best readily available 302 to start with

[1987cp]

It takes $$$ to make power and retain MPG. You are simply not going to do it with a plug in factory ECM. It would be easy to simply fly the BS flag here, but suffice it to say that just because someone did it, do not make the error of assuming it was either simple or inexpensive as it was most assuredly neither. Pointing to a single individual who was able to accomplish something is not an example of what most people can realistically accomplish with the resources available to them.

That's part of it, I have no idea what resources he has available or wishes to allocate. Possibly he has (or will have) the money for fancy parts, possibly not. Possibly he'll think it feasible to do some tuning, possibly he'll require that a stock ECM run the engine adequately without tuning. Not my call to say what he should or shouldn't plan to do with his car. My Explorer motor was kind of a waste in some ways, and is currently a source of annoying headaches.

I just hope he isn't counting on a random junkyard engine being okay to drop in and run. Mine wasn't anything like ready to run and ran me several hundred dollars more than I'd figured on. Hopefully his luck is better.

[1987cp]

that it?

That looks kind of convenient. Though I agree about fitment - looks to me like it might hit the steering linkages.

[1990LTD]

also, no, I'm not going to buy a junkyard motor and drop it in. I'll probably have the motor on a stand and rebuild it the best I can (it'll be a bit of a learning experience since I've never had a motor down to the block/heads) with the best parts I can afford (cam etc) before it gets shoehorned into my car.

[1990LTD]

fuck, I wish I had the money now. 350 for a whole explorer motor with 135000km. stupid priorities

[gadget73]

The Explorer cooler thing is a fair bit bigger. I think Scott and I tried to fit one in, and it would not clear the steering box or some other part that wasn't really practical to eliminate or move. All 302s that have the oil filter screwed into the side of the block have the adapter thats needed. It looks basically like a pipe nipple. The problem is getting the damn thing out of the block once its been in there for 25 years.

[Mercracer]

All 302s that have the oil filter screwed into the side of the block have the adapter thats needed. It looks basically like a pipe nipple. The problem is getting the damn thing out of the block once its been in there for 25 years.

That's why you get a new one from Ford....
F1AZ-6890-B

[sick88tbird]

I had one come out when I pulled the filter off during an oil change...stayed in the filter...after some careful use of channel locks, I re-installed it back into the motor and intalled a new filter. The car was sold to my brother and we never had another problem it...lol. Seems like nothing is ever that easy, it always ends up being a big project.

Back on topic...we still haven't gotten a ball-park budget and a CLEAR plan of what he wants.

+1 on replacing stock springs...absolute garbacho.

Good luck,
Don

[Mercracer]

Back on topic...we still haven't gotten a ball-park budget and a CLEAR plan of what he wants.

Sure we have. This is a very typical thread. You will eventually become accustomed to it. Think of these threads as sounding boards looking for ideas. Trying to add more power to the anemic CV/GM without spending alot of cash. Don't expect resolution very quickly. Don't take offense if your idea is not the one followed.

[1990LTD]

a sounding board is the best description i've seen of what i want this thread to be...it's not getting built tomorrow or next week or next month but i'd still like to hear what everyone thinks

[sick88tbird]

I know how it is, my 351 isn't going in anytime soon, but I still have figured a budget for it and as soon as I hit that magical number, I'll be ready. I've seen too many projects get started and never finished, with the person ending up selling what parts he has, usually at a loss. Get your finances in order and you'll be set...if you can't scrape up $350 for an explorer motor...then it may not be the best time for you to be building a motor.

Good luck,
Don

[1990LTD]

I know how it is, my 351 isn't going in anytime soon, but I still have figured a budget for it and as soon as I hit that magical number, I'll be ready. I've seen too many projects get started and never finished, with the person ending up selling what parts he has, usually at a loss. Get your finances in order and you'll be set...if you can't scrape up $350 for an explorer motor...then it may not be the best time for you to be building a motor.

Good luck,
Don

That's the thing - This isn't supposed to be happening RIGHT NOW. Whatever motor I decide on won't touch my car for probably another year.

[sick88tbird]

That's the thing - This isn't supposed to be happening RIGHT NOW. Whatever motor I decide on won't touch my car for probably another year.

I gathered that much...as evidenced by the first sentence of my last post. Buying a junkyard motor doesn't mean it has to go in the car immediately. I had my 351W on the stand for 4-5 months before it went in the car. Nearly as important as a clearly planned out budget is a well planned time line for the project.

Good luck,
Don

[1990LTD]

I don't wanna spend more than 2k on the motor build.

[mrltd]

The explorer "adapter" is a cooler and the oil filter is the same as used on a 4.6L....Not an FL-1A. And the swaybar and steering box were in the way when installed in a panther.

[Mercracer]

The explorer "adapter" is a cooler and the oil filter is the same as used on a 4.6L....Not an FL-1A. And the swaybar and steering box were in the way when installed in a panther.

Not all are coolers. I will try and get a pick of a non-cooler Explorer housing.