Refresh on a 302: Any Advice or build secrets?

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Doug;

Sent you a PM.......

David

[Dwight]

I use Play Dough & WD40. Easier to find at the store.

I've used a HV/HP one time. Pressure was 90-100. I was showing out for my brother and at about 5000 rpms in third I blew the o-ring out of the oil filter. I still have that oil pump on the shelf. Then I ran a HV for a couple of motors. Last time my buddy, the Ford mechanic talked me into running a standard pump. He bought me a book on how to build race motors and show me where the author explained why you want to use a standard pump. So I bought a standard pump and installed it. I have the same pressure as I did with the HV. And for street that is good enough.

Now a street motor is different than a race motor. But some of the things they do to race motor can be used on a street motor but not all. NOT ALL.


With that being said;

Books I have

How To Build Small-Block Ford Racing Engines by Tom Monroe ISBN 978-1-55788-536-4
The Step-By-Step Guide To Engine Blueprinting By Rick Voegelin ISBN 1-884089-26-7
Ford Performance Includes All Modern Ford Pushrod Performance Engines by Pat Ganahl ISBN 1-884089-27-5

Reading about building a motor is all most as much fun as building one. Give you something to do at night when the TV has a bunch of boring shows.

I'm not an engine build but I have fun trying. When I build a motor I have my Ford mechanic buddy stand over my shoulder and watch. Every part is in and out several times before you get to torque it down for the last time. Some times a new part does not fit correctly and you have to buy another one.
All the part have to work together, heads, cam, rockers, intake, exhaust headers, sidepipes, etc. You need to decide if you want a low rpm torque motor for the street or a 7,000 rpm motor.

I would not build a motor to sale to someone else but I had good luck with mine. My small block is putting down 402 to the rear wheels of my Cobra.

It took 6 or 8 years of changing parts on the motor every winter to get there. The last time I bought the heads and cam from Keith Craft after I gave him a list of all the other parts I was going to use.
My buddy gave me a block and I used it thinking I would move all the other parts off the old motor. Did not work that way. I now have two motors, one in the Cobra and the other scattered all over the storage room.

Have fun

Dwight

[frdfver]

A lot of good advice. After building and (refreshing) many engines over the years, it is always harder to do an engine in the car than on a stand. My vote would be to fix the mount and the leak and drive the car, Summer is almost here. Buy another block-engine and build your dream engine, when done put it in, You can then sell the engine you have now to recoup some costs. Unless its blowing oil or running bad, 35,000 if built right should'nt be hurt.

Paul T