302 Ford Engine For Sale Craigslist (2024)

FAQs

How much HP can a Ford 302 make? ›

Standard Ford 289 and 302 small-blocks were factory-rated between 200 and 230 hp. The vaunted 289 High-Performance engine was said to make 271 hp. Today, if a 302 Ford makes 360 hp on pump gas with a hydraulic cam, most experts consider it to be a pretty good motor-at least until Joe Sherman steps up to the plate.

The wide and large port heads with staggered valve placement give the 302 H.O. high power capabilities. Because of the pent-roof design of the heads, the Boss also had forged pop-up pistons to achieve the desired 10.5:1 compression ratio.

A Ford 302 Engine should have no problem lasting over 200,000 miles as long as you take care of it. Keeping up with regular maintenance is very important on all engines. Doing simple things like getting oil changes every 3,000 to 5,000 miles can help keep your engine running well for a long time.

Lots of people still prefer the 302 4.9-liter engine to the following single overhead cam 4.6-liter, because the parts are cheaper and the engine is more reliable, despite the fact that there are more parts to fail. The 302 was also made with more nickel in its material, which made it stronger.

As a testament to the Boss 302's high-rpm nature, the peak horsepower numbers differed by just 9 hp, but the torque curve tells the real story. Down at 3,100 rpm, the larger Boss 351 offered an additional 90 lb-ft of torque, and carried a sizable advantage all the way through 6,500 rpm.

Installing headers on a Ford 302 small block engine can significantly enhance its performance by improving exhaust flow. Typically, a high-quality set of headers can add between 10 to 20 horsepower, depending on the overall setup and condition of the engine.

The Ford small block V8 engine's greatest champion was the 302. Dubbed the 5.0 later in life as the industry moved from cubic inches to liters in describing displacement, it was the workhorse of the automaker's line-up, pulling duty in everything from sports cars to vans to pickup trucks.

Pushrod discontinuation

With Ford making the switch to the 4.6-liter modular engines in 1996 for the Mustang, they did produce the 302 up until 2001 which was an engine option in the Ford Explorer and standard in the Mercury Mountaineer.

The 302 Ford combined a 4.0-inch bore with a 3.0-inch stroke. This compares to a 3.736-inch bore and longer 3.48-inch stroke for the 305. The 305 Chevy is often chastised for its small bore, but under the operating conditions the stock engines were intended to run, the bigger bore is of little benefit.

Diesel engines.

Ford trucks and SUVs with diesel engines will last much longer than their gasoline counterparts. Diesel engines are known for their longevity, frequently surpassing 400,000 miles. There are even reports of a Ford diesel engine making it to 1 million miles.

How big can you stroke a Ford 302? ›

To retain the compact 302 dimensions and increase the engine displacement, many aftermarket companies have introduced crankshaft, rod, and piston combinations that will fit within the stock 302 block and increase the engine size to 347 cubic inches. They are called stroker kits.

Consider trucks under 100,000 miles for gas engines and 200,000 for diesel. Ideally, aim for under 60,000 miles to minimize maintenance concerns. Always check the truck's overall condition and maintenance history for the best value. Lucky for you, used Ford trucks are renowned for their longevity.

About 300 horsepower. The big stumbling block are the cylinder heads which if you spend the time and expense to get them fully ported might yield another 150 horsepower and at that point, you're nearing what is considered safe in power and RPM for the light weight 5.0.

Right front cylinder is #1.

The Legend

While Ford's little four-barrel-equipped 302 cubic-inch engine carries a compression ratio of 9.0:1, and a horsepower number of 220, the Chevrolet counterpart delivered an advertised horsepower rating of 290, and a compression ratio of 11.0:1.

The original 5.0L, debuting in the 80's, packed 225 horsepower at its peak. Aftermarket builds showed that the stock iron block was good for about 500 horsepower before separating into smaller pieces.

When you turn your 302 into a 331 or 347 you can use the stock hood, stock engine accessories, intake, fuel system and headers. However, in order to reap all the benefits, your stroker engine must be properly designed, built well and run efficiently.

Testing in part one of our Legendary Small-Blocks proved that the original 290hp rating by Chevrolet was somewhat shy of the real power output, as our replica produced 357 hp and 333 lb-ft of torque.