Just wanted to let you all know to avoid doing business with these clowns. I bought a 302 short block from them over a year ago. They sent me a 289 block, but I said oh well it has a 302 crank even though the block is weaker. On break in three lobes flattened out on the cam and after about a two month turn around they sent me a new cam. I had to buy my own gaskets and a new timing chain because they sent me a different style cam than the enginge came with. Well, back up and running I get 50 miles on it and it begins knocking. After tear down three cylinders and pistons a severely worn and the other 5 look like new.
The local machine shop says there was not enough clearance on those cylinders and that is why the damage from friction. Larry's has heehawed around and told me to email pictures which I have done twice. When I call they say they haven't gotten the pics. They don't return calls or answer emails. I am out about $1,400.00 and don't even have a useable block.
1964 1/2 Mustang (Teal Green), Ford 302, Bored .030 over, 3/4 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 Intake Manifold, Edelbrock 650 CFM Carb, Hooker Headers/Collectors, 2 1/2" Exhaust Pipes, H-Pipe, Summit Glasspacks, 15" Magnum 500's, Cooper Cobra 215/65 front - 235/65 back, Summit 3 1/8" Tach w/ Shift light, 105,000 Original Miles On Body, 2500 Miles On Engine, Interior and All Chrome/Decals are Original and in Great Shape!
Just wanted to let you all know to avoid doing business with these clowns. I bought a 302 short block from them over a year ago. They sent me a 289 block, but I said oh well it has a 302 crank even though the block is weaker.
Fail. Just fail. Not even close. Makes me wonder what you did wrong.
Thanks to the EPA and the new oil it's easy to wipe a cam on break in these days. Did you use an SM rated CI-4 diesel oil or a bottle of red STP?
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66 coupe 5.0/T5, home-brewed power 4 wheel disc setup, 350hp+, looks like it belongs in 1968
The 302 block has longer cylinders. The extra length isn't much, but the casting is different in that respect.
Actually they don't, I researched this and all the blocks I measured had MAYBE a couple thousandths manufacturing slop. A guy I know out in AL too it a step further and measured about 2 dozen blocks and found the same thing. Myth!
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66 coupe 5.0/T5, home-brewed power 4 wheel disc setup, 350hp+, looks like it belongs in 1968
I haven't measured any blocks but I have done a fair amount of research and everything I found was that the blocks are the same and the crank is different.
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05 - Zeon body kit, Saleen S/C, 3.6" pully, 90mm MAF, L/T Heders, Catted X-Pipe, Saleen Race Craft suspension, Axel brace, Pan hard bar. More to come this spring from my friends at PMP and Larry H.
65 - Street force coil over front suspension, Wilwood disk breaks at all 4 wheels, More construction in progress! More to come this spring from Simons Auto & Restoration!
This is what I'm referring to about 302 vs 289 eng. blocks. Apparently this info slipped through the cracks.
According to George Reid the author of, "High Performance Ford Engine Parts Interchange", S-A Design-Cartech Books
Quote: "The 302 blocks appeared for the first time late in the 1967 model year as 289 engines with casting numbers beginning C8AE and C8OE, sporting "302" in the valley area. It is not uncommon to find a 302 block that was cast and assembled during the Summer of 1967 as a 289ci engine. Though 302 blocks looked virtually identical to the 289 block, the cylinder bores had extended skirts to handle the 302's .019-inch longer stroke. This extended cylinder skirt reduced piston slap and improved stability for quieter operation."
Take it for what it's worth, it's just another example of the debatable and fascinating aspects of our favorite cars. ---Chuck
Larry"s Performance 
