302 measurement question

[BlueChariot]

I got the measurements for a 302 from the tech library, and I may be swapping one into my Mazda in the future. Height and width wise there shouldn't be too much trouble, but the length is a slight issue. But, my question is, from what exact two points is the engine length measured from? This will tell me if it's a smaller problem or a bigger one.

 

[V8 Level II]

Ford Racing Engine Dimensions

The notes say that the 27.5" FRPP dimension is for a 302 equipped with a special short water pump and serpentine belt accessory drive. There were many other accessory drives over the 30+ years of 302 production, so that dimension should probably be increased by 2" or more for most 302's.

The 96~2001 5.0 Explorer came from the factory with a nice compact accessory drive and pump. Mine measures roughly 27.5" from the nose of the water pump to the rearmost surface of the block where the transmission bell housing bolts up. In tight engine bays, the length of the Explorer version should work better than most any other production 302.

The Ex 5.0s are readily available at junkyards or in a used donor - or, should I say, they were readily available before "cash for clunkers" took so many of them out of circulation.

 

[BlueChariot]

Thanks man. Either way I'd have to modify the core support to make about 2 to 2.5 inches of forward clearance then. Also, I didn't know about the Ex's compact access drive.

Altho, the least I have to modify in the way of metal the better, so do you know if I'd get any significant gain in clearance by getting an aftermarket short accessories drive or would the difference between that and the Ex's drive make it not worth the money?

 

[baddad457]

FYI, the Explorer FEAD wasn't the only short FEAD, it was also used on the same year's Mountaineers. And a similar short FEAD was used with the 88-93 T-Bird/Cougar and later on the 94-95 Stang's HO 5.0