289-302 swap easy?

Hey Guys, I was wondering if swapping out a 289 for a 302 takes the same mounts and everything else? I'm guessing it does but you know what happens when you assume.....

direct swap really

Only thing I can think of is perhaps your lower radiator hose outlet might be on the wrong side, depending upon the water pump configuration and the year of the appropriate motor, what it came out of etc... For my 289 in the 66 Fairlane, the upper and lower radiator outlets were both on the passenger side. For the 302 that is now in it, the lower radiator outlet is on the driver side.

Mike

Originally Posted by walaby

Only thing I can think of is perhaps your lower radiator hose outlet might be on the wrong side, depending upon the water pump configuration and the year of the appropriate motor, what it came out of etc... For my 289 in the 66 Fairlane, the upper and lower radiator outlets were both on the passenger side. For the 302 that is now in it, the lower radiator outlet is on the driver side.

Mike

+1
It's a direct swap but the differences from year to year might cause some minor headaches,particularly the front dress stuff.

the front pullies and water pump may be different, depending on application. if the donor car had a serpentine setup, the water pump will be reverse rotation, compared to the original motor..... If it is a roller cam motor,, the distributor has a different gear that must remain regardless of distributor. The firing order on late 302 are like the 351w order.... the dipstick location may differ, early or late. .....all of these issues can be dealt with without a lot of fuss, you just have to know what you have and its limitations...

It's pretty straightforward. As far as the major stuff goes, (mounts, exhaust, transmission) it's all a straight bolt-up. Other stuff can cause issues.

If your car is stick there is the issue of the 289 block having some attachment point on the rear driver's side for the clutch hardware that the 302 probably won't have. That aside, you're probably golden.

I recently swapped my stock 66 289 for a 302 (5.0) out of a 99 explorer/mountaineer. I wanted the hydraulic roller camshaft, and the ring seal and tolerances on these motors seem to run a lot higher than any of the previous stuff. The one piece rear main is an added bonus. I got a longblock from a junkyard with 28K miles on it for $750!

I opted to stick with the 66 style front accessories, rather than going with the later stuff. Probably a mistake, but I didn't want to buy a new radiator. Sometime in the late 60s Ford switched to the driver side inlet water pumps, whereas mine is on the passenger side. I pitched all the front accessory junk and timing cover off of the Explorer. I did buy a new front old style cover, but you could reuse your existing piece. Auto parts stores all carry correct iron water pumps that will bolt to the stock front cover. I wanted aluminum with a rear cover so I had to buy an expensive Edelbrock deal. I couldn't find anyone else that makes the correct one.

I had to put a small freeze plug in the late model block where the dipstick mounts on the driver side. Coincedentally the correct size plug came with the new front cover.

My car only has an alternator and water pump which makes it easier. I bought a trans-dapt chrome alternator bracket, and a set of march pullies, but you should be able to do the same and reuse your power steering, if equipped.

Because I bought a late-model (50 oz imbalance) motor I had to buy a new harmonic balancer and flexplate. Pro Products actually makes a balancer for street use that's pretty inexpensive and has the correct 3 bolt pulley pattern. I went with a TCI flexplate.

Because of the hydraulic roller, I did need a distributor with a steel gear. I used a duraspark piece. The application is a 1985 Mustang GT with 5.0 and manual transmission. Of course, this necessitates either installing a Duraspark, MSD or the like. You could just swap the gear if you like points.

Everything else is pretty much bolt-on. In my case, I had to buy specialized headers since the Explorers come with GT-40P heads which have a weird plug angle. I got a BAD ASS set of headers from Ford Powertrain that fit the car and these heads perfectly.

You guys really know your stuff! It sounds easy enough I just have to get the engine at some point and switch things around sort of speak. I had a 70 Mustang with a 302 that was a good engine but the later 302's are better? What year did they get better and what year did those GT40 heads start showing up, those sound like they're better then the 70 stock heads I had.

Oh yeah....my 66 is column shift with PS and Factory AC. That stuff just adds to the excitement..right! LOL!

I recently swapped out my old 289 for a 302 in a 65 fairlane. used old 289 mounts for 302. the block itself is for a 92 mustang. great motor. had to get creative with the bottom radiator hose and the alternator bracket to make them fit. dipstick hole is in a wierd place now though.

87 and later came with hydraulic roller cams from the factory and pistons with useable valve reliefs. I'd stick with the HOs (came in Mustangs).

the 96+ Explorers and Mountaineers came with the GT-40 (96 only) and 40P heads. With the exception of the weird plug angle, the 40Ps are the best as-cast SBF head ever. They are leaps and bounds better than the 60s and 70s castings.

I've had really good luck with these motors, and they are typically available for less money and have fewer miles than the Mustang engines. You'd want to change the camshaft though, since the Explorer cam is a low-rev non-hot-rod piece. Fortunately with hydraulic rollers, you've got a zillion choices and you can swap them without changing the lifters.

Good luck
Steve

Originally Posted by walaby

Only thing I can think of is perhaps your lower radiator hose outlet might be on the wrong side, depending upon the water pump configuration and the year of the appropriate motor, what it came out of etc... For my 289 in the 66 Fairlane, the upper and lower radiator outlets were both on the passenger side. For the 302 that is now in it, the lower radiator outlet is on the driver side.

Mike

I am finishing a 302 swap in my 64 and I just ran into this same road block with the radiator. How did you guys solve this issue with the lower outlet? I am going to replace my original unit anyway, so is there a newer radiator that will work? I found a radiator out of a Fairlane with a 6 cylinder which seems to be the same dimensions. Anyone know if this will cool sufficiently and work with the 302?

Thanks for any help.