Revisiting this topic in the daylight, tape in hand, obtains the following update:

It appears that the 544's steering column can be kept entirely above a 289/302's exhaust manifold. This is a good thing because the manifolds extend to 10-1/4 inches from engine centerline, but the steering column comes to within 9-1/2 in. of the car's centerline, and it will obstruct spark plug servicing and crowd the valve cover.

The engine measures 20-1/2 in. wide across the manifolds, except at their rear exit connections where 24 in. width occurs. The 544 frame horns have only 21-3/4 in clear between them, with less at the flanges at their bottom surface. Thus block-hugging, low-exit manifolds or shorty headers will be needed.

There is just enough room for the heads and manifolds to stay to the rear of the steering box and right side idler arm housing, but the oil filter and probably fuel pump will have to be remotely located away from the steering box.

The engine is much longer than a B18 so a different radiator will have to be placed way forward, just behind the grille, and made low and wide. The radiator support sheet metal will have to be cut away accordingly and the front hood hinge perhaps abandoned in favor of rear hinges like an old Jeep's. Enlarging the bell housing tunnel at the firewall could gain a few useful inches of rearward engine positioning. Special 302's with small diam flywheels and bell housings were built for '70's Mustang II's I think.

The engine oil pump's location and downward extension from the block remains a conflict with the 544's crossmember