Just bought a 302 engine for my swap. Now I am looking for the few pieces that I need to complete my engine build. I just need some direction on where to find an oil pan and a set of headers. I guess while here, I may as well as for suggestions on a good camshaft that will make the engine sound good while not requiring modifications to the valve train. I hear a lot of people using a Ford Racing E303 cam, but I dont know if it requires mods. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
headers you can find here some times in the classifieds or on ebay. Oil pan you can try to find a mustang 2 pan but thier like finding chicken lips and if you do they run kinda high. i bought a new front sump and moved the rear flat section up about 2 3/4 inches just enough the crank wouldnt hit it. the 303 cams work good in small blocks but you can look into the thumper series from comp. i used one this time in my pinto and it has a very aggresive lope and runs like a scalded dog. i have a thread in your pintos called finally got a few days, and some where in their is a couple of videos of the motor sound.
Did you have to make any valve mods for you cam? I guess I should add to the thread that I have a 1978 Runabout, I have read that putting headers in a later model is a problem because of the steering shaft.
no valve mods if you stay under probably 530 on the lift your good but if your going with a 303 cam you really need compression
i went with flat top pistons and 58cc aluminum heads the cam will still work and sound good but if you want a 303 to run you need more compersion then wow the sound and performance is their. not sure about header clearance on the 78 i have a 71 and bought hooker conversion headers made for pinto v8 swap. they dont make them anymore but you can still find them mine were ceramic coated and new in the box and i got them on ebay for $200 and thats half what they sold for.
My plan is to take the engine down to the block and keep the current pistons and lower end (if the bearings check out ok). Then I and going to replace the heads with a set of GT40P heads. I am trying to build this engine as cheap as possible, that is why I am looking for a Cam that I can install and get rolling without messing with other parts.
I can understand the cheap as possible. If you know the motor and knew it wasnt using oil than i would just leave the short block together put your cam in you want to run and save up the money to do the motor. you can get a good rebuild kit with forged pistons for $400. and put $300 in machine work and you got something. If you take it apart and you find exccesive wear and maybe a large ring groove then your stuck and would have to buy pistons. In my experience with stock pistons low compression you will make more power with a smaller cam. Im just sharing thoughts, thinking out loud i guess. usually when i get in the most trouble. ;D But really with the light weight of the pinto the stock v8 will be :2fast4u: big fun i mean. Put it in stock work out all the other issues believe me their will be plenty of other money robbing things to face. Then do the motor work.
The engine in my car is from an '89 GT Mustang, it is the 5.0 HO w/ the stock roller cam. It is internally bone stock, it has Hooker swap headers, the old school 289 Torker intake and a dyno tuned 600 Holley. It makes about 275-300 HP and it has gobs of power. I used the t-5 trans and in second gear at 25-30 mph when you nail it, it gets sideways. I love the smooth idle and smooth driveability. The wopity-wop of a big cam sounds cool but it can be a pain in the butt to drive sometimes. Like David said, build your engine around the cam you intend to use and not the other way around.
I have heard of clearance issues with the steering shaft and the swap headers, not 100% on that, if you can find the cable steering shaft fom a '71-'72 that will help.
I do want a good sound out of it, but since it is already an HO out of an '88 Cougar I may just make the mods down the road.