FAQ

1. Why should I use a 302 in my old Ford?

Ford made many great engines through the years. The FE motors are legendary, as are the various 351's (except the M), and the big boy 300 straight six. The 302 is set apart due to its historical significance in Ford racing and its long life in the Mustang. Most importantly, though, is its availability and durability. The roller motors became widely available in 1986 and Ford put them in everything. You can find a roller 302 in any junkyard in Crown Vics, F-150's, Thunderbirds, Mustangs, Explorers, and vans. And that list isn't close to comprehensive. Aftermarket parts support is incredibly robust for the 302, making it a perfect powerplant for your old Ford.
The Ford 302 makes good power throughout the RPM range with enough torque for the tight stuff and the ability to rev for the fast stuff. They are relatively light for an iron block V-8, especially with aluminum heads, there are great transmissions and transfer cases that are compatible, and parts are plentiful and reasonably priced. Plus you get cool points for not using an LS.
This is always a fun one to answer. The best heads are the ones that flow as well as possible for your budget. That could be the stock E7's on your junkyard motor or a worked over set of GT40 Explorer heads. Getting into aluminum heads, for mild builds the Edelbrock Performers are nice. If you want flexibility and best in class, we would recommend looking at 165 or 185 AFR's and have your engine builder dial them in for your particular power goals.
This answer depends on your intended usage. We like fuel injection for the summer cruiser and anything in rough terrain. If you are building the fastest straight line tire burner then a well tuned carb is tough to beat. We have found EFI to be a bit easier to deal with for the casual car guy/girl, especially given the problems with todays e85 gasoline in the US.
The easiest way to figure it out is to look at the routing of your accessory drive belts. If your belt goes over the top of your water pump pulley, then you need a standard rotation water pump. If it goes against the bottom of your water pump pulley, then you need a reverse rotation pump. Reverse rotation is commonly found on serpentine setups. Make sure your timing cover matches your water pump rotation.
This depends on three things. 1. front or rear sump oil pan; 2. standard or reverse rotation water pump; 3. electric or mechanical fuel pump. Feel free to email us at partscounter@lockhartperformance.com for help getting the right one.
In most cases, a Ford 302 will run well with a 600cfm or 650cfm carburetor. You can go down to 500cfm but it probably isn't necessary. Make sure you buy the tuning kit for whichever carburetor you decide on so you can get your jetting and other settings dialed for your setup.
The sump refers to where your oil pickup tube is in relation to the front or rear of the engine. Many early Ford Windsors were front sump in Mustangs and other cars. Trucks are typically rear sump, as are later Mustangs and Crown Vic's. You can tell which one your engine is by looking at the oil pan. If the deep part is in the front of the engine you have front sump and likewise for the rear.
Roller refers to the type of lifter you have for your camshaft. Older engines had flat tappet camshafts with lifters that had an almost flat metal surface that rode on the camshaft lobes. In 1985/86, Ford released the roller 5.0 that has small bearings at the bottom of the lifter that roll on the lobes of the camshaft. Roller setups are much more reliable and easier to break in.