This is Great Friend! I am girlie that loves Square bodied trucks, love these 80's small square trucks. Always wanted one. Love how you swapped a similar size motor, make more sense. You did great would love to see longer videos and more details. Can't wait till you paint it...hey, you could make a sleeper out of it, what do you think!? Awesome! 😎🛻
Fun build, I have considered using a 302 myself. I have done some research and if you use a 90s explore front belt drive it is 1.5" to 2" shorter making it to where you don't have to move the radiator support. You talk about the 302 being narrower than a ls. I am finding maybe the ls is similar in width too. Oh well will be watching for updates. Thanks.
LS is wider by 3/4" for the truck blocks to valve cover, it's 1" taller, and about the same length depending on accessories. Al heads and intake bring the 302 in 20-40lbs lighter. The T5 saves him 100+ lbs over any automatic for the LS.
Right choice on the motor. Awesome valve covers. 302 still has all the goodies and once you got the basic architecture in there, you're home-free for cheap parts. At that power level, a rebild could net you near-Toyota power/weight reliability. You can make that engine exceptionally reliabile. .060 over on a stock block is nothing really, you're not boosting it. Just because people threw cheap speed parts at these things doesn't mean they can't be built to last with care, and for cheap.
