14.5 on a bent rod
 

Lately, I'm discovering more and more how tough a factory 302 is. For one, a guy I know Dave is running roughly a 400hp shot of nitrous through his stock block, stock bottom end 302...his only internal modification is an E-303 cam.

But to the point...I finally saw my old motor taken apart and lo-and-behold...a bent connecting rod!
Cylinder #8 was down to 120 psi on compression..the connecting rod, all the way up, was bent sideways, which was not only shortening the stroke but causing the piston to try to sit crooked and putting a ton of stress on the crank. Surprisingly, the crank is still fine..no cracks or fractures! If I had run that car much longer though, I figure the connecting rod might've finally snapped..but being a cast job, which is softer than forgings, it just continued to bend! Every single cylinder had signs of blow-by on the pistons. Not to mention the rings were all shot. They could be bent and twisted like pieces to a slinky. And with all these problems, that motor ran a 14.5 at 95 mph. Is that cool or what?! I'll post a pic of the rod up here when I get my camera working again.

I'm very happy for you, and your 400hp friend, but I'd rather be your parts man. Don't get me wrong, I love Fords, but the 302 is actually a lousy design. There aren't enough head bolts, which is why they blow more head gaskets than any other engine, and the oil pump is in the front. Half of the 302's I've torn down have had cracked piston skirts, too.

http://homepage.mac.com/pkrwud/.Pict...%21/302.2.jpeg

http://homepage.mac.com/pkrwud/.Pict...%21/302.7.jpeg

I would consider myself very lucky if I were you, rather than start to believe that the endurance you've seen is common.

:)

Take care,
~Chris