The Ford 302 Engine: Everything You Need To Know

In this video, Landan goes over everything you need to know about the small block Ford 302 engine for 1979-1995 Mustangs.

Ford first referred to the 302 cubic-inch engine as a “5.0-liter” V-8, which was a metric unit of measurement rather than the standard notation used in the United States. The Mustang 302 was a liquid-cooled, overhead-valve, 90-degree V-8 engine that was produced from 1979 to 1995.

Aftermarket components continue to serve the small block 302 to this day. In a world of high-tech, state-of-the-art engine technology, it's hard to beat some old-school hot-rodding when it comes to cylinder heads, camshafts, valvetrain components, and engine blocks.
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0:00 | Intro
0:37 | History Of The Pushrod Small Block
1:39 | Early Days Of The Pushrod in The Fox Body
2:54 | Return Of The 302 In 1982 Mustangs
4:00 | 1983-1985 Mustang 302 Changes
5:33 | Changes In 1986 To 5.0 SEFI
6:16 | 1987-1992 Mustang 302 Changes
7:09 | 1993 Mustang 302 Changes
7:38 | 1994-95 Mustang 302 Specs
7:57 | 1996 Ford 4.6 Engine
8:25 | The Small Block 302 Today
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#LMR #fordsmallblock #ford302
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[latemodelrestoration]

When it comes to Fox Bodies, what would you rather have? The tried and true 302 or the modern Coyote?

[JohnnyRebKy]

Say what you will but those 5.0 motors from 80s and 90s had the best v8 sound ever. I dunno why they sound so good but they certainly sound fantastic. The flowmasters 40 behind a 5.0 is legendary

[GearheadRob]

The 302 Ford was a great little motor. It would run, and often time's pull a 350 Chevy motor all day long. Long live the 5.0!

[TekMan]

The 5.0 while not fast by any means compared to today's engine is a great engine. I have a cammed out 5.0 in my Explorer and it's a joy to drive each and every day.

[joshuahuffine]

Finally!! Somebody else confirms the 5.0 in the explorer until 2001! I've argued with people over that for years. Lol

[JamesSmith-ocjc]

I have owned an 85 GT for over 25 years. Will never sell it. Great car.

[kevinwilson]

My first car was a '62 Fairlane with the 221, I've owned the 260, a few 289's and a couple of 302's. My last car, a 2000 Explorer, with the 302, probably the one I'll die with, has 300, 000 miles and still going strong. All have been great engines!

[devgamz]

Bought myself a 95 gt last month with a 5.0 302. Love it

[JRowe]

Hello from Australia. I'm one of the lucky few with one of those cars that got the 10, 000 engines for Australia. 1991 Ford Fairmont Ghia 5.0L

[CJColvin]

I have a 1996 Ford F150 with a 5.0L (302) Windsor V8 with 209, 000 miles and still going strong. The only things I replaced on my truck was the starter, the fuel pump, and the power steering megunisum but other than that mostly was just simple maintenance, took out the transmission fluid just to get rid of the shuttering it was making and it hasn't had a problem ever since.

[RPJs-Cuisine]

Landon just gave the single handedly best breakdown of our prized cars/engines! Thanks brother!

[keithsteepleton]

I had this engine in my 92 f-150, a truck i had for 15 years. I did NO maintenance and routinely ran out of fluids. I abused that engine like it was my job and it put up with all of it. An amazing engine for sure

[crimsonstang]

I own a Coyote 5.0 and a pushrod 302. 302 is currently being rebuilt for my F-150.

[woodnbikes]

I had nothing but problems with my 86 efi 302 that was in the F250. After years of being stranded on the side of the road, thousands spent on mechanics trying to figure it out, it took a Whelen Modified race car driver about 20 minutes to cut out a few relays, splice a couple wires together and it ran like a dream from that point on!

[carculturenation]

Man I knew all the numbers but it was awesome having it laid out this way.

[cobrin]

Extra points for even knowing the 302 hit Australian shores for the Falcon. Better breathing really woke them up, or a stroker kit to 347ci did wonders for a docile V8 back in the day. Trickflow Twisted Wedge Heads were a wicked combo.

[projectbalrog]

Yay my falcon got a mention.
The 302ws in the au falcon xr8 the last.
They were all rebuilt by hand by tickford engineers and the last run produced 300 hp at the engine.

[Relic]

Awesome video thank you.
I've owned my 5.0 for 29 years and I just learned a bunch of new stuff.
Very interesting that it is a bored and stroked 289.

[ibast]

In Australia we called it a 302 Windsor. Which makes sense because it's essentially the same architecture as the 351W, with the later just having higher deck height and bigger mains.

Something not always discussed is how small and light it is. Until the LS engines came along it was by far the smallest and lightest of the mainstream American V8s.

[straightener]

I had a 62 Fairlane with the 221 V8 and a 3 speed manual transmission. Smooth running engine.