302 Ford 2V
 

I am looking for some input and advice from anyone running (or who has played with) the 302 Ford 2V combos. I've recently picked up an early 1980's Capri and looking to run as a1982 Capri in Q or R.

I know there are a few such combos in division 6 and I have some questions and need some recommendations. Any help appreciated.

Thanks,

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Stick only based on the guide, your aware of this correct? As for getting the car to min weight that should not be an issue at all. These are lighter than the newer cars, but you will still need to remove anything not needed to get there.
Sorry no help here on the 2v engine though.

Sean

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Sean is correct for NHRA. IHRA allows you to run an automatic, last time I checked. I think the hardest part to find is going to be the correct intake. Since you have an early fox body, you could update the body to run any combo from 82 to 86. I think about the only thing you might have to change would be a few trim pieces, 86 would require a 3rd brake light bubble hatch. There might be some differences in the front facia and tail lights year to year.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

1986 is an EFI motor.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

The Capris had pretty much the same body from 1979 thru 1982. In 83, Capris went from a flat hatch glass to a larger, "Bubble shaped" rear glass. Also the 83 thru 86 Capris had recesed tail lights. compared to the flush lights on earlier cars. 79 had a 302 2 barrel, 80 & 81 , no 302, only V8 has a 255 with tiny ports. 82 had the 2 barrel "HO" engine, with a bigger carb and cam. 83&84 302s used the 4 barrel carb,with a stick, an automatic was available, with only with the CFI throttle body EFI. 85 stick had a 302 4 barrel, now with a hyd. roller cam, auto, again with CFI. 86 had a multiport EFI, both stick and auto, but with a smaller throttle body and odd, high swirl 86 only cyl. heads. No more Capris after 86. although the Mustang 5.0 was pretty much unchanged from 87 thru 93.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Thanks for the comments. I must admit I did misinterpret the guide as the stick angle is not in my plan. I have a bunch of 86 efi parts still around from previous bracket cars so that seems like a better path at this point.

I know there used to be a Denysenko that ran and 86 ford efi with some success. Any others running this combo?

I'm out to get started in class racing and not set records. I've been thinking about this for too many years and need to get started.

My rare 82 intake will be for sale soon :)

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

The Mustang CAN be ran as an auto, I even have the confirmation from Dave Schaffel in Div. 6.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Joe what year as an Auto? Racers bitch about stock seats, the right hoods on Camaro's, and on and on. As Rory described the factory sold certain years as Stick only, then that is what it should be. And that will be something that would come from Glendora, not a division saying otherwise. What happens if you race out of division? See how well that works out.

So would you want to build a car that was sold from the factory as a STICK only and a few years after running it as an auto and suddenly it has to be a stick only? Ask the Camaro racers about that one, and see if you really want to go down that road. A hood is cheap compared to a drivetrain. Right is right, wrong is wrong.

Dustin,
That would be Tony Denysenko. Anything Ford, between his dad Alex and Tony they are a wealth of knowledge in these cars. Alex is a straight shooter and will not sugercoat anything. http://www.moneymakerracing.net/

Sean

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

82. If you look in the guide, absolutely nowhere does it say it has to be auto or manual. It does on the Capri, but not on the Mustang. That's what I saw, and (tech director) Dave Schaffel too. If I can find the email, it was confirmed in Glendora as well, and that was the email I had forwarded to me. It's their error, not mine. I had never intended to leave the division so it didn't bother me.

I do have an intake and carb for this still, for sale, if someone wants to build one.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Thanks for the info Sean. I'll make some contact with Tony Denysenko and see if he is willing to help steer me in the right direction. My car is an 84 RS so other than a 3rd brake light is identical to an 86.

I've owned and bracket raced fairly stock versions of 86, 88, and 91 fox mustangs and can attest to the fact that 86's have more potential than most folks give them credit.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

I`m a little confused. Although your correct in that a 84 Capri RS is basically the same as a 86, (83 as well), the only year a 302 was available in a Capri with a 2 barrel was 79 (stick or auto), or the 82 HO 2 barrel (stick only). As you are probably aware, a 79-82 Capri is fairly different looking than a 83-86. Is your 84 Capri RS a Turbo 4, a 5.0 CFI with an automatic, or a 4 barrel 5.0 with a 5 speed? The 84 4 barrel intake manifold has he same casting # as 85, and personally, I think the 85 4 barrel , which has a hyd. roller cam is a better combo choice, as the 84 has a flat tappet cam with less lift, but carries the same NHRA HP rating as the 85. Although the earlier 302 2 barrels have had their HP rating lowered several times in recent years (All the 2 barrel 302s were at 200 10 years ago), I`d be suprised if they stay that low for long. Currently the 302 2 barrel is rated considerably lower than a 258 cube AMC 6 cylinder!

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

I am currently running the 82 mustang 2 barrel 302 with a automatic-we ran it at the seattle nationals-the 82 capri 302 with a auto is also stock NHRA legal-both are currently running in Div-6 Brian Seaberg

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

My car is an 84 RS original 302 4 speed car that I picked up as a roller. I had hoped to run as a 2V with the auto and body it as an 82 because that seemed like a great starter combo for me. I falsely assumed the capri was classed the same as the mustang for 82. Anyhow, I have a pile of 86 efi components left from other projects so looking that direction so I can keep my body style.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

the 82 mustang and 82 capri are classed the same

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Thanks Brian. I looked at the guide not long ago and I was sure it was stick only. Looked again today and you are right it is listed for auto with 157hp 302. I will get in contact with Dave Schaffel to confirm and send you a pm if that is okay.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

your welcome-fyi-the carb venturi size is 1.21-yes you can PM me-brian

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

I ran the 82 mustang as a automatic a few years ago. Was not a world beater because then the hp was at 170 that put it in p/sa would run 13.20 in good air. Might get it back out now that they took some hp off.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Success? Maybe a little bit.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Be carefull with this one. I contacted a friend of mine with the local Ford rebuilder and he insists the part number quoted (D8ZE-TA) is a 1.08, not a 1.21. I have no issue either way, I was researching it for a friend of mine.

Jim Mantle V/SA 6632

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

I haven`t really looked into it much Jim, but I believe that the D8 carb is for the "regular" 2 barrel 302 used in 78 Mustang 11s,79 Mustangs and 78-79 Fairmonts etc, while the 82 only Mustang and Capris with the High Output 2 barrel 302s used a bigger carb (and camshaft as well.) The non HOs were rated at 139-143HP, the 82 HO was 157. Whatever the 82 HO carb # is, I`d bet it won`t have a kickdown lever on it.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

I know you can't believe everything you see on the net. Makes sense though, what the HO package would be in the year before the four barrel 302 came out.


http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1982-1...d-mustang1.htm

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

The 2 barrel HO Mustang also had a dual snorkel air cleaner, I believe it was the same air cleaner that was used on the later model 4 barrel Mustang's.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Similar, but not the same. The 82 2 barrel HO used a smaller air cleaner housing than the 83 thru 85 4 barrel models. Also, the lid of the air cleaner was basically flat on the 4 barrels, while the 2 barrel lid had a tapered dome. Both versions did have 2 snorkels, which were connected via plastic ridged tubing, to a plastic duct under each inner fender , that was directed behind the bumper rebar. I have ran my 85 Mustang with and without the air cleaner and ducting, didn`t seem to make any differance. I think any benefit from the fresh air was offset by the large aluminum air cleaner housing trapping the heat from the intake manifold, and heating up the float bowls.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Looked pretty accurate to me Mark. I test drove these cars while new in the showroom, and almost ordered a new 85 Mustang 5.0, and I still have factory sales brochures for 82,3,4,5,and 86 Mustangs, and Capris, which showed all the carburated 5.0 HOs were only available with a stick. NHRA may allow automatics , but Ford never made them that way.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

nhraracer.com has put out a notice today that the 82 model GT is stick only and has released pistons specs also.
Roland

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Glad I quit when I did! I wonder who complained?

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Piston specs are for 2011-2014 302 engine.

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Too much talk about it on Class Racer

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Nice, a guy has to almost keep everything a secret to run a car. What's the point in helping others out or building a car if you can't trust someone will take it out from under you?

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

If somebody chooses to build a real combination that was actually offered to the general public in a configuration that includes the transmission the engine was available with, there should be no issues. However, if somebody finds a loophole that they most likely KNOW is bogus, well, that sounds like cheating, and in a such a situation, you might want to keep such indescretions "top secret". Of course, if you get caught after the fact, with a bogus combination, well, should that be a big suprise? I doubt that anybody would be brazen enough to show up with a 67-69 Camaro Z/28 302 with an automatic, just because a less popular combination may not be as well known is no excuse to try to pull the wool over Tech and other racers eyes. I have no idea what caused NHRA to CORRECT the 82 302 Mustang and Capri MISTAKE, but it was a mistake, and I am glad it was corrected.
(ps), Obviously my first sentence does not apply to cars 2008 and newer!

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Well, if it's not legit to begin with you will always run the risk of losing out. (Unless you get NHRA on your side. Cases in point: 459 manifolds on 283s, automatic in a '70 Camaro 402-375, Holley carb on a 351 Cleveland, etc.)

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Still a darn good stick car!

Re: 302 Ford 2V
 

Agreed, and even the "low performance" 302 2 barrel for 1979 Mustangs and Capris is pretty decent at the lowered HP ratings, and they are OK with an automaic or stick.