Blanco

Hi guys, I just bought a '64 Ranchero that has a 302 out of a 1975 Mustang II the guy tells me.
The intake manifold tells me it is a '75.

anyways its a weak dog with a two barrel, you know I'm sure that this engine when new was rated at a whopping 122 HP!

Anyways sure I figure time for bolt ons & I plan to tow my little bass boat with this little Ranchero that weighs about 1,800 lbs ( Trailer & Boat & outboard & fuel etc )
So I'll want a basic low end torque engine.
I'm figuring a performer intake & not sure what 4 barrel carb I'll want yet & a set of headers.. etc Bla bla bla.....

I'm figuring that this engine is an 8 to 1 Compression ratio engine?
Am I correct with that guess?
If so was this done by deep dished pistons or open chamber heads or both?
is there a better set of factory close chamber heads ( commonly available ) I can swap to that will increase my CR?
I'll rebuild the engine one day & run AFR aluminum heads but until I start getting steady work I cant even dream about that stuff right now.

Anyways thanks for all you input in advance..

Oh & one other thing why is most people don't like the Mustang II? ( Well this engine might be part of it I suppose )
I've always like the small body style much more than the beast that was out right before it.

If I had my choice I'd get one & fix it up to look like this.


I've always loved this picture.

frdnut

Ford did lots of changing during the 70s with different pistons and heads to keep compression down..In your case with the 1975 motor ford increased the deck hieght of the block(73-76) by .023 to keep compression at a measly 8:1..The combustion chamber in the heads is listed at 58.2ccs which is fairly small and could be much worse..You could pick up a little compression by installing early 289 heads but you would still only be at about 8.3 or so so not a big increase and not worth the effort....The best fix of course would be to tear down the engine and have the deck height of the block milled back to the normal 8.206 deck height...Not an easy fix and you would probably want to wait until you rebuild the motor....Your normal bolt ons will help with the power but it will never be a torque monster...A supercharger would work well with the low compression but probably won't fit your budget..
I think the reason the Mustang II wasn't well recieved was that it originally was not available with a V-8..Then when they did add the V8 it was rated so low in hp...That and sharing alot of the same platform as a pinto turned people off...I personally like the cars..They are fun to drive with the 4 speed trans and the engine isn't really that far off what the older 302s were since the way hp was rated was changed in the early 70s to net instead of gross..

__________________

1968 mustang 408W Hybrid..Burns gas and rubber!
11.82@120.85mph shakedown pass.

Blanco

Thanks for your input at least I now know to not bother looking for heads maybe instead of milling the deck I'd just swap out the pistons to a higher CP ratio or both?

A supercharger has crossed my mind, but these days anyways, I could not afford that.
But it sure would be cool.

How many HP you think the basic bolt ons might add?
I might as well as I can afford it start buying parts that I can re-use later.

Then again what does a small B&M type roots blower cost for a 302 these days?
Might add up to be worth while later on down the road.

AT68

1969 or 1970 351W heads, shaved down a bit will give you decent compression, and will flow better than the stock 302 heads, especially if you have the shop mill out the bumps in the exhaust ports. A Dual plane intake such as the performer, and a 600 holley 4bbl carb will work well, along with some 1 1/2" primary tube equal length headers into a 2 1/2" exhaust with good flowing mufflers, such as flowmaster.

All that aside, I would seriously consider just running the car the way it is, and find a good running 351W for it. With headers and a 4bbl, the 351W will give you all the power you need.

Blanco

Thanks