302/5.0 retrofit

[jmoorepghpa]

I need to replace the original 1976 302 in my boat. I have a friend who bought a '92 mustang for the tranny and is willing to sell me the 5.0 long block. The '92 5.0 has 120,000 miles on it, compression looks good on all cylinders and the vacum guage says the valves are all ok. What I would like to do is replace the freeze plugs in the 5.0 with brass, swithch my accessories over and drop it in the boat for the time being. My question regards the fuel pump set up and the distributor. Does the '92 5.0 block have the option of mounting a manual fuel pump and would the distributor from a '76 302 work on the 5.0. I suppose I should ask about the water pump and accessories too. Basically is the '92 block the same as the '76 block so all my accessories will bolt back on to the '92 motor would be my question. Any help anyone can give me would be highly appreciated. I will be into this project for about $300 out the door including the long block and gaskets etc. so I'm hoping its a workable option.

 

[wire2]

Re: 302/5.0 retrofit

oops, double post, sorry.

 

[wire2]

Re: 302/5.0 retrofit

If your distributer fits, go for it.

You may want to consider a marine electric pump, fed from the starter solenoid and thru an oil pressure switch to +12v.

 

[Don S]

Re: 302/5.0 retrofit

You are going to need a marine or RV cam to make it work properly, you will also need to use brass core plugs (aka freeze plugs).

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 302/5.0 retrofit

and unless it`s fresh watercooled, you need the cast timing case cover and waterpump too.

 

[MikDee]

Re: 302/5.0 retrofit

You probably need stainless head gaskets, and find out if it's a 302W (Windsor) more common, or 302C (Cleveland) hi perf, and rare, as I'm pretty sure some parts are not interchangable.

 

[farmboy]

Re: 302/5.0 retrofit

I am thinking if your original core is rebuildable, that might be a less hassle and expense option than all of the unknowns you are certain to encounter with the switch-over. For instance, that camshaft Don spoke of will cost you more than the used auto engine alone.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 302/5.0 retrofit

You need to make sure it is a W not a C.....
You will have to change the cam......
I'd look at gettting a reman of the same era from Rapido, jmho....​

 

[ringmaster]

Re: 302/5.0 retrofit

the mustang engine is a roller motor. the 76 dist will work but you will have to change the dist gear if not the roller cam will eat the dist gear to pieces. i know from expierance. you can also change the timing cover to one for the mech fuel pump any year will work from 94 down. just remember to add the fuel pump lobe on the end of the cam shaft for the fuel pump.

 

[jmoorepghpa]

Re: 302/5.0 retrofit

Thanks for the feedback guys. I think I have everything worked out now except for the cam issue. I have a couple ford guys telling me the 5.0HO has a really wide power band and I should pick up some torque switching from injection to carburetion. Im wondering if I can just stick with the stock cam and may end up just having to drop a pitch number on the prop? I havent tried to look up any torque curves on either motor yet. Any takers on this idea? The other big issue it looks like will be getting a v-belt 5.0 specific harmonic balancer there is a difference in the crank imbalance between the two motors. My original block is unusable-- prior owner winterized badly or not at all-- but thats why I got a great boat cheap.

 

[ringmaster]

Re: 302/5.0 retrofit

make sure you get the right balencer for the crank ford used a 3bolt and a 4 bolt balencer also the ford went to a internal balance crank after 82. if your using the stock cam from the og marine engine you will be fine with the stock dist but if your using the stock cam from the other engine you need a bronze dist gear.