After looking patiently for months and months and months for an all-stock '71/'72 302 long block, (my goal is year-correct parts if possible).. I am excited to say the wait is about over! I've been looking with no luck... I have '71 heads, a '71 and '72 2v intake, matching carbs... but no bottom end. I've been finding nothing but 60's 289/302 blocks, 351W's, mid-to-late 70's blocks, big blocks, and every other mill imaginable... and prices were relatively steep even for bare blocks... or the distance was in the 1000's of miles.... But Saturday I'm picking up a 302 long block from a '72 Mustang. D2 timing cover and balancer, D1 block cast on Jul 12 1971... pretty sure the block was in fact an early '72 issue though. (I've read that the blocks were not all D2 castings in early '72 production.) This includes pistons, rods, pan, cover, balancer, flexplate (D2 type and a later 1980 i won't use), flexplate spacer, transmission spacer, all bolts, etc., and a set of headers for '72 Mustang (I assume). It's about a 3-hr drive one-way. But the best part... $100 cash. I'm happy!
The stamp on block "snout" that timing cover bolts to will tell when engine was assembled. Here's one for my Fairlane... Assembled 19th day of June 1969, car was built 26th day. The partial VIN on top of block behind intake will tell you what year car it went into, this is block from my Comet. First digit is year