I think I jumped the gun a little when I picked up a 302 engine and AOD trans to put in a 31 Sedan, know wonder if that was the right thing to do. Looking at prices for intakes/headers/and such it seems that a 350 would be much cheaper in the long run. As I read more I also found that the 302 is longer than a 350. After reading it seems that more are using the 350 so I guess the question is before I put a lot of money in the 302 would it be better/cheaper to get a 350 and just sell the 302.
I say yes. But there is a real anti small block Chevy bias here. So be prepared for some interesting comments.
I like the 302 motor but it cost more to get power out of it .Also it will only hold up to around 450 to 500 horse .350 Chevy parts are easy to get and cheap .Both are good choices .My last 2 cents
The answer is no. A 302 ford can be just as cheap as a 350 chevy if your just doing a ring/bearing/gasket job,,, but that's not the point. For heaven sakes, dont "just" drop a 350 into your ride simply because everyone else is doing it... Be original, be your own person. Why does it even have to be a ford or chevy????? What's wrong with a cadillac? Oldsmobile? Buick? AMC? There has to be at least one engine out there that makes your heart race. Something you had when you were a teenager, or that your Dad had when you were a little squirt.... Follow your heart, not the trend-du-jour. My .02 cents
You will put twice the money on a 302 ford engine versus a 350 chevy...and a Chevy is easier to install, more dependable...and hell in my opinion they look better. Ford has a big, ugly nose on the front of the block where the water pump mounts and it takes up more room. The Chevrolet small block is a tried and true method of getting good power at an affordable cost. Why do you think there are so many Fords with Chevy engines? Just my 2 pennies.
Hey if you got it use it. If it is a good running motor and depending on what you want fun driver or drag strip terror would dictate my choice. If you think fords are high look at mopar. If you got it use it is my idea. You can make a good street motor out of a 302. If your powering a model a a nice modeate 300 hp or so will give you plenty kick in the pants and leave most of the little rice burnners in the dust with out a problem
I have a 302 in a 30 model a and it has no floor hump just mount it low and frame is extended 4 in and got a Snow water pump not quite done yet but the mockups and fit are good , room was kinda a problem but firewall is stock some sanderson roadster headders are good I have 3 other vehicles with SBC why not do something different and the AOD will be good for cruising
ditto this Del. ford motors look goofy in my opinion. i say go with the chevy, but its yers to do with what you want.
I'm running a mild 302/AOD setup in my tub. You'll want to get a short water pump. Good used bolt on speed parts are out there if you hunt around. This made for a nice running and sounding combo for my car.
I was wanting to put a ford engine in. The engine is out of an 86, will external enigne parts for any year 302 fit this block or will I have to get ones specific to this year?
How many intake manifolds are going to buy? How many sets of headers are you going to buy? How much $$$ will you really save? Be Different, put a Ford engine in a Ford car. I'm using a 354 Chrysler in a 30 "A" coupe because I think that is ONE of the coolest looking engines ever made. Later I'll figure out how to use a Straight 8 Buick in one of my other "A" coupes. I think the frame needs to be stretched 18.5" for the Buick engine. No, the 302 isn't too long. Keep it. Good Luck. Lucky667
I've got a 289 /C4 in my pickup, came with it. It's a great little motor and I'm going to keep it for the time being. But once I tear the truck apart to do it right I'm pulling the plug on the ford. I'd like an Olds Rocket or maybe a flattie. But I also have a 55 265 chev that I may use. The ford will work for you but there are things to work around as others have mentioned. A biggie for me is the lack of vintage tri carb intakes available. I can dress up my little 265 with old speed equipment and it will fit with no trouble. Like you I'm in the same situation, but mines already a runner. Yes you can make them work, but why bother. If your questioning it now, you'll regret it later. I'd go the chevy over the ford if that's the only options, no question for me.
