engine building questions

bmxmon · 10-30-2004, 07:07 PM

Hey, im starting to build my 302, and have a couple of questions. First, its a 79 302 out of a truck that is goign into my mustang, and i was wondering if anybody knows what the end ring gap is supposed to be. Also, whats the best way to go about making them wider, if they need to be. When putting in the pistons, do i have that little notch/arrow facing toward the front of the engine, or pointing toward the front of the engine? (the wide end of the arrow, which looks like a triangle, is on the edge of the piston) And, when putting in my camshaft, it shouldnt have any kind of pins in the back of it right?? What i remember is that the old one didnt, and it just goes against that plug in the back. When i put my timing chain on, do i have the little dots next to each other or 180 from that? Thanks for any help, kinda the small things i over looked that could really screw up my engine in the end, so thanks for the help.

mustangII460 · 10-30-2004, 09:08 PM

Top .015 bottom & oil .012 use a ring trimmer ONLY. Measurement is ring inside of bore, not on piston. Do each cylinder separate and do not mix rings up.

Pin on cam is what the turns the gear. Dots go as close as possible together, cam dot toward the bottom, crank is at the top.

bmxmon · 10-30-2004, 09:47 PM

Where do i get a ring trimmer at?? When i measured my top ring end gap, (one of them) it measured at .018. My pistons say to use 20-40% more than stock. Im guessing with my oil ring i just measure the two small rings, and leave the zig zaged ring alone, right? Just want to make sure. thanks

bmxmon · 11-01-2004, 12:41 PM

also, how much movement should my camshaft have? It seems to be sitting in the middle of the camshaft bearings right now, but it can move forward quite a bit, so the part of the camshaft that sits in contact with the bearings sticks out about 1/4". I put in my distributor, and moved the cam back and forth, and that much movement would definately screw up the timing. thanks for any and all help.

82 GT · 11-11-2004, 10:55 PM

My best advise to you would be to buy a book on rebuilding small block Ford engines. It will provide all the clearances and specs needed to build your engine.
BTW, I think the cam shaft endplay clearance should be .005in.

10-30-2004, 07:07 PM	#1
bmxmon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 950	engine building questions Hey, im starting to build my 302, and have a couple of questions. First, its a 79 302 out of a truck that is goign into my mustang, and i was wondering if anybody knows what the end ring gap is supposed to be. Also, whats the best way to go about making them wider, if they need to be. When putting in the pistons, do i have that little notch/arrow facing toward the front of the engine, or pointing toward the front of the engine? (the wide end of the arrow, which looks like a triangle, is on the edge of the piston) And, when putting in my camshaft, it shouldnt have any kind of pins in the back of it right?? What i remember is that the old one didnt, and it just goes against that plug in the back. When i put my timing chain on, do i have the little dots next to each other or 180 from that? Thanks for any help, kinda the small things i over looked that could really screw up my engine in the end, so thanks for the help.

10-30-2004, 09:08 PM	#2
mustangII460 Factoy Five Roadster Join Date: May 2000 Location: Sevier Co,Tennessee Posts: 1,681	Re: engine building questions Top .015 bottom & oil .012 use a ring trimmer ONLY. Measurement is ring inside of bore, not on piston. Do each cylinder separate and do not mix rings up. Pin on cam is what the turns the gear. Dots go as close as possible together, cam dot toward the bottom, crank is at the top. __________________ Frank

10-30-2004, 09:47 PM	#3
bmxmon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 950	Re: engine building questions Where do i get a ring trimmer at?? When i measured my top ring end gap, (one of them) it measured at .018. My pistons say to use 20-40% more than stock. Im guessing with my oil ring i just measure the two small rings, and leave the zig zaged ring alone, right? Just want to make sure. thanks

11-01-2004, 12:41 PM	#4
bmxmon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 950	Re: engine building questions also, how much movement should my camshaft have? It seems to be sitting in the middle of the camshaft bearings right now, but it can move forward quite a bit, so the part of the camshaft that sits in contact with the bearings sticks out about 1/4". I put in my distributor, and moved the cam back and forth, and that much movement would definately screw up the timing. thanks for any and all help.

11-11-2004, 10:55 PM	#5
82 GT Import Slayer Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 2,241	Re: engine building questions My best advise to you would be to buy a book on rebuilding small block Ford engines. It will provide all the clearances and specs needed to build your engine. BTW, I think the cam shaft endplay clearance should be .005in. __________________ '82 GT 351W (.060)Comp Cams 274* Extreme Energy cam, ported & polished heads w/ 1.94/1.60 valves 10.3:1 flat top pistons,stealth intake, Mallory dizzy,Holley 750dp carb, BBK shorties,Flowmaster exhaust,C-4 with 3700 stall converter, B&M pro shifter,8.8 rear, 4:10's, subframes, electric fan, powermaster alternator, 4 core radiator.

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