Need some motor advice

Well just got some bad news, just got my car back from paint and they said it had some engine problems. Pulled the heads today found out a valve had dropped and it sheared/destroyed the entire piston. It cracked the cylinder wall...looks like I will need a new motor. Anybody have any recommendations? I am looking for a new 302 and I have about 3500-4000 to spend on it. Not looking for a high end motor, just a nice new long block. Do you think this is a good budget for a new motor? Any recommendations for a good supplier?

 

I think 4K will get u in a decent engine, seeing as ur not looking for big power. I don't have any recommendations, but do think you should be in the ball park. I have seen some in the ads from some of the places like Summit and Jegs and I am sure there are others.

 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hpe-hp79m/overview/
This is the engine that I am looking at right now. Does any one know if there should be any differences in installation as compared to the 302 that came out?

 

this happened at the paint shop, was it a drive through body shop...

 

you may want a...short block... and put a good set of heads on it...

 

No they were pretty good guys, they actually did an amazing job on the paint. But I think they might have revved the motor way to high when I wasn't there and dropped a valve.... But no way to prove that.

 

I was thinking about that too, but I have never built a motor before so not really sure what all I would need etc... Any recommendations?

 

...did you drive the car to/at the shop?

 

I drove the car to the shop, and started it up a few times while I was there. When I came back one day they said it was having problems and I eventually found the problem.

 

The engine you are looking at has a 50oz external counterbalance. Your old engine is likely 28oz. You will need a new flywheel or flexplate depending on what kind of tranny you are running. No big deal.

 

I running the stock automatic transmission. But that should be the only real difference?

 

You will need a 50oz flexplate. The cam looks as if it may be an E303 roller. If so, you will need to change your firing order and distributor gear. That cam has a bit of a lopey idle. I would run at least a 3.44:1 or steeper rear end ratio with a higher stall torque converter if you retain that cam. You could swap in a stock 5.0 GT roller cam for a smoother idle and better low end torque. You could probably retain your stock converter with the GT cam.

 

The description says it comes with the damper and flexplate.

 

Correct but flex is included, maybe there's a choice of 157 or 164T flexplate?

Also says distributor is included...

Since it's a roller cam block, won't have a boss on the lower left rear for clutch linkage or auto trans column shift linkage(no issue if you have a auto floor shift)... Also appears to have a passenger side water pump inlet, timing pointer is on driver side, 302 from '70-up have a driver side water pump inlet...

If you decide on that engine I'd see if it's available with a '70-up water pump arrangement...

One last thing, '70 up use four bolt crank pulley vs the three of '69 & earlier, need to know which it has or maybe is universal?

 

The Summit ATK engine add states "cam has smooth idle", great driving manners, a cut above stock engine.