fire a msd or original dura spark box. still with no advance. on the good side, that 93 model 302 should be a roller cam engine.
04-27-2011 11:37 PM the-stig Eric, I've got a stroked 350/700R4/10 bolt/Camaro sub-frame in my 56F100. It must have something to do with old age. Man, I hope not, but you're probably right! In any case, I was just funnin' with him. I don't think you can adapt a SBC to a Ford AOD, can ya? I'm convinced that the SBF is an easier swap into our era Ford and Mercury cars, but I come from an era when the modern 302-style SBF was not yet invented. So, being a hard-core traditionalist, my first thought when it comes to engine swaps are the pre-SBF traditional high performance motors, SBC, Olds, Caddy, Hemi, etc. It really grates on my sense of propriety when a guy with a traditional custom pops the hood to display a too-modern motor like an SBF or...just as bad...a roller-rocker SBC. I know, I know...somebody's gonna jump up and point at my 5.0 HO-powered Monterey and say in their best Ricky Ricardo voice, "then 'splain this, Lucy!" I gots no 'splaination other than it was like that when I got here... Honest!
That was easy enough! Time for a new distributor. Still gotta take some pics of the new engine and then start tearing it down. I will giggle the entire time as I rip off and throw smog equipment away!
I stripped down the engine today. Good news...roller cam, bad news...the water pump and timing cover are cracked. Something else to snag off ebay I guess! Before After
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