Hello again ya'll. I have a few questions. Will my '83 302 match up with my 72 C-4? I am wanting to put this engine into my Maverick, and I'm kinda worried that it won't mate up! Can anyone tell me? Also I have to find a radiator for a 250 I-6(?) or a 302 Maverick. Does it have to come from a Maverick/Comet? Will a mustang or some other smaller ford car work? My reason for asking is that Mavericks/Comets just aren't found around here(Louisiana). I also need frame mounts, motor mounts, engine X-mem. and the trans. Double hump X-mem. Can someone point me in the direction of a few of these parts? And answer the above questions? Thanks a heap!! Oh, BTW, I'm 17 and this is my first car! Preston
Mav Parts If you will email me I have a lot of the parts you are looking for. The C4 will bolt up but you need the correct flex plate, convertor etc.
Wow, seems like yesterday I was trying to ditch the 6cyl in my '72 and get that big ole 302 under the hood! Okay, so here's what I found out: motor mounts are availible at the auto parts store no problem for about $30 or so. Frame mounts seem to only be at the junk yards or possibly the Maverick Connection (would have to call and see), also you run into them on ebay now and then. Radiator should be bought new at auto parts store to save yourself a lot of trouble!!! Get one for a 302 with A/C, any year should work. Should only be around $150 and will be well worth the extra to not have it bust all over main street like a junk yard one will!! If you're running a modified 302 in excess of 300hp, I'd get a custom aftermarket radiator to insure it will run cool, not real cheap though, nothing wrong with an electric fan either. Other fun stuff I learned; stock rear end gears for a 6cyl are usually 2.73, and they will do one of two things. Either do one heck of a burnout with skinny tires, or be a real dog off the line with big tires! Stock front springs will make it sit nice and low, but will make it handle like the wheels are attached with rubberbands, get some stiffer ones for that extra weight!! 6cyl transmission will work if you change the bell housing, but will shift like grandma's lincoln and eventually burn out the bands, get a nice C4 from behind a V-8 and you'll be much happier (shift kit is always a good idea)! Stock 6cyl brakes become useless above 100mph, upgrade to at least some stock disks (still working on that one myself!) While your at it, the stock 6cyl rear springs are real bad about wheel hop with a V-8, might as well upgrade to the 4 leaf and maybe some weld on traction bars. Don't be overwelmed though, if you work through it one step at a time, you can have alot of fun and still impress your buddies. Of course everyone knows that a nice set of glasspacks behind a nasty 302 can impress the heck out of the people on the sidewalk, even if you still have those 2.73's in the rear end Have fun!!!!!!!!
Whew! Thanks a bunch ya'll!!!!!!! That info from both of ya'll just made my day! I'ts been worrying me about the how-to's and different aspects of the swap. Jasonk, you don't know how glad I am to finaly have everything broken down and explained to me!! That's been kinda buggin' me too, not knowing so much about what I'm doing, but that cleared up a lot! Dave, email's comin' jus as fast as I can go and type it!! Thanks, and any other info is really welcome! Preston
More Info If you had a 250 six in your Mav, then the C4 bell housing will fit the 302. The only one that won't is the 200ci six. Also many C4's behind the six's had a five disc foward clutch in them, the code tag on the trans dictates this. Have built several Mav's with original six springs front and rear and all have worked well. The new radiator is a must though. Would be glad to help you with all this info that pertains to my exsperience in racing and driving the Mav's. I spent lots of dollars on aftermarket add on's that never worked any better than old Henry's original equipt. But we all have a choice of which way to do it. Just hoping to save you a few bucks if you are in that frame of mind. A lot of the stuff depends on how you are going to drive the car etc. Make it a fun project and don't give up, the end result is well worth it.
Old Guy is right about the bell housing. My 6 was a 200ci so had to change. The C-4 behind the 250ci is probably built the same as the ones for the 302 (?) and may hold up fine, but mine from behind the 200 cratered quickly! Springs are certainly a matter of personal preference, but I find the 6cyls to be too soft and makes the car not corner very well and has a lot of wheel hop if I really get the meats roasting For straight line cruising they're okay. All about what you want out of the car. Good luck!
