I have a '74 Glastron with 350 hours on it. It was powered by a 302, 200 hp V-8 ford, Volvo 270 drive. I bought it new and we used to live on a lake hence the few hours.
Anyway, it was stored for over ten years and now I am revitalizing it. In storage two freeze plugs had popped out. I thought I had thoroughly drained it. I put in a battery and it wouldn't budge.
I thought the engine was frozen up and with a bad bit of troubleshooting I concluded that something was locked up in the engine. It was the starter, though, I found out after pulling out the engine.
In the meantime I had bought a new crate mid 90's Explorer Long block which would give me roller tappets and GT40 heads.
I rounded up some OMC EFI components and thought I would put together an EFI Explorer 302 engine.
Then I found the old 302 was in pretty good shape with hardly a ridge in the cylinders. It's weaknesses were that it was an older engine, it had a Glastron. One of its weaknesses is that it has a log style exhaust manifold with "Glastron" embossed in the casting. Nobody seems to know much about it and gaskets seem impossible to get, that is gaskets beyond the ford head bolt-up manifold.
In the meantime I decided that the EFI is too complicated to retrofit (I put them on Ebay, if anyone is interested." Now, I wonder whether I should stick in the later Explorer engine or go back to the original. I think I could get a few more horsepower out of the Explorer plus have an newer engine.
So, here I sit, wondering which way to go. Rebuild the older engine or go to the newer one.
Ideas, anyone? Here is your chance to throw in your two cents.
Jim
Anyway, it was stored for over ten years and now I am revitalizing it. In storage two freeze plugs had popped out. I thought I had thoroughly drained it. I put in a battery and it wouldn't budge.
I thought the engine was frozen up and with a bad bit of troubleshooting I concluded that something was locked up in the engine. It was the starter, though, I found out after pulling out the engine.
In the meantime I had bought a new crate mid 90's Explorer Long block which would give me roller tappets and GT40 heads.
I rounded up some OMC EFI components and thought I would put together an EFI Explorer 302 engine.
Then I found the old 302 was in pretty good shape with hardly a ridge in the cylinders. It's weaknesses were that it was an older engine, it had a Glastron. One of its weaknesses is that it has a log style exhaust manifold with "Glastron" embossed in the casting. Nobody seems to know much about it and gaskets seem impossible to get, that is gaskets beyond the ford head bolt-up manifold.
In the meantime I decided that the EFI is too complicated to retrofit (I put them on Ebay, if anyone is interested." Now, I wonder whether I should stick in the later Explorer engine or go back to the original. I think I could get a few more horsepower out of the Explorer plus have an newer engine.
So, here I sit, wondering which way to go. Rebuild the older engine or go to the newer one.
Ideas, anyone? Here is your chance to throw in your two cents.
Jim
