Sounds OK. A 302 is a 302 when it comes to generic engines. But if your looking for a Boss....Those are only sitting around in kiddy pools behind mobile homes in the country.
But the 4 speed, is it a truck trans or a car trans? Some had different gearing and output shaft lengths that might make it unusable in a car.
If it ran good and didn't smoke, that's an OK deal. You're still gambling with a used engine.
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1995 GT convertible - Laser Red
1995 GT convertible - Black (Son's ride)
1966 GT Fastback under restoration- Code T Red
with White LeMans stripes.
How many miles on that drive train? Maybe its good. Maybe you're buying some 43 year old worn out crap. Anything over 60,000 miles, that valve train is getting worn out. Valves, springs, stamped rockers, pushrods, lifters, cam, timing gears, valve guides, etc. All that stuff gets old. Are you buying that stuff just to replace it later?
Did you, personaly, ever see that truck run? Caveat Emptor.
I've read that Ford used Mexican sourced source 302 for some trucks in the 70's. They had heavier bearing caps similar to the K code block. Lots of people like these blocks. Some say they have thicker cylinders and higher nickle content but I have also read that is not true and other then the bearing caps pretty much the same as a regular 302 block. I'll buy into that. The Mexican block has a knob for a lack of a better term cast on the front of each bank
Mexican blocks say made in Mexico in the valley aswell. Although they are known to be stronger its not worth worrying about unless you're spinning it really high or making block splitting power.
The only difference with Hencho En Mexico blocks (apart from those two nubs in the picture above) is the size of the main caps - they are bigger than a regular 302. Nickel content is a myth - bores are standard and anything over 60 over and it's a very heavy paperweight.
It's a waste of money unless you want a car with an all original engine. For performance that engine is pretty useless, just about the only things you will use would be the crank and maybe rods. The heads will need so much money that it will make aftermarket heads more feasible. You wont keep the intake, you will keep the carb. You said you dont need the tranny. So $500 for a carb, block, and crank? Is it worth that? No.
Hey thanks,
Great information, I have a 1985 302 that came in my 67 coupe.
I thought it would be good to have a second one that I could have for a project. maybe $500 is just too much.
The only difference with Hencho En Mexico blocks (apart from those two nubs in the picture above) is the size of the main caps - they are bigger than a regular 302. Nickel content is a myth - bores are standard and anything over 60 over and it's a very heavy paperweight.
Reverb is 100% correct. Nickel content, and content of all the other alloying components, is a moving target. It all depends on that day's batch of iron. Iron quality changed from one moment to the next. Check 100 engine blocks for hardness, malleability, carbon content, silicon, nickel, chromium, etc., you'll get 100 different results. Nickel, and other alloying components, were added to the iron after the iron came out of the blast furnace by a worker with a shovel. Sometimes he put in a little more, sometimes a little less. Remember, this was the 1960's, not the CNC of today.
How do I know this? I spent 31 years in Ford's biggest foundry, the Cleveland Casting Plant. Our melt area frequently made iron that was so far out of spec. that that day's production had to be scrapped. Foundry technology is an inexact science. That goes for Mexico too.
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1970 302 from a F100, good engine?
Dan Campbell
