Ward

iTrader: (1)

Ok my bud just bought a 66 mustang the other day. The guy said it had a 302 from an 86 mustang police car. The engine definitely looked like an 86 mustang (carbed) engine, it has serpentine, 5.0 looking power steering pump, smog pump, all that crap. But yesterday we pulled it all apart to see how it looks, and there is no roller cam! Is this engine really a 302? How can I find out what it is, and what year it is? I think its a 302 because of the weird looking rocker arms, but my bud is not so convinced. One thing is for sure, its not a 289, because it would look like the 289 in his 65 mustang.

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1983 Pontiac Firebird SE
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Guest

No roller cam doesnt mean its not an 86 block, the more important thing is does it have the provisions for the roller cam? Basically you are looking for 3 mounting points in the center of the lifter valley for the 'spider'. If those are there, its a roller block. I'm not sure on those, but earlier blocks have the displacement listed right in the lifter valley, it will say 289 or 302 or whatever. This really doesnt matter if its not a roller block though, because the blocks are the same, its the crank thats different. There should also be a part number on there somewhere, but I cant remember where. It will start something like E6xx-xxxxx-x in format, the first letter is the decade. C is 60's, D is 70's, E is 80's. The second is the year, so the example above is 80's, 6th year, or 86. The rest doesnt really matter unless you want to check to see if its a 302 if you dont find it on the block. The heads should also have 302 on them, and the part number so you can find out what year they are.

Basically Ford parts mix+match as well as Chevy stuff. You could have a 302 in there, with parts from all sorts of different years cobbled together. Could be a 302 block with a 289 crank too, so who knows at this point.

btw, 86 was the first year for the FI on the mustangs, so it should have been FI to begin with. 85 was the first year for roller blocks. Sounds like you have somewhat of a mix+match already.

I forgot one other detail. One piece rear main seal or no? Thats another way to tell if its a roller block or not.

[This message has been edited by madmax (edited March 29, 2001).]

IROCZZ3

Also in 85, they had a CFI 302 option...basically a weak attempt at TBI on a 302. My friend had one on his 85 notchback and it sucked. I *think* it was NOT equipped with a roller cam though it probably had provisions to do it.

Hard to tell though unless you really know the block codes like madmax was saying. It probably was a roller motor from 86, but in an attempt to save money, he might have swapped in a carb and flat tappet cam to freshen it up before putting it in the 66.

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1989 IROC-Z, ZZ3 shortblock with some bolt-ons.
13.20 @ 108.69, 2.2 60'