The motors are approximately the same back to '65 (although until '68 they were 289s), but there are a lot of variations in the accessory details. The reverse-rotation waterpump that came in Fox Mustangs is a little shorter; Ford Racing also makes a short pump for conventional rotation. If you have the front group already on the engine, you are halfway there. A twin sump pan from a Mustang ('75-93) is probably better for a model A with cross steering; if you have more traditional steering gear, it probably doesn't matter. Some of the 351W cast exhaust manifolds are a little sleeker than the originals, yet still compact. I ran the original 302 manifolds for a long time satisfactorily. My '29 currently has Sanderson shorties. A little racier sound, if you like that sort of thing, but substantially more bucks, which seems to be a pretty big issue for you. Parts for these motors are available for reasonable money, but (just like a Chevy) if you get greedy for the trickier stuff, it will cost more. For what it's worth, I think the AOD is a good choice for a car as light as a Model A. My roadster has a 3.90 rear ge****t and AOD, with 30 inch tires. It moves away from a stoplight pretty smartly, but in fourth gear can cruise effortlessly. If your choice is between a small Ford and a small Chevy, there probably isn't a wrong answer.
As long as you are comfortable getting the aod to work properly, use it. Ford heads flow really well and a 302 can make good reliable 300 hp without too much fuss. and if it is backed by an aod, chances are it has a roller cam. just watch out, some accessory drives don't interchange, something about the external balance changed and you can't mix old with new.
I run an 86 5.0 with E6 heads and flat top hyper. pistons... only think I know about the 86 over any other year are the difference in head and pistons... Mine puts out a healthy growl... and scoots my big lug of a 65 f100 down the road nicely. Go with the 302... you will be happy you did.
289 -302 will work fine and parts are readily available. Old speed parts are hard to find though and are expensive. Still better than another sbc in my opinion. You got the flathead guys/ You got the Chevy guys/ Than the interesting Olds/Cadi/Buick guys.. every once in a while a bad *** hemi. Which one is the most interesting to you is the question?
Nothing wrong with the 302 but parts are cheaper and easyer to find for a 350.Chevy stuff is more interchangeable.Alot of SBC haters here but why is it everybody uses them?Personally I think the SBC looks better but thats just an opinion and you know what thats worth.Some guys want a Ford in a Ford,if you allready got the 302 then that a good reason to go that way.
I vote 302! Thats ******** that a 302 cost twice as much as a 350. Have you actually measured how much longer a 302 is than a 350? I betting it's not more than an inch or two. What type of headers and intake are you exactly looking for? Just normal shorty headers and lake header weld up kits.... the price is going to be nominal. Multi carb setups they might be more, but not twice as much. I am putting a 302 in my '29 Model A and it's not going to cost my anymore than a SBC. Even if it would, it'd be worth it 302 > 350
The 350 will give you the most "go" for your buck and fit an old Ford much easier. You may get some peer pressure but it is your car.
I bleed Ford blue, but I have to say I will use 350's. Not for performance or reliability because for the majority of us we can get the same from both. However, parts availabilty and cost are much better for Chevy 350's. Just my 2 cents
I am one of those people that cringe when i see a sbc in a ford. To me it screams "taking the easy way out". I am not dead set that you have to have a flathead or even something brand correct, but as mentioned earlier, if you you aren't going ford, than why not something interesting? Throw a nice little max wedge in your 32 As for the cost difference, i don't think its that big. I'd say its about 30% more to build a 302, but are just rebuilding a stocker, than what would be saved by going chevy? 100 bucks? Not worth it. Dare to be different! I'm going with a 4.6 Modular engine with stack EFI in my Merc
Sure it might cost a bit more to have the Ford, but you only spend it once. You will have to look at that belly ****on 350 every day! The diff in hop-up shiny stuff for the 302 will be long forgotten and it'll still be purring. If you factor in the price of getting another engine/trans it won't be any cheaper anyway. Go with whatca got!
The Ford set-up would be good, just be real careful in the AOD set up. If the kickdown is set wrong at all, they die real quick. Maybe it's called something other than a kickdown. If you can't find needed parts for a SBF, I think you're really doing something wrong, and should consider another hobby. There are reasons why SBC are popular, they've all been posted.
TCI now has a constant pressure valve body for the AOD. While you still need the kickdown rod or cable, depending on year, you won't have to worry about having to adjust it to the gnats *** to keep it from burning up.
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