im not sure if your not willing to rev it higher or that it just wont rev higher. 5000 is nothing for a 302. its when you go over 6000 that things are at risk on a stock bottom end.
The thing is, i wont know untill i actually pull the heads. It may be 30 over for all i know (probably not) It is a tight motor. It had some work done to it when i got it. Under the valve covers was/is clean and so was the valley for the lifters.
i wasnt asking what heads do you have. i was asking if the motor can rev past 4500 rpm or are you just limiting it your self. weak valve springs will keep the motor from being able to reach high rpms and was thinking that if the motor wont rev past 4500 rpm then you probly have weak springs. if your limiting it your self then just ignore the springs. if the motor just wont go that hi then you may want to replace the spings or if it will rev past that then dont worry about them.
I didnt say what heads i have, we were talking about risking the bottom end. I may be limiting myself but im skird ill go to high and blow it up I may just wait and put the granada heads on for right now.
bring that thing up here tomorrow and if we blow it up I will give you my new motor that is on the stand . we will find out how high it will rev. see ya tomorrow????
Back when my car was driven it seen 7000 several times. I think my points were wat was holding it from doing anymore. Of course shifting at 7000 doesn't mean that that was the best shift point. I was trying stuff
I'm so confused.:16suspect What is different between the 2 sets of heads and why are you scared to rev it???? How is pulling the heads going to tell you if the bottom end can take it????
A dead stock 302 from Ford will pull to 4800 easily and it will rev far past that without damage. If you put your foot to the floor and hold it there it should shift (in drive) at 4800 rpm. With stock rear gearing that is 35 - 45 mph when the 1-2 shift happens and well above 60 when the 2-3 shift happens. With a C4 doing its own shifting you can't hurt the 302 unless it has a problem with bad bearings (you would hear that) to start with. If the engine seems in good condition just take it someplace that will allow speeds up to freeway speeds and just put it in drive and hold your foot on the floor.
as stated above, if your transmission is in OK shape you are not going to hurt that motor by putting it in drive and holding your foot to the floor. IIRC a stock C4 shifts from 2nd to 3rd gear around 65-70mph when you are pushing it hard. I know for a fact that the C6 in my Galaxie shifts dead on 70 and if you mash it to the floor it will downshift from 3rd to 2nd as long as you are under 70 mph. If you put that car in drive and mash it to the floor and hold it there and it is still shifting at 4500 rpm's or below, then I think the other statement above is probably also correct you probably have weak valve springs.