Thread: 302 interceptor out of a 72 fairlane

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I went down to a guy I know who keeps a bunch of old mustangs layin around for parts. I pulled a motor up out of a 73 mach I and thought I just got a plane jane 302. Well for 200 bucks it ought be alright. Make a long story short I pull the heads off and tear apart the motor. I aint rich so I dont go to a machine shop to clean my blocks and heads I clean them the backyard way. A few cases of Gunk and oven cleaner I had the heads back to cast Iron. My buddie and I were both stumped on the valve springs color. We both knew that stock heads for that year were like a blue ish color. Mines were oarnge and purple so we knew then it wasnt a cobra jet or a stock motor. We though maybe a HO. I decoded the casting numbers and wound up with a junkyard jewel a 302 with interceptor heads. After gunkin and pressure washing the block I got the codes off it and found I had the whole interceptor motor. Suprisingly after well over 30 years it still had the original main bearings and crank in it. The only mods to the block were a performer cam and lifters. Im writing to see if anyone knows of the compression ratio, bore stroke and etc on this motor. I know the heads have larger intake and exhaust ports but not sure about the rest of the block. Im also wanderin if anyone knows the orig hp and torque specs of this motor. By havin a rough idea than I can begin to estimate my hp after I port match install my aluminum 4bl intake, beefy cam and lifters, polished crank etc. Thanks

Sorry man, I've never heard of a 302 Interceptor except in late model Fords, so I have no idea of what you've got. I can't even find any reference to such a motor. So Solly.

As far as i know, Ford did not make a real interceptor in the 70s from a 302. What you may have is a police issue engine, which is a HO with a bit different heads. Im gonna go do some reading now.

What are the casting numbers on the heads and block?? Being it is out of a 73, it could have most any motor swapped in there over the years. Guess I never have heard of a 302 Interceptor???

My 73 Mach 1 had a 351C. I thought that was the standard engine for a Mach 1. I never heard of the 302 interceptor engine either. I thoght they used the biggest available engine as the base for the interceptor. My 69 Ford Police car had a 427 interceptor.
If you have the heads off you can measure the bore and stroke.
302 =4.00 bore 3.00 stroke compression ratio is 8.4
351 =4.00 bore 3.50 stroke compression ratio is 8.0 or 8.3
400 =4.00 bore 4.00 stroke compression ratio is 8.0
I found HP ratings from 122 to 135 HP for the 302s depending on year of manufacture.
Post your numbers so we can research it.

The code was something like D2OE AB from what the decode thing says d would be decade 1970's 2 being 72 O being a fairlane or torino AB being interceptor heads. The original engine was a 302 in it and it was pulled out years back. the heads gave a similar code D20E AB or BA cant remember, as far as we know though one person remembers the orig engine being pulled and swears the motor I had came of a fairlane so its very hard to say what the deal is. And reallly the codes may lie but Im goin by what they said, I will leave yall with the website when I have more time to post. As for now its up in the air, but one thing is certain my transmission is an FMX not a bad tranny durable. Well just wanted to drop a line so yall didnt think I was full of BS. LATER I think drg may be right it was a police issued engine.

I didn't think you were full of BS customx. You could be right and have a rare engine.
I guess Ford might have made a smaller police car option based on the Fairlane instead of the full size car for small town police departments with a smaller budget.
The code says 72 Fairlane/Torino interceptor heads but it doesn't say 302. The 351 was used in a lot of 72 Fairlanes though and I would think that would be more likely a choice for a police package. Check the stroke. The 351w looks a lot like the 302.
The compression ratios I gave were for for a stock engine. With special heads your's is probably higher.

you could be right about the small town thing and small budget, I live on the Eastern shore of MD what western MD's call poor country, and for the most part it is. Until the beach boom all of the eastern shore was nothing but small towns the big city of Salisbury has only 30k residents. Another thing is the motor is a 302 I understand what you are saying but when I checked the stamp on the pistons it said 302 right on them, not to mention there was no over bore. So from that being said I also checked the cam and matched it to the one layin in my 71 almost identical. IT is very intriguing, I believe it is more of a police issued option, the website http://www.gearheadracing.com/Refere...ingNumbers.htm states in one spot the O stands for fairlaine and then in one spot it states its a galaxie or ltd. I do not no how familiar you guys are with casting numbers but I have put them down one code 3F18477 (7?) The second which I used to decode it was D2OE-6015-AB-5A27 If you get a chance check out that sight maybe you can decifer what they are saying. Honestly it doesnt seem hard to believe. In my area finding a vintage mustang is a matter of driving around on the back roads. Then you can find one, generally a lot have an fmx or c4 in them. 351's are less to find usually they are yanked. my original motor was a 351 but was yanked a long time ago. Most mach 1s did have the 351's but some if not a good bit did have a 302. Rare odd balls seem common round here but we live in an area where rust on new cars can set in reel fast, very salty and marshy air. If any body could make sence of these codes Id appreciate it thanx.

I also forgot to mention about raritys in my area, I have the original not a reman or replica nasa hood, or whatever its called. The hood with the dual ports. I have the breather, and the duct work set up, and Im gettin anxious now, I wanna show on them chevy boys in my garage what this thing can do.

Those hoods are hard to find around here. I've looked in every junkyard within 50 miles and a few in Mass. and Ct.

I scanned the torque specs from a 1979 Motor's manual. They only go back to 74 but I think they're the same for the 72 302.

I can get you one of those hoods. I think my buddies uncle still has one like brand new the problem of course would be the cost to let it go, and the cost for shipping. Also check mustang monthly they have some reps in there for 300 I think.

Thanks but I gave up the search and sold the Stang with the stock hood. I only have a 65, a 66 and a 67 Mustang left. I would like a Shelby hood for my 65 but will probably just add a scoop to the one it's got. I still have a lot of parts left from a 73 convertible I parted out. Most of the good stuff is gone. I sold the seats on ebay for $500 to a guy who wanted me to strip them and just send the upholstery. They were avacado. A real ugly color that isn't available in a kit. I'm going to buy a dark green upholstery kit for the buckets and use them in my 73 Ranchero. I made $3000 on ebay from that car because of all the options it had.
I tried to sell the top switch for $25 but was forced to take $165 for it. I tried to sell the whole car for $500 first but nobody would pay that much for it because of the rust.