302 will be ready soon for dad's '65 - questions

I spoke with the engine rebuilder tonight who ended up passing on a 1971 302 rebuild candidate because a 1987 302 HO roller came up. The motor is just about ready but I need to take the 289 over for him to swap out the front cover, water pump, fuel pump, oil pan and oil pick up tube, distributor, wires, and coil. He also wanted the harmonic balancer and flywheel from the 1965 289. He'll run the motor on the stand and check it out before letting it leave his shop. I have a Edelbrock Performer intake and a Holley 4180 600cfm 4bbl carb from the 83-85 302 Mustang motor, and will use a set of Red's Headers.

When were the 50oz flywheel and harmonic balancer used? Can the 28oz balancer & flywheel from the 289 be used on the '87 302? The balancer is made to match the crank so I guess my question is what does that '87 crank require.

I need a steel distributor gear, correct? I hear that the iron gear will get chewed up by the steel cam in the later 302's.

What else am I missing? I'd just a soon worry about everything now and not during the installation.

Did some homework last night and, yes, I do need a 50oz imbalance harmonic balancer and matching flexplate (157 tooth). And, yes, a steel distributor gear.

Another question -- the brake booster's vacuum line was attached to a spacer under the original 2bbl carb. This spacer has a large female vac line nipple on it. The new carb/intake doesn't have this right under the carb.

Could I attach the booster's vac line to any available, correctly sized nipple on the intake manifold itself? Was there something special about being attached directly under the carb?


As before, feel free to remind me of anything else I'm missing.

There should be a vacuum port on one of the manifold runners that will take a fitting for your power brakes.

If you're running a mechanical fuel pump, you'll need a 2-piece fuel pump eccentric for the end of the cam. The 289 has a one-piece eccentric (or at least mine did when I did this same swap)

The 5.0 also has a dipstick hole on the side of the block, which you'll need to plug, and you'll also need to get plugs for the smog fittings in the back of the heads.

And remember that the 5.0 HO has a different firing order than the 289.

Last night I spent an hour at the rebuilder's shop shooting the breeze. He had already found his near mistake about the 28 vs 50oz imbalance and will install the correct flexplate and balancer for me. It looks like everything is set. The oil dipstick hole will be plugged as will the smog ports on the heads. He even gave me a nice set of exhaust manifold gaskets to use. The motor will be ready for me to pick up by the end of next week.

Now if I could just find a rebuilt brake booster and dual bowl MC that fits. Just an hour ago I found out that the 64-65 Mustang booster's pedal shaft is way too long when I laid the old and new side by side. (Crud.)

I've seen writeups online about adapting a Geo Metro power master cylinder. I took the easy way out and used a manual dual-bowl MC.

Originally Posted by Chas

I've seen writeups online about adapting a Geo Metro power master cylinder. I took the easy way out and used a manual dual-bowl MC.

I read about that, too. I returned the Mustang conversion kit and ordered the booster + dual MC kit from Auto Krafters. The same kit was available through Dearborn Classics and a couple other places, but Auto Krafters has the best price. It should arrive Wednesday.

I still need a steel gear for the distributor. The motor might receive 10-20 minutes on a stand with the iron gear. I change it after I bring it home. Are there any preferred sources or should I just bite the bullet and call Summit again?