Help me determine engine type

[Daver22]

I just a 73 project Bronco. Goal is to get the engine running first. Have purchased some parts I know I need. I have the alternator brackets, but they don’t line up where I expect. I know the engine is a replacement so maybe I am making some wrong assumptions.

Here are some pics. New distributor and carb just sitting in place for the moment. 2bbl intake, old Motorcraft carb is a 2bbl.

There is a hose connection(assuming heater hose) that is in the way of where I thought the triangular alternator bracket would go.

Any insights welcomed!

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[Broncobowsher]

Small block ford. 302 cubic inches.
Look for some casting numbers hiding above the starter. That will give more details.
Stock or swapped, hard to say.
Pull a spark plug and measure the threads. They will be either 14mm or 18mm. That will help narrow it down a little more.
The rocker arms look like they are the sled type, which generally puts it newer. I think it was around '77 when they changed from the cast rockers with balls to stamped rockers with sleds.
I see whiffs of rattle can paint that generally tell me it is an old engine that someone tried to make looking fresher than it really is.

 

[Broncobowsher]

You also changed distributors and carburators between the pictures.
The heads are new enough that I see internal thermactor passages (air injection) for the exhaust.

 

[Daver22]

I forgot to mention I figured 302 but thanks for confirming. I found this in my pics. Just above the starter on the block

The alphanumeric sequence is: 8548PT. Last character after “T” almost looks like zero but not fully formed.


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[jamesroney]

I just a 73 project Bronco. Goal is to get the engine running first. Have purchased some parts I know I need. I have the alternator brackets, but they don’t line up where I expect. I know the engine is a replacement so maybe I am making some wrong assumptions.

Here are some pics. New distributor and carb just sitting in place for the moment. 2bbl intake, old Motorcraft carb is a 2bbl.

There is a hose connection(assuming heater hose) that is in the way of where I thought the triangular alternator bracket would go.

Any insights welcomed!

There is a part number cast into the engine block between the starter motor and the pan rail. It will have the number 6015 in it. Post the prefix of that number. That will tell you what the engine came out of.

The timing cover and front accessories are all from a 1970+ passenger car or light truck. (not Van or Bronco) There is a 4 bolt damper, and a driver's side inlet water pump. Those are incompatible with the Bronco alternator bracket. You eneed to change the damper, timing cover, and water pump.

Heads are have thermactor ports typical of 1980+ and are pedestal. No way to know that they are without pulling them...but it doesn't matter. The mounting holes for accessories are where they need to be. Post the casting number on the intake. I can't read it.

 

[bax]

The alphanumeric sequence is: 8548PT. Last character after “T” almost looks like zero but not fully formed.

Thats funny. Your looking at a fel pro head gasket number.

 

[jamesroney]

I forgot to mention I figured 302 but thanks for confirming. I found this in my pics. Just above the starter on the block

The alphanumeric sequence is: 8548PT. Last character after “T” almost looks like zero but not fully formed.


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That's a FelPro aftermarket head gasket number...means nothing.

 

[Daver22]

OK. Thanks. It will be tomorrow before I can take more pics. But greatly appreciate the info so far.


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[Daver22]

I missed the ask for casting number on intake. Let me know if this works for it.

D302-9425-AA

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[Broncobowsher]

Good catch on the FelPro head gasket. That means the engine has been apart before. Why, and what's been done are not known, but generally not as prefered as original.

I was thinking that looked like a 4-bolt damper, but wasn't sure enough to call it.

Heads being '80+ makes it a good chance that whole engine is '80+ which would make for a different engine balance than the original Bronco stuff. You can't just put a Bronco 3-bolt damper on the front of the crank and call it good. But being that the heads have been off, there is nothing to say that those heads are original to the bottom of the engine. Really common back in the day to trade in a set of worn out heads for a set of rebuilt heads. Completely different year, not a problem, there are ways to make them work.

At this point, you have a generic 302. Call it a junkyard special.

I see you swapped distributors. The only thing I worry about is if you have the correct gear material for the cam. From the looks of that engine (just generic external appearance) I am guessing it is still an older flat tappet engine. Maybe it is a roller cam? That would take a different gear. Physically they are the same, but materials are different. Get it wrong and the gears grind apart and fill the engine with metal shavings. That's bad. That 6015 number will tell a lot. Until then, it is just guessing based on the bits we can see.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I missed the ask for casting number on intake. Let me know if this works for it.

D302-9425-AA

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D3 = 1973 design. Likely original to the Bronco but not the engine. We already know the heads have been off, so easy for parts to be swapped.

 

[Daver22]

Thanks. I will pull the water pump and timing chain cover too. Existing timing chain cover doesn’t have fuel pump opening. I have one in the parts bin that was included. But will tear it down further first.

I see the difference in water pump when I look online. Will keep this updated as I learn more.


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[Broncobowsher]

No fuel pump opening starts making this a late model engine. Now much more likely to have a roller cam.
Pull a rocker arm and measure the length of the pushrod. I remember that roller cams had longer lifters and shorter pushrods. I don't have the numbers handy, but I kknow they can be looked up.

 

[Daver22]

Mystery deepens. Removed the starter to get a good look when block code should be.

I am lost. Tried googling these codes, not coming up with anything. Hoping this make sense to someone here!

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[Daver22]

A little more sanding. I think it says E7TE which I did find to be a 1987 Light Truck 302 (if I am correct).

Question of flat vs roller cam still open.

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[Broncobowsher]

E7 would be '87 engineering revision. Consistent with the later model tell tales you have.
If the engine is a roller cam, probably a mustang engine. Very common swap back in the day.
If it is a flat tappet, probably was pulled from a truck.

There are some who are better at reading casting date to know when it was made, I just read the engineering number to know when the last revision was. Somebody will likely correct me, 8B2 would 1988?

 

[Viperwolf1]

Year-Month-Day. 1988, Feb 02.

 

[Daver22]

I know I have to figure out the cam type. But aside from that, if I get a new water pump with passenger side outlet and choose to use an electric fuel pump, I should be able to move forward, yes? Carbureted, traditional ignition, I don’t see any show stopping issues with it being a 1987 302.


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[Broncobowsher]

The belt accessory drive will be the biggest issue.
Consider an Explorer accessory drive. Won't fix the fuel pump issue, but has so many benefits overall.

 

[jamesroney]

I know I have to figure out the cam type. But aside from that, if I get a new water pump with passenger side outlet and choose to use an electric fuel pump, I should be able to move forward, yes? Carbureted, traditional ignition, I don’t see any show stopping issues with it being a 1987 302.


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Good. Because it isn't a 1987 302.

It is a 1988 Ford 5.0.

If it came from a truck, it will have a flat tappet cam, and a 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 firing order. (Standard GM firing order)
If it came from a car, it will either be the same as the truck, or it will be High Output, (HO) with a roller cam, forged pistons, and a double roller timing chain with a 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 firing order.

In either case, it will have a cast in place boss for the roller lifter spider plate, and extended material in the lifter bores for hydraulic roller lifters.

The E7TE block was used in the Mustang HO from 1987 to 1990, when it was replaced by the F1SE block. So your February 2, 1988 from @Viperwolf1 date is good.