302/M5R2

[Jake_Jones405]

Trying to swap a 302 into an 89 supercoupe. Transmission was still in the car when purchased. What do I need for my new motor? The supercoupe flywheel won’t work? I need a 50oz or a 28oz flywheel? Will a clutch kit from supercoupe work? I have the original flywheel and clutch just missing the pressure plate. Any insight will help. Thank you.

 

[MadMikeyL]

You have a couple options. You can either have the SC flywheel rebalanced to match the 50oz imbalance of a 302, in which case you can use the SC clutch and starter. Or you can get a 5.0 F150 flywheel, clutch kit, and starter and use all of that in the SC M5R2 trans.

 

[AdamG]

What year is the 302? Older models had the 28oz imbalance, I believe it was only the 5.0 ho that had the 50oz. You need to make sure it's a 164 tooth flywheel that excepts an 11" clutch. Starter gear needs to be close to clutch side, if it's towards the motor side you will need 5/16" spacers on the starter bolts to shim the starter. I'm running an aluminum Hayes on mine with a sc centerforce d/f clutch.

 

[Jake_Jones405]

You have a couple options. You can either have the SC flywheel rebalanced to match the 50oz imbalance of a 302, in which case you can use the SC clutch and starter. Or you can get a 5.0 F150 flywheel, clutch kit, and starter and use all of that in the SC M5R2 trans.

My 302 is 28oz imbalance. Same thing applies?

 

[MadMikeyL]

Yes. A machine shop should be able to match the balance of your old flexplate.

 

[DOUG H]

I thought Ford/Merc never offered the 5.0 until 91 in the Thunderbird/Cougar when they redesigned the engine cradle & intake so it would sit lower & clear the sloped hood of the MN12 chassis? Is that not true? You could only get the 3.8 N/A & 3.8 S/C in 89 & 90.

 

[MadMikeyL]

Correct, the first year for the 5.0 in the MN12 was 91, however there is nothing that prevents swapping one into an 89/90.

 

[DOUG H]

Correct, the first year for the 5.0 in the MN12 was 91, however there is nothing that prevents swapping one into an 89/90.

Thanks, good to know. I thought I read in Motor Trend or some other mag back in late 88 preveiwing the 89's that the 5.0 would no longer be available in the new body,because of the hood slope( it was available in the 88 fox chassis).

 

[MadMikeyL]

The hood is lower than the Fox body was, and the intake manifold was redesigned to make it lower when the 5.0 was installed, however people have also installed the stock Fox body intake manifold and had it clear a stock hood, so I question whether that really was the reason.