Putting a 76 F100 302 in a 89 Tbird SC

Rick's Fords · Dec 25, 2004

I'm yanking the motor out of my Tbird SC, which was 3.8 Supercharged, and throwing in a 302. I'm getting help on installing it through SCCoA.com, so installation isn't a problem.

My biggest concern is, what kind of power can I get from a 76 302 2bbl motor? Or better yet, what kind of mods can I do?

hllon4whls · Dec 25, 2004

To get any power out of it, you will need:

Pistons, cam, heads intake.

The 76 truck motor has cast pistons, torque/smog cam, crappy 2 bbl, boat anchor heads and a paperweight intake.

If you pick the right parts, it will scream. Be aware that as it is now, it is way slower than the 3.8sc. Currently about 160 hp.

dastang2 · Dec 25, 2004

power is no more than 150 hp. not much at all, the heads on that motor are d8's probably and those will need to be ditched for e7's from any 87-93 mustang or trucks from those years and a few more. the pistons are cast so if you want n2o, don't use more than 100 shot. you need better headers and the ones that are available are very expensive. mustang headers won't fit. get a wieind stealth intake with an edelbrock 1406 600 cfm carb. you need a v8 tbird y pipe and tailpipes. i have the tailpipes without mufflers if you need one. you don't need the tailpipe i guess but definantly the y pipe. motor mounts are expensive as well. i am forgetting a few things now but not sure. get a small cam and a 2400 stall with a shift kitted aod or whatever king of tranny you will use. since the aod is what came in those cars it would be easiest to use that one, if you do, use a v8 aod, the v6 versions are junkier. you will need a TV cable to use with a carb so get one from lokar performance. they make a kit. you most likely have 3.55 gears, or 3.73. keep them. and for a fuel pump, take the old one out of the fuel tank and just put a rubber line into the old fuel pump holder in the tank and you got your fuel worked.

Rick's Fords · Dec 25, 2004

The car currently has the SC 5 speed, not sure if this is better than the AOD or not, but if not, there is a guy wanting to trade me an AOD out of a 5.0 Tbird.

If I were to upgrade the cam, headers, intake, carb, and heads, what would the HP/Torque #'s be roughly? I'm not looking to get insane power yet, but would hate to go too much lower than the 210 RWHP that the 3.8 had. It was pushing 315 LBS of torque. But the motor is a goner, and I wanted something different.

And I'm familiar with forced induction. Currently drive a 2.2 Turboed Ford Probe everyday. What would I be looking towards if I were to go the FI route?

Rick's Fords · Dec 25, 2004

Just chatted with the guy with the AOD, it did come off a Tbird 5.0, is kitted, and has a TV cable. Would that TV cable work with my motor?

Rick's Fords · Dec 25, 2004

hllon4whls said:
To get any power out of it, you will need:

Pistons, cam, heads intake.

The 76 truck motor has cast pistons, torque/smog cam, crappy 2 bbl, boat anchor heads and a paperweight intake.

If you pick the right parts, it will scream. Be aware that as it is now, it is way slower than the 3.8sc. Currently about 160 hp.

I'm loving the video in your sig. A 351 is a 5.0 HO right? I'm new to the whole muscle motor scene.

dastang2 · Dec 25, 2004

a 351 is a 5.8 a 302 is a 5.0. you need a tv cable kit that will hook up to a carb and adjust correctly so the stock efi tv cable won't do it. but since you have that t5, keep it i think it is as strong as a v8 t5 so use that, you will be glad you did. if you do use the 5 spd. you need a 28 oz. flywheel that will bolt up to a t5. you need an aftermarket one i think but not sure, ask the classic mustang people what they use as a flywheel on their classic v8 motors. if you put e7 heads, headers,intake,carb and a good cam (not roller since your block is not a roller block) you should be making more power than that v6. i forgot to add about the ignition. you need to convert to duraspark or HEI. i would opt for the hei ignition.

