Do it yourself 302 swap info.

[Edub1]

A V8 swap is a huge project with a lot of fabrication. It all depends on what you are after. If I was going to build a drag car I'd do a V8, but for a all around fun car I'd stick with the direct bolt in SR. I see a V8 swap as a never ending project that will never be quite right. The SR you pop it in put on a bigger turbo and be done with it. How fast do you want to go anyway?

[JTinJacksonvilleNC]

I'm currently working on one of these projects myself. An '89 black coupe. The motor is an '86 and will either be a normal four-barrel or the standard fuel-injected intake with an adapter plate to use a side-draft two-barrel. This part I'm undecided on. The trans is a C-4 from a truck. The ratios are good and I know it'll hold up to the abuse. I'm in the process of pulling the heads and going through them to make sure I'll have no valvetrain issues. As far as the oilpan goes, you can cut yours, use an aftermarket dry-sump system, or simply use a front-sump pan from a truck motor which is what I plan on doing. Maybe now that summer is all but gone, things will calm down a little bit for me and I can get back to my own projects instead of everyone else's. I'll try to post some pics soon but they'll be taken with my phone so they may or may not be great quality. I'll do my best.

[roworld]

[QUOTE=302VertMan]This is my recent E-mail to Black on Gold (NICO Member)Ive had alot of questions on the 302 swap so here we go....

whats up man. I've had alot of people asking me about the swap, and honestly im just a 19 year old kid trying this swap out in my yard. I've done the whole turbo thing on my old sohc, witch gave me alot of mechanical and fabrication skills, so it's making this swap a little easier.

My project is at a standstill right now, mostly because i've ran into another problem. I decided to go with an auto transmission, mostly because the one that came with the drag motor has a shift kit and other junk in it to make is just about better than a 5spd. the problem is that with the auto transmission's bellhousing being so much bigger than one on the 5spd mustang transmission, it makes it so the bellhousing on the transmission hits the firewall at the same time that the oil pan hits the power steering rack (on a mustang, the power steering rack is in front of the crossmember and the tunnel on the body is bigger so the transmission fits well). Because of this problem i am going to have to cut a decent chunk of the oil pan out to make it clear the power steering rack, and i may possibly have to cut/ or beat some of the firewall out for even more clearance, but i haven't had the time recently to do this. This is all a new experience for me so I am going to post my ongoing info on a 302 swap thread, so please keep updated on the new 302 thread and keep me posted on your ideas towards the whole 302 swap.

Ok first of all, why a 302 vs a 305 or 350

1) More stock hp and tq vs. a 305 chevy2) better stock rpm capabilities than the 3053) front mounted distributor makes install alot easier4) and even the most diehard chevy guy can admit that the 302 has the ultimate performance sound, Ford's cylinder head design helps this out alot. (im a diehard Chevy fan, and i dispise mustangs, but the 302 was a no brainer. The Chevy motors are great, but are mostly designed for trucks. 302's are more performance oriented. Plus every junkyard has a 302 laying arround)

Next, why American Muscle vs sr/rb, and ka power. 1)Anyone who has driven a car with more tourqe than horsepower can explain this one to ya 2)lets go over my build cost so farBuilt engine and built transmission out of a 13.2e/t mustang $200Barely used Edelbrock carb $50Ford 9"rearend freeCrane blue anodized roller rockers $50250 shot zex nitrous kit and zex purge $300(These prices are not "once in a lifetime, great buy prices, you can get a great deal anywhere, you just have to look)Cost of perfectly running 1993 240 Convertable $1000

Total build cost so far $1,600Cost of having the ultimate 240 vert/302 nitrous fed monster = Priceless

On to the Build

First step:

-Remove old engine transmission, and exhaust but leave all wiring harnneses uncut and leave the harness' installed. -Remove all ac lines, radiator, ac radiator, all intake piping from out of the fender, the coil pack, etc.(pretty much remove everything out from under the hood except for the wiring harnesses, fuse box, and brake stuff. LEAVE ALL POWER STEERING STUFF IN THE SHELL!!

Step 2. Making all electrical components work.

-As you will notice, when you hook a battery up to the empty shell, everything electrical works when you turn the key ecept for the top (vert only) and parking lights. Here is how you fix that: -Under the 240 FAQ at the top of the 240 and silvia page, go to the (how to swap out your auto transmission for a 5 spd post) It will have all the pics and info you need.

Ok Now...

-Remove the stock engine mounts. They are connected with a single bolt (you can't see it unless you're under the car) -Powerwash the whole under hood area, trust me, the install will go alot easier when you can see everything clearly, and this also gives you a chance to paint under the hood. The outside of my 240 is going to be black, so i recently painted under the hood gloss black.-

Thanx Chris (302vertman)

What I need to know is what kind of budget would I need to make this happen. How about the k member, transmission tunnel, drive shaft,wiring and all the other stuff that goes with a swap. I have a wrecked 91 gt and Im seriously thinking of doint the swap but I need to have a better idea of what im getting into.

[White Comet]

good job on doing something ow u want. theres a lot of info and opinions i disagree with in here so instead of flaming i'll leave it at that

[EW]

I am a Ford fan and my 240sx is the only non-Ford that I have ever owned. However, I would put an LS1 in there. No question.

[OutToWinPAHC]

Distributor...... who needs one lol, But I'm a Chevy guy, and comparing to the 305 is a hands down win for the 302. But the swap looks good. If I were you, which I am not Id do the sleeper look and use EFI and try to fit it under the hood more.

+1 on the Auto I run too, but no distributor was my choice. Fitting my SBC 400 was too much.

Hey I would really like to see pics of your crossemeber setup.

[White Comet]

Distributor...... who needs one lol, But I'm a Chevy guy, and comparing to the 305 is a hands down win for the 302.

who the f*** cares about a 305? its pretty much a smog motor and i would recommend that anyone bother swapping it in. as far as v8s go i would go 350

[escudoride]

ive got a question, ive been lingering around this post for a while, moneys not an issue, but streetability and trackability, what would be a better option, carbed or EFI? time and effort arent a problem, id just like to know what is better, or is it persona preference. id prefer efi, i just dont know where to begin on hooking up the electronics and s***. ive got a 93 vert also.

[OutToWinPAHC]

EFI.... its not hard

[pj]

what are you using for mounts? from what i understand the awd 5.0 explorer mounts will pretty much bolt into an s13.
my ka's getting OLD n tired, id live to slam a fi5.0 into my s14...i wouldnt even care if it were an auto haha.
good luck with the project

[escudoride]

haha, its what im probably going to do, been thinking alot about it.