302 Swap Questions

[zukirider21]

Alright I've got a few questions about my swap and I dont wanna be annoying by posting a million new threads as the new questions come along so im just gonna post them all here as i go along.

As of right now, here's what im in need of help with.

-radiator. i was thinking about using one out of an explorer with a 302. good idea? how will it mount? like the stock unit?

-fan. originally planned on doing electrical fans but am realizing it will be a pain in the ass. so will i be able to fit a mechanical fan in there with a short or no spacer on the water pump pulley? im looking at a cheapo flexalite like so: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLX-416/

-kickdown. i bought a fancy braided stainless lokar cable but i dont like it and it wont work with my carb without substantial jerry-rigging. so, can i use my stock kickdown cable? it only has 15/16" travel from fully extended to full throttle. it was on an A4LD and its going on a 1978 C6. i suppose i would drill the stud out of the c6 lever and install a ball stud in place of it.

by the way, the truck is a 1989 ranger xlt 2wd that originally had a 2.9L v6 and an a4ld. the motor that is going in is a 1978 302 with a 2wd c6 transmission. the combo is out of an f150.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Psychopete]

-radiator

Not too sure on the dimensions of the radiator you're wanting to install, either way there's not a lot of room to work with. Going to depend on the front end dress and where the engine is mounted (body lift?). I used a 4.0L Explorer radiator left over from my 2.9L project (the 2 row), 93'ish Mustang front end dress (single serpentine), no body lift, and had to tuck the radiator into the core support as far forward as possible.

Don't be afraid to modify the core support, you will probably have to. I had to do a lot of surgery, made a new base out of angle iron to lower the radiator to clear the top which conveniently bolted to the frame. Some cut the top and replace with metal or diamond plate. Main reason I went down is that I was afraid that I might piss off the hood latch.

-fan

For a fan, I had an electric but it was 1/2" or so too thick. I went with a flex fan and I think a 2.5" spacer. It sets 1" from the radiator which is was recommended in the instructions. PITA to tighten the bolts. I also used a 4.0L fan shroud, which is a full shroud around the fan.

Once I had the radiator and shroud into place, I measured the biggest fan I could use and then I ordered it.

Pete

 

[zukirider21]

hey thanks for the reply! and its funny that you mention modifying the core support, i was actually planning on cutting a big chunk out of the center (two cuts about in line with the frame rails going from top to bottom) to ease 302 installation since drilling spot welds is no fun, and the only rust repair i need to do on the core support is in the dead center. no to mention pulling the v6 was quite a pain so im sure the 302 would be even more fun with that long c6.

then when the time comes to re assemble, i would just get aluminum plates with a bunch of rivets to bridge the seams.

if i do end up doing that, making a further brackets wont be an issue. just out of curiosity, how do radiators mount? (never messed around with many) do they all have little nubs on the bottom that sit in holes with rubber grommets in them like on the ranger?

i like the idea of the angle iron across the frame rails, i could move it really far forward if i want to, and its a simple design which is always good. so you used a 4.0 radiator with no problems with overheating?

 

[baddad457]

With that motor, you're going to have to go electric fans. No room for a mech fan, even if you tuck the radiator into the core support.

 

[Teddyzee]

Many of us (myself included) have used the stock rad.
My core support is slightly different than yours, but I simply put my rad flat agains tthe core support. My later rad has two legs that sit right on the frame rails, and two bolts that go through to the front of the core support.

TS6034 has similar truck to yours, check his pics. He and I both used two very narrow 10" e-fans, they fit fine, and work very simple. Mine is zip tied to the rad, and uses a thermostat in the intake manifold to turn it on and off.

Another option is the front accessories/waterpump/timing cover of a '93 Cougar, a 5.0 Explorer, or a '94/'95 Mustang. They are at least 1.5" shorter, and you do not need to move the rad with them. GT40 on RPS has that setup, and he's running a mechanical fan.

 

[baddad457]

The 93 Cougar setup was also used previously on the 88-92 T-Bird/Cougar 5.0's as well.

 

[The Weasel]

I have not finished making the plates to get my engine in yet but I have set it in there with the radiator in place. I have an 84 ranger and I'm not going to have ac so i got a radiator that fits right in place where the condenser used to sit. It took about thirty seconds with a hamer to knock a little dent for clearance on the neck. Check out the ones at summit. As far as a fan I am planning to put one on the water pump.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BCI-68161/
That is the link to the one I have.

 

[bottledgt]

both trucks ive did were mounted in stock location. one had a mustang radiator, the one i have now has the stock radiator in the stock mounts. runs plenty cool. elctric fan on the front. really dont even have to turn it on unless youre moving slow

 

[HOT_ROD_CAR]

Alright I've got a few questions about my swap and I dont wanna be annoying by posting a million new threads as the new questions come along so im just gonna post them all here as i go along.

As of right now, here's what im in need of help with.

-radiator. i was thinking about using one out of an explorer with a 302. good idea? how will it mount? like the stock unit?

-fan. originally planned on doing electrical fans but am realizing it will be a pain in the ass. so will i be able to fit a mechanical fan in there with a short or no spacer on the water pump pulley? im looking at a cheapo flexalite like so: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLX-416/

-kickdown. i bought a fancy braided stainless lokar cable but i dont like it and it wont work with my carb without substantial jerry-rigging. so, can i use my stock kickdown cable? it only has 15/16" travel from fully extended to full throttle. it was on an A4LD and its going on a 1978 C6. i suppose i would drill the stud out of the c6 lever and install a ball stud in place of it.

by the way, the truck is a 1989 ranger xlt 2wd that originally had a 2.9L v6 and an a4ld. the motor that is going in is a 1978 302 with a 2wd c6 transmission. the combo is out of an f150.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

What year and model Explorer are you considering using the radiator from? What are it's dimensions?

 

[HOT_ROD_CAR]

Alright I've got a few questions about my swap and I dont wanna be annoying by posting a million new threads as the new questions come along so im just gonna post them all here as i go along.

As of right now, here's what im in need of help with.

-radiator. i was thinking about using one out of an explorer with a 302. good idea? how will it mount? like the stock unit?

-fan. originally planned on doing electrical fans but am realizing it will be a pain in the ass. so will i be able to fit a mechanical fan in there with a short or no spacer on the water pump pulley? im looking at a cheapo flexalite like so: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLX-416/

-kickdown. i bought a fancy braided stainless lokar cable but i dont like it and it wont work with my carb without substantial jerry-rigging. so, can i use my stock kickdown cable? it only has 15/16" travel from fully extended to full throttle. it was on an A4LD and its going on a 1978 C6. i suppose i would drill the stud out of the c6 lever and install a ball stud in place of it.

by the way, the truck is a 1989 ranger xlt 2wd that originally had a 2.9L v6 and an a4ld. the motor that is going in is a 1978 302 with a 2wd c6 transmission. the combo is out of an f150.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

What year and model Explorer are you considering using the radiator from? What are it's dimensions?

 

[zukirider21]

no idea. i was thinking from a 1st gen 4.0 maybe.

 

[zukirider21]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BCI-68161/
That is the link to the one I have.

that is one beautiful piece of aluminum, but it costs more than i paid for my truck hahaha!