Rick's Fords · Dec 26, 2004

This might sound stupid, but what is the T5?

dastang2 · Dec 26, 2004

the 5 spd. that fox mustangs and, 94-95 mustangs have along with you tbird

Rick's Fords · Dec 26, 2004

Appreciate the help. Guess once I get the current 302 installed, and make sure everything is good, I'll start doing those upgrades. The only things I'm worried about right now are the flywheel/clutch/starter. I'm pretty sure I can find some 5.0 Tbird mounts.

The guy leading me through the process says I won't be able to use my A/C anymore, and that just downright sucks.

Rick's Fords · Dec 26, 2004

If I do decide to build this 302, what would be the best route to go? I'm not looking for massive HP/TQ, maybe about 300 to the wheels. I don't want to slaughter my fuel economy either.

IIRC, I read that boring 60 over would put it at 347ci? If so, since this would be the first motor I've gotten this deep into, would I have to upgrade the internals?

dastang2 · Dec 26, 2004

yeah you can but you have to find a way to bolt it up. who needs ac anyway.i used to have my old tbird motor mounts that i could just give you but i don't know if i still got them. i will tell you now though that they were busted so i welded them solid. well one of them somebody else did the other and made it a little offset so you would have to grind the weld off and weld it back straight.

dastang2 · Dec 26, 2004

don't bore it .060, that will make it run hotter and you can't use that block anymore if something breaks. that is not a 347. it is a 311. i got one but i use a 69 block which is stronger and thicker. a 347 is a stroker with .030 over cylinders and a different crank,pistons,rods. that stock 302 will be more than enough to give you want you want with the right bolt ones and cam with stock e7 heads

Rick's Fords · Dec 26, 2004

Well, this is all good news. Another thing I've been thinking about, am I going to kill myself with stress if I go carbed? Or should I try to find a 5.0 HO in the junkyard?

You say this 76 302 can get me to where I want? Which is approx 300 Rwhp. About how much are we talking to get to that point? I'd like to get this one in there, and slowly build the motor of my dreams.

I appreciate all the help

mirage86 · Dec 26, 2004

Good luck on your swap, I've got a 28oz flywheel with ring gear that is just setting in my shop doing nothing. Prob just get it resurfaced. Anyway, I've got it if you want it just let me know

HardmanGT · Dec 26, 2004

Just curious, why are you replacing the SC 3.8? If you want good gas mileage and 300 RWHP just turn up the boost. You can pretty much do that with a pulley upgrade and some misc. parts. Way cheaper and you hit your goals overnight.

Rick's Fords · Dec 26, 2004

The 3.8 was shot, bastards driving on blow HG's. I might be interested in that flywheel, shoot me a PM with a price?

dastang2 · Dec 26, 2004

i am not an expert on how much it will take to get there but a little word of advise that you probably know. find good used performance parts for cheap. intake,heads,headers,carb. cam should be new.i'd go carb,it's cheaper and cleaner looking

hllon4whls · Dec 26, 2004

If starting from scratch, might be better to swap in a 351 vs a 302. Since it looks like you need brackets intake, cam, heads, etc 351 is not going to cost much more if any and will make your goal more easy to obtain.

Just be aware of the height differences of a 351 vs 302.

Rick's Fords · Dec 27, 2004

Well if a 351 is the best route, then I need to explore some options, and figure a few things out.

- What is the best vehicle to take the 351 out of?
- Big difference between Cleveland and Windsor?
- Do they come carbed or EFI?
- If they come EFI, will I kill myself trying to wire it all into the Tbird?
- With the height differences, all I have to do is get a modified hood?
- Does the 351 need special mounts to fit into the Tbird?
- The 351 should mount up to the T5 tranny currently in the Tbird, right?
- Need special flywheel/clutch/starter?

I'll have many more questions, but this is the majority of them. Thanks for any input, if I do decide to go the 351 route, then I'll just use the truck that the 302 is in for a beater.

Putting a 76 F100 302 in a 89 Tbird SC

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