It is almost time to frshen up the 1975 302 in the Maverick. I have a set of 69 - 70 351w heads that have been ported, larger valves, screw in studs and guide plates. I was thinking about replacing the 75 302 with a newer roller 302 short block. I realize I may have to change the valve springs on the heads and also measure for the correct length push rods, but is there anything else that could be problematic? I assume a new roller block would bolt up to the C4 and use the same flywheel, flexplate, and balancer (damper). Surely someone here has experience with this.
The roller wil need a 50 oz balancer and flexplate. If you have a case fill C-4 then that'll be an aftermarket only part (157 tooth-50 oz/in) The stock length roller pushrods should work fine. Everything else is the same as far as bolt patterns go. The rollers do use alignment dowels to line up the timing cover where your 75 doesn't, you can use the 75 cover, but be sure to pull the dowels outta the roller block (if they're present, in the bottom two cover holes) if you want to use the dowels, get an early 80's std rotation timing cover that has the matching bottom holes for the dowels (or up to a 91 Crown Vic cover)
351W uses 1/2" head bolts, the 302 uses 7/16 head bolts. You need the spacer kit for the bolts to reduce the holes in the heads. SPark
