Mtn WJ
03-21-2008, 11:53 AM
Well I am finally going to get started on Ol Rusty. Rusty is a family friend we have owned for over 10 years. Its a 1949 Ford F1 truck. It has a running Flat Head V8 that I was able to GPS clock at 90 MPH. However the engine is getting tired and I want something more of a Hot Rod. I am pulling the Flatty to replace it with a 302. I will keep the Flat Head to use in a long term future project of building an old T or A hot rod like the old old school models in the 40s.
I bought the 302 several months ago from a friend. It came from a 71 EB with only 63k miles on it. I am picking it up tomorrow. This is the last year of the higher compression 302s until the mid eighties and is stock apx 235 hp. (some conflicting numbers out there). I drove the EB and it runs strong. I am using the wire harness, and control knobs with my truck as they will look retro and basically the same wire scheme as a truck would be. The 302 will start out with a new mild cam, intake, 4bbl and headers. I am shooting for 275hp and eventually want over 300 with new heads. I am just doing a gasket port match on the stock head DIY for now.
I am undecided on the tranny. I was planning on using the EB 3 speed and changing the tail shaft to 2wd as it will locate the shifter in the right spot. However I do have a top loader 4 speed but it will not really put the shifter where it will be ok. Another option is a T5 from an S 10. I read a recent article and it will be a great fit. My fear is will it handle the hp of the 302 after I have finished building it. The article swapped a WC T5 with the S10 tail shaft and put it behind a Hemi. This is getting expensive.
For now I am building more of a rat rod look because I am sure my boys will get into a parking lot bump or two. Later on when they are on their own I will plan to do a full custom paint etc.
Keith
I bought the 302 several months ago from a friend. It came from a 71 EB with only 63k miles on it. I am picking it up tomorrow. This is the last year of the higher compression 302s until the mid eighties and is stock apx 235 hp. (some conflicting numbers out there). I drove the EB and it runs strong. I am using the wire harness, and control knobs with my truck as they will look retro and basically the same wire scheme as a truck would be. The 302 will start out with a new mild cam, intake, 4bbl and headers. I am shooting for 275hp and eventually want over 300 with new heads. I am just doing a gasket port match on the stock head DIY for now.
I am undecided on the tranny. I was planning on using the EB 3 speed and changing the tail shaft to 2wd as it will locate the shifter in the right spot. However I do have a top loader 4 speed but it will not really put the shifter where it will be ok. Another option is a T5 from an S 10. I read a recent article and it will be a great fit. My fear is will it handle the hp of the 302 after I have finished building it. The article swapped a WC T5 with the S10 tail shaft and put it behind a Hemi. This is getting expensive.
For now I am building more of a rat rod look because I am sure my boys will get into a parking lot bump or two. Later on when they are on their own I will plan to do a full custom paint etc.
Keith