Progress Thread Project 302

[Tack87]

So here is the start of my project.
I picked up an old beat up f150 "the donor" for cheap, all that I wanted from it was its engine a 302 5.0. The more I looked under the hood, the worst it looked. 90% of the electrical connectors were broken, missing bolts, broken bolts, wrong size bolts. It started out a mess.

 

[Tack87]

Went drain the radiator. Hooked up a hose to a bucket (you know try not to make a mess) loosen the petcock and nothing happens. Great the radiator is clogged so much for not making a mess.

 

[Tack87]

 

[Tack87]

I did score the intake upper and lower with throttle body and fuel rail from a garage sale.

 

[Tack87]

And it is out.

 

[Tack87]

She is just a little dirty.

 

[Tack87]

And so it was time to clean it up before disassembly, while doing so I washed a penny out of the grease. My lucky penny???

 

[Tack87]

Apparently things will rust and buildup sediment when using only tap water, who would have known.

 

[Tack87]

Then the intake and valve covers came off, which is when I could confirm that it was a roller block.

 

[Tack87]

Now with the heads and pan off everything on the inside is looking great.

 

[Tack87]

Then I found this busted thrust bearing.

 

[Tack87]

Aside from that bearing everything looks good, though I have one questionable cylinder. I'm hoping to not need to have it bored, trying to keep this on a budget. So new pistons is not what I want right now.

 

[Tack87]

And this is where we sit right now.

 

[Tack87]

Tomorrow I will go over some of the plans for this build, would love to hear some thoughts and advise. with that said this is my first build so please keep that in mind.

 

[General karthief]

#1 that is not a 'roller ' block
#2 I didn't see the tops of the pistons but I'm fairly sure they are low compression,
Flat tappet cams require break in oil with zinc and you may still have trouble down the road or go to linked roller lifters that can be kinda pricey.
my advice would be to toss that engine into the bed and scrap it, take that money and get a explorer/mountaineer 5.0 from the salvage yard.
JMO

 

[Tack87]

#1 that is not a 'roller ' block
#2 I didn't see the tops of the pistons but I'm fairly sure they are low compression,
Flat tappet cams require break in oil with zinc and you may still have trouble down the road or go to linked roller lifters that can be kinda pricey.
my advice would be to toss that engine into the bed and scrap it, take that money and get a explorer/mountaineer 5.0 from the salvage yard.
JMO

It is a roller block just wasn't set up with rollers yet.

 

[Tack87]

The block has the bosses for the spyder.

 

[General karthief]

If it did not have the roller lifters with the spyder already installed it is not a roller block, the lifter bores are too short

 

[Tack87]

I will have to look into that.

 

[Tack87]

If it did not have the roller lifters with the spyder already installed it is not a roller block, the lifter bores are too short

I was under the impression that it was roller ready.