Roler Motor Vs. Flat Tappet 302?

[Timmy390]

When you start changing things you generally start down the rabbit hole. Power is made in packages and give the best bang for the buck. It comes down to everything working together to get the nice numbers. Intake, heads, cam, compression and exhaust all hav eto work together. One restriction in the flow will negate any gains.

A year or so back I found a 2001 Mountineer motor total cost was $250 if I pulled it and $300 if I want them to pull it. It had 144K on it. I can get any engine/motor in the yard for that price running or not.

I ditiched the idea of the 302 and decided to go with a 351W. I plan to buy a reman from Promar (96 Econoline rollor replacement) for $1800 That's the plan anyway. I'll get more torque, HP and mileage(fingers corssed).

You already have EFI (I don't) so why not finish it off with the 351W?

Tim

 

[broncoitis]

You already have EFI (I don't) so why not finish it off with the 351W?

Tim

I get the package part that you are referring to and I agree completely! So might be best to just leave things azs they are. Possibly some head massaging could be the best route to take. I guess that I have some research! Main reason for the questions is that I only wanna do this once and not install the motor and be disappointed and start changing things with it in the truck. Somewhat unproductive.

 

[Timmy390]

Main reason for the questions is that I only wanna do this once and not install the motor and be disappointed and start changing things with it in the truck. Somewhat unproductive.

That's one of the main reasons I didn't jump on the Moutianeer setup. It's still at the yard and I think about picking it up weekly but as soon as I do, I'll be thinking about the upgrade to the 351W. I want the 351W so I'm holing off till it's time. My tired 302 gets me around better now that I went to 4.11 gears.

This year I put the 351W money towards rebuilding the 9(housing needed a reapir) and the 44 adding lower gears, disc brakes and new steering parts.

Tim

 

[broncnaz]

So if you were gonna make any changes to the Mustang motor what would you do? Cam? Rockers? Heads? etc.....

Not lookin to build a beast just a good driver because when it is said and done this truck is gonna see the road and lots of it! ;D

Currently have the explorer upper and lower on current motor which will swap over to the mustang motor! I have 1.7 ratio rockers to swap as well over to the mustang motor! I suppose the timing chain could be swapped as well considering it is new. Explorer P Heads to replace the mustang heads? Cam? Oil Pan needs to be replaced I believe. etc.....%)

Kinda depends on overall setup as is the mustang motor is pretty good as is. If you run a OD tranny then a explorer cam might be a better choice if not leave the stang cam in it. Would be a good idea to put ina new timing chain. Heads are up to you but really only a minimal gain for the effort and you'll need specail or modified headers to fit the P heads. personally I wouldnt bother with them unless it was a explorer motor that already had them on it. 1.7 rockers well if you find you need more then maybe but really they do gain you much and any gain is really at higher RPM.
The mustang oil pan will work in a bronco.

 

[broncoitis]

The mustang oil pan will work in a bronco.

Now that there is good to know! Having to change the pan would be a bit of a PITA.

Running the 3550 and this engine came out of a 5spd so maybe just clean it up and slap it in their is the order of the day! I think if I do this, that is the road that I am gonna choose!

 

[broncnaz]

what tire size and axle gearing are you running? a explorer cam will put the torque a little lower than the stang cam which may help. but with a good exhuast that stock stang cam does sound good.

 

[broncoitis]

what tire size and axle gearing are you running? a explorer cam will put the torque a little lower than the stang cam which may help. but with a good exhuast that stock stang cam does sound good.

Currently running 4.56 gears in the axles with 35inch tires.

 

[broncnaz]

The explorer cam should be almost perfect for that combo with better lowend but the stang can will still be a very good choice.

 

[broncoitis]

The explorer cam should be almost perfect for that combo with better lowend but the stang can will still be a very good choice.

If I do this I think I am gonna just clean up the mustang motor and put it in place. hopefully some of the stuff off my flat tappet 302 can be moved over because it is all BRAND NEW.

 

[broncnaz]

Most stuff will swap over. A few items might not and some are not worth swapping over.

 

[landshark99]

Are you running an older block now with efi? If you switch to a roller I believe firing order is slightly different although I hear it will run fine just not as efficient.

 

[broncoitis]

Are you running an older block now with efi? If you switch to a roller I believe firing order is slightly different although I hear it will run fine just not as efficient.

Yeah, currently running an older 76 engine! It has EFI but it has the correct 351 cam to correct the firing order and make it run its best hopefully. The computer that I am running for what it is worth came off from the mustang engine that I am thinking of replacing the older engine with.

 

[major]

The biggest problem I had in swapping my 88 5.0 in was the fuel pump. Since I put a carb on instead of fuel injection, I messed up and put in an electric fuel pump instead of just keeping my timing chain cover and running a mechanical fuel pump. I have had nothing but trouble out of my electric fuel pump set up. Since you are keeping your FI set up this should not be a problem for your swap.

Finding a radiator for a 5.0 reverse rotation swap was also interesting. The hose from the thermostat housing to the radiator barely clears the alternator pulley.

The balancer and flywheel are the 50oz. Good luck and see you on the road.

 

[broncnaz]

Carter P4070 pump one of the best out there.

 

[bmc69]

Ok, so I think I gotta get a balancer possibly! For some reason though I think the old balancer may still be on the motor hopefully! What about the flywheel? Can I use my current flywheel???

Would you guys tear the whole thing down and get it cleaned up or just tape it up with duct tape over the cylinders and other areas where water may get in from cleaning and spray it? This is gonna be a winter project for sure! ;D

You have to use a 50-oz flywheel and 50-oz balancer on the 5.0. You cannot use either of those from a 28-oz earlier 302 (unless you have them rebalanced..)

I just tore down an '89 Mustang HO' I would estimate the mileage on the engine at around 100K or so. It needed rings pretty badly due to carbon buildup, the cam bearings were worn as they always are and enough to have caused a drop in oil pressure...but the engine was otherwise in remarkably good condition and requires zero machine work to put back together.

A $225-dollar re-ring motor kit from FastEngineParts and lots of cleaning of parts and it will a great motor. It's going an my son's '76.

I would recommend the teardown unless you are certain its in really good running condition with good compression on all 8 and good oil pressure.