Engine Swap for a 1st timer - '68 289 for '87 302. HELP!

[AMurderOfCrows]

I'll skip the backstory.

My '68's old 289 blew, and i'm replacing it with an 87 302. The 87 was carbed, so i'm okay there. my problem right now are the pulleys.

i was told to use the front dress and parts from the 68....including the alternator, power steering pump, etc.

the (crankshaft? harmonic balancer?) pulley from the 87 is too large to put the fan pulley back on, and doesn't line up with the grooves for the belts in the pulleys of the alternator or the power steering pump.

the same pulley off the 289 only has 3 bolt holes, whereas the 87's has 4, so it doesn't seem like i can just swap them.

also, i was told to get an MSD ignition box for my stang because the new engine would need it, but the used one i bought really didn't have any instructions, so i have NO CLUE how to apply it between my 87 engine and the 68 wiring.

can someone out there guide me to what i need to do to get my pony running again? I've just about run out of money for the project, so cheapest and simplest solutions are greatly appreciated.


i'm NOT a car person, so layman's terms are best, but i can figure things out pretty easily with guidance.

Thank you!

[AMurderOfCrows]

anyone? i really need some help here

[Scottem]

I put a carbed 77 302 in my 68' and had the same issues. Ended up using the 77' pulleys and ignition. It was easy because the electronic ignition had a msd like ignition box that just plugged in. It won't matter what alternator you run, they're all basically the same. You could even run a one wire GM alternator if you wanted to.

You must use the same balancer and water pump your engine came with and there's no way around the pulley issue. Nobody makes a "engine set of swap pullies".

One option is to get rid of the water pump pullie and go with a Mezere electric pump (expensive).

Hope this helps..

[Scottem]

I'm sure you know, MSD makes a complete ignition for your set up. It works well !!

[AMurderOfCrows]

thank you for the response...i was beginning to worry....


okay, i don't have the ignition from the 87, just an msd ignition box i bought.....

i don't have the alternator or the power steering pump from 87 either...it only came with the EFI unit. i ask about those because the pulleys on them do not line up with the harmonic balancer pulley....so i'm completely at a loss as to what to do next on that line....do i just replace the pulley? do i need to replace the whole alternator and PS pump? can i adjust to fit both around the HBalancer pulley and use an electric fan?

[Scottem]

I think the real culprit are the stock brackets used to hold the accessories. If your missing them, maybe a salvage yard or even some nice billet brackets from March Performance would be to your liking. I didn't have power steering and did by-pass the water pump altogether with an electric unit so getting my alternator to line up with the crank pulley was very easy.

Are you using or have the stock accessory brackets? With the March Perf. pullies, my water pump would line up just fine but I opted for a cooling option I've only seen on street rods. Allowing my engine to cool down with the engine off and coolant circulating via electric fans and electric water pump. In S.C. thats very useful...
Don't forget to drill a hole in the thermostat to allow circulation when the block cools off.


Are you going to keep the P/S on your ride? Auto parts stores carry the PS pump/ alternator and March Performance sells pullies and brackets for your engine.

Hope all this helps..