[brandonF]

There is no differance in the heads or block that are obvious. The differance is in the firing order: (1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 for the 289/302), (1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 for the 302 HO/351w) The 302 HO started in '82, In 1985 the 302 received a hydraulic roller camshaft. You can convert an non-HO 289/302 into an HO, buy changing the camshaft, to an HO camshaft. From 1987 on the 302 had valve relifes in the pistons, before that some had relifes som did not. With out knowing where the engine came from the only safe thing to do is to pull the head off and actually check piston to valve clearance with your new cam. If you have a '87 on HO (notched pistons) with a Hydralic roller and stock heads the most lift you can run is About .500. Keep in mind It really isn't the lift the causes the problem it is the duration, and cam timming that cause piston to valve clearace problems. If your piston to valve is close you can somtimes advance or retard the camshaft to give more clearance.

To answer your question, there is no easy way to know what the engine aplication is. However if the push rod is 6.272" then it is a hydralic roller, Be carefull because the '86 does not have valve releifes in the pistons.

The camshaft that I would recomend is the For Motorsport B303 Or the Ford Motorsport E303 with the E303 you need to change the valve springs, the stock springs will coil bind.