'87 5.0 in my 1966GT....need motor help!

[GT1966]

OK, just fired-up this 302 motor which was built from a 1987 block with World Products Windsor Jr. heads, Edelbrock RPM intake, 9.8:1 compression, Eagle rods, and a Crane Flat Tappet Hydraulic cam H-260-2. I installed my 289 stock distributor with Pertronix guts, just to eliminate too many variables. Also, I'm getting a larger carb, but using a Pony Carb Autolite 4100 480cfm for now. The motor fired right-up (amazing), but it makes zero power. The Crane spec indicates 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 firing order (of course, my idiot engine builder LOST the cam card, so I'm assuming this is the cam he installed!!). Would the engine still run if the firing order is the old 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8? I've read where the valves could be floating, which is causing the pop and occasional blast thru the carb? Also noticed number 1 header tube extremely hot (even burned thru the heat wrap to melt the #2 boot). The roller rockers appear to be adjusted correctly...no noise, but maybe too much pre-load? I've played with the timing, but it doesn't really get rid of the overall poor running. Motor won't idle; have to keep blipping the throttle. The motor basically sounds like a duga-duga-duga-duga... any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

It would run with the wrong firing order, but it'd run terrible. What you're describing almost sounds as though the distributor is 180° out, given that the firing order is correct.

 

[89LX347]

I took your grind number and went to Crane's Web SITE. They list 3 cams for 221-302 cid Ford engines. All three cam's have a 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 firing order. Go there and it should run fine.

 

[lang williams]

if it runs smooth an has no power, i'm wondering about the flat tappet cam in a roller block. I'm wondering if the stock 87 pushrods were reused an their too short an not opening the valves to spec an only opening the valves a % an not making power.

 

[GT1966]

Ok, we'll start simple

Guess I'll change the firing order first. I gotta go back to the Crane site as well. Thanks all, I'll get back to you after I try the 15426378. I'm psyched.
CT

 

[GT1966]

Where I went wrong...

...just waiting for lunch hour to fire it up, but I believe I went wrong like this: Motor was built using an '87 roller block. Builder didn't provide me with the H-260-2 cam card. Big no-no. I went to Crane site with the part number, just assuming that you'd install a "period" cam... ie: one spec'd for an '87. The listing:

443901
H-260-2 (REPLACES HMV-260-2) POWERMAX HYDRAULIC 1969-UP FORD-MERCURY V-8 WINDSOR 351 CU.IN.
& 82-UP 302 H.O.

I can only now assume a "traditional" 289-302 cam was installed for the firing order 15426378. Will know after lunch.... or then it's the 180 degree solution.

 

[grainboy]

Pull the #1 spark plug, and rotate engine by hand till #1 is on comperession, AND timing pointer is at zero for top dead center. Pull off cap to see if rotor is pointing anywhere near #1 on cap. I had similar problems and could not advance far enough to get it to run right. backed all wires 1 hole and Presto! started running smooth. Good Luck.

 

[GT1966]

Success! Now carb issues? Advance, cfm?

Re-did the firing order to 15426378.... fired and idled immediately! Still running the 4100 1.08 480cfm.... needs more carb, for sure. Was poppin' upon accelerating....could not press the accelerator....had to gently add more throttle without it popping back. Too little carb? Bad advance curve? (still using the 289 distributor which I knew worked). Motor sounds really nice; just can't get the fuel into it. Buddy is bringing over a 650 Edelbrock to try a comparison. Any thoughts? Thanks all for the input.
CT

 

[lang williams]

"popping" might just be due to needing the timing dialed in.

 

[RacinNdrummin]

One thing you might wanna check is if your running you vacuum line to your distributor from the manifold vacuum or ported vacuum, you want ported, which should be somewhere on the side of the carb or so. running the line from manifold vacuum will cause the problems your talking about, cause it wants to advance the timing too early.