Rep Power: 0

hi guys . i am new to mustangs i just picked up an 84 5.0 for 50.00 form a guy who lived in apartments and couldn't have broke down cars he had 2 days to get it fixed or it would be towed . so any way i have it now and i'm waiting on a hei distributor with the one wire hook up , he told me there is a big aggressive cam in it , new holley carb , edelbrock performer 302 intake with 1" carb spacer ,new exhaust , it has headers ,and the old 5 star wheels , and like new tires (for now) . it suppose to be a 5.0 out of a capri the old motor crapped i guess . i want to find out if it is the 302 or 351 for sure what do i look for ? there is numbers behind the head on the driver side but i called them in and they said that it isn't the number i need .

 
Rep Power: 786

The spark plug firing order is one way to tell, but you can put a 302 cam in a 351 or vice versa.

Also the 351 looks like the 302 just bigger. The deck is about 1 inch taller so the width of the intake manifold is bigger. I think the intake manifold on a 302 is roughly 9" wide while the 351 is 11" wide. If you look where the distributor goes, the height from the base (pretend the distributor is not in there) to the top rail where the front of the intake manifold seals to, is differant. On a 302 it will be 3/4 of an inch where as the 351 will be about 1-3/4 inches, if you are able to look at them side by side you will be able to see the differance very easily.

 
Rep Power: 0

oh o.k thanks . its probably a 302 then since the intake is a performer 302 and the intakes will not interchange .

 
Rep Power: 713

That would be correct. Sounds like 1 hell of a score good luck with it!

 
Rep Power: 753

Sounds like a good score! Is it a 5 speed or an automatic? As for a distributor, double check with the PO to see if he installed a newer roller motor in it. The gear on the distributors is different, and should be changed to match the type of cam installed. If it's a flat tappet unit, you'll be ok with the older factory Duraspark distributor.
Either way, sounds like a hell of a deal and it could put out anywhere from 200-260hp depending on the mods and whatnot so try to find out exactly whats in there. And post some pics!
SS

 
Rep Power: 753

Any updates???
SS