I recently bought a motor off of Craigslist. The Guy told me it was a 302. Came with a C-4 transfer too. Well after doing all the work on pulling the motor out of my truck I noticed a size difference. Apparently the motor he sold me is a 289... not a 302. The truck is an 84, the motor and transfer came out of a 74 mustang. I need suggestions on the installation of the 289 into my truck. Specifically the installation of the transmission as the OEM transfer in the truck will not bolt up to the 289. Any assistance would be appreciated.

 

The 302 came out in 68 from what I read, so if it came out of a 74 it is a 302. But, when you say the "OEM transfer in the truck will not bolt up to the 289" I get confused. The transfer case bolts to the transmission and the transmission to the engine. And a C4 is a transmission, not a transfer case.

 

It came with a C4 transmission, right? Is that what you meant by "C4 transfer"?

You noticed a size difference? Externally? A post '65 289 is identical externally to a 302, with the only differences being accessory drives and maybe dipstick locations. Did you mean you checked the stroke while you were removing the engine?

"The motor and transfer came out of a '74 Mustang..." A '74 Mustang is a Mustang II. They were not equipped with V8s. The 302 was available in 1975. If a 289 came out of a Mustang II, regardless of year, it was a transplant. The last year for the 289 was 1968.

Your OEM "transfer". Are you now talking about the transfer case in your truck? If so, is it the type that bolts directly to the transmission? (referred to a "married") If so, it will not bolt to a car transmission. And the car transmission can not easily be converted to a 4x4 model, as a complete teardown and a replacement tailshaft and housing are required.

IF you have a 289, it would install exactly the same as a 302, as the blocks are the same--UNLESS it is an early '65 or older 289.

The transmission is a different issue.

Also, flywheel/flexplate balance changes in the early '80s, but we're not there yet.

Did you perhaps get a 2.8 V6 out of that '74 Mustang II, and that's the size difference you are noticing externally?

 

My fault. Yes. I mean the OEM transmission. The size difference I am reffering to is the distance from head to head. It appeared to me that the 302 that I removed from my truck was wider than the alleged 302 that I bought. Upon further research I do notice a substantial difference in height, which makes sense given the information I was given by my father that the only difference in "size" is that the 302 has a longer stroke than a 289. I am unclear on the exact year of the 289. The number on it is hard to make out due to the age. My main concerns with the 289 set up is the differences in the transmissions. Specifically the shifter position and function and the cooling line connectors.

 

I am counting 8 spark plugs total. The C-4. Transmission that came with the 289 is 1/2" shorter, (from the bell housing to the output shaft), than the motor installed (OEM) in the truck. I know the bolt patterns are dissimilar from the factory trans to the other trans.

 

The motor mounts may be the same. I cannot tell yet. However the 289 has a 1" difference from head to head (looking at the water pump, then it is from left to right.) than the 302.

 

Sounding more and more like you pulled a 351 out of your truck, not a 302.

289 - 302 head to head distance and all other exterior dimensions are exactly 100% the same. Internal differences are just the crank and rods. Only difference you will find is that some early 289 blocks had 5 bell housing bolts instead of the later 6.

 

Amen. I'll bet you had a 351W in the truck, which is noticeably bigger than a 302. But you cannot tell a 289 from a 302 by measuring the external dimensions as they are identical.

 

Can I get an idea on where tonfind the casting numbers so I can see if it is in fact a 351. On the front of the motor on the block beside the water pump i found a stainless steel plate glued to the block with the numbers 288994 stamped on it. Does this mean anything to anybody. I tried searching google about these numbers and could not find anything. As far as the casting numbers I am unsure where they would be located.

 

I will say thatnif the motor i pulled out of my truck does turn out to be a 351 then it is getting bored, rebuilt, and reinstalled in my truck.

 

Also on the back of the motor by the flywheel there is a small stamp that reads 7K2.

 

The 351W has more torque than a 302, all else being equal, due to its longer stroke. And torque, not horsepower, is king in a truck.

Yes, it is possible to build a 302 to have as much torque as a 351W, but it takes money to do so. And, a smaller chunk of money will get as much torque in the larger engine. They haven't, as yet, repealed the laws of physics which, loosely translated, say torque = stroke x force. So, given that the 302 and 351W have the same bore and, therefore, the same "force" if all else is equal, the longer stroke of the 351W gives more torque.

 

Yea. And I take it that certain parts are interchangeable between the 302 and 351. Especially considering the fact that I have been buying parts for a 302 for the past 3 years and have never had a problem fitting them up. I just need to verify that this motor is in fact a 351.

 

Measure across the intake manifold between the heads. A 351W measures about 11" and a 302 about 9".