How To Install a Harmonic Damper (balancer) on a Small Block Ford 302
Harmonic Damper
302 Budget Build

How To Install a Harmonic Damper (balancer) on a Small Block Ford 302

An important step in your roller 302 budget build is the harmonic damper. Make sure if you are using a later model H.O. roller 302 you use a 50oz. imbalance harmonic damper. Grease the crankshaft prior to installation and make sure the balancer is installed completely onto the crankshaft.  You can

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New oil filter adapter shown installed in the engine block
Oil Filter Adapter
302 Budget Build

Installing the Oil Filter Adapter on Small Block Ford 302

This is a simple yet very important step in the process. You will need to pick up an oil filter adapter to mount the oil filter properly. This part is made by Allstar Performance Part Number: ALL92003. The existing adapter is removed by a hefty 32MM socket. Once removed, clean the area where the filter gasket will be installed

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How To Install Mechanical Fuel Pump on Small Block Ford 302 | Holley 12-833
Fuel Pump Installation
302 Budget Build

How To Install Mechanical Fuel Pump on Small Block Ford 302

Installing the mechanical fuel pump on a small block Ford is a very easy and straight forward process. Begin with a clean surface on the timing cover. Make sure you have quality hardware and the gasket is clean. Depress the fuel pump activation arm slightly to clear the eccentric and install the bolts. Hand tighten them

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Oil Pan Installation on Small Block Ford 302
Oil Pan Install
302 Budget Build

Oil Pan Installation on Small Block Ford 302 Roller

This is a fairly straight forward installation and only a few considerations need to be made. Purchase a quality aluminum oil pan that is front sump style to match your new oil pump & pickup screen. When considering an oil pan, make sure the mounting lip is thick and has a good

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Water pump mounted to timing cover with ARP bolts. Gaskets are installed.
Timing Cover & Water Pump
302 Budget Build

Timing Cover & Water Pump Installation Stage 1

In these steps, we will set the timing cover and water pump into place. Keep in mind that this is not a final installation because a lot of the bolts used in this process will be determined by the accessory bracketry used later on in the build. Primarily, you want to install these components to

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How to install a Double Roller Timing Chain Set & Gears on a Small Block Ford
Timing Chain Installation
302 Budget Build

How to install a Double Roller Timing Chain Set & Gears

Today we will be installing one of the most critical components of any engine. The timing chain and gear set. This set happens to be a very high quality Made in U.S.A. Cloyes timing set. This set is a double roller and ready to go. I like to write on the gears with

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Showing initial insertion of the camshaft into the small block 302. E303 Camshaft by Ford Racing
Camshaft Installation
302 Budget Build

How to Install a Camshaft in a Small Block Ford 302 5.0 | E303

Article Summary: How to install the Ford Racing E-303 Camshaft into a Ford 302. The cam is part number: M-6250-E303. This camshaft installation takes approximately 1 hour. In this post, I will explain how easy it is to install a camshaft in a small block Ford 302 engine. For this build, I decided to go

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After installation inspection of installed melling oil pump and screen
Oil Pump Installation
302 Budget Build

How to Install the Oil Pump & Screen on a Small Block 302 V8

We are beginning the installation of new parts on the budget build 302 engine. We begin with the new high volume Melling oil pump and Melling oil pump screen. These parts are made in the U.S.A. and are very high quality. The oil pimp comes with a new hardened drive

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Painting the small block ford red
Painting Engine
302 Budget Build

PaintingThe Small Block Ford 302 5.0 H.O. Red

After deciding on a color theme for the newly cleaned small block, I decided to run with a fire engine red paint color. This was a fairly simple process. Just make sure you have all of the oil removed from the block and you use a good degreaser. Allow 48

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This is the short block after all parts and heads were removed.
Clean Engine
302 Budget Build

Engine Cleanup & Tear Down

My engine build will be more of a classic setup. I am removing all of the fuel injection parts and everything down to the short-block. I did not photograph this process but I did document the cleanup process. When I started with this engine it was filthy, greasy, and smelly.

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This is a shot of the donor motor before I took it home. It came complete with all fuel injection parts.
Donor Engine
302 Budget Build

The Donor Roller 302 Small Block Ford Engine

This is where I will begin my journey to build a stout 302 small block Ford motor (engine) without breaking the bank but still using very high quality MADE IN USA parts. I am very strict when it comes to quality and function and like to only support U.S.A. manufacturers.

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