So, my uncle has this old 302 laying around that has for years been claimed to be the factory engine out of my dad's old Comet. My dad sold the engine to him after he pulled it out back in the 80's, but wasn't sure if this engine my uncle currently has laying around was actually the same one or not. It's been sitting outside for a long while and needs a total rebuild. The other day I finally went over and scrapped the gunk off and checked the numbers. Sure enough, 1K566043 stamped into the rear of the block, which matches the VIN on my dad's old Comet. Assembly date of 5/31/71 stamped into the front (1E31). I plan to put a 302 in my '74 Grabber when I get it back together. This is the only real physical piece of that Comet that I have left. Got to thinking it would be neat to have it in the '74 Grabber, but I would want to rebuild it into basically a relatively stock fuel injected 5.0 H.O. engine like that came in the late 80's Mustangs, maybe a small cam just to make it sound nice. Sure, I could just go pick up a 5.0 H.O, but I mean this is the factory engine out of the old Comet.. kind of carries some sentimental value. I've heard that it is possible to convert the older blocks to roller cam. Can you use factory parts to do this, or is there a kit or something? Right now I'm just kicking around ideas of what I may do in the somewhat distant future.
get the spider, dogbones and lifters from any late 80's 5.0 car (LTD, Marquis, Mustang, etc.) and use them in your block. just drill and tap two bolt holes to hold the spider in place and you should have it. a friend of mine done this to his engine over a yr ago, no troubles yet...
Good to know. Guess I'll slowly start collecting the roller cam parts and H.O. parts as I come across them in junkyards. Engine still has the factory front sump oil pan on it. Just need to get the upper and lower intake and stuff. At what point do you guys think a block would be unsalvageable? The engine had over 300,000 miles on it when it was pulled and smoked at the time, but has never been rebuilt. It was in storage up until about 4 years ago, but got moved outside unfortunately. Some water has gotten into it. Obviously it will need bored out and everything, but the hole where the distributor goes is pretty rusty as well. I assume that can be taken care of? I'll get some pics of it this weekend.
You have to get a roller cam made with the small base circle. A normal roller cam will not fit in the block.
I`m pretty sure that Summit sells the conversion kit. Dennis is right you will need to use a small base circle cam.
There are two ways to go about it, both will set you back $600-700 by the time you finish. The other way is to use Crane's or Comp's link bar hydro rollers with the std base cams. with this route, you have and endless selection in cam profiles to chooose from.
Looks to me like I can convert it for a lot less then 600+... and if it does cost that much, it'll just stay flat tappet.
Yes, it does cost you that much. I've done the math both ways. The linkbar lifters can be used with the std base circle 5.0 roller cams, this gives you a wider choice in cams to use and with these running for as little as $50 for a used one (they don't wear out like a flat tappet cam) it's a better way to go about it. With the retrofit cams that are a reduced base circle, the cam runs you about $300-400.And there's a limited selection. With either, you'll also need custom pushrods (If I recall correctly) plus you need a steel cam retainer plate, new springs, etc. There's more involved than just the cam and lifters. The stock lifters are rpm limited to about 6500 due to their weight. Might be less on a reduced base circle cam
Heck I bought my HO motor out of a pick and pull for 150 and gave me a little different starting point especially since it sounds like you are wanting to go with fuel injection in the future. And that will give you all of the components (dogbones lifters pushrods, steel geared distributor ect) that you need plus make alot of cheaper roller cams easily accessible if you wanted to use that block.
Nostalgia is nice but.......300plus on a thin wall henry..and it has water in it...nah..i say paint it up pretty and put it on the lawn , and find another engine ,baddad, knows his stuff ,even if he is a bad -dad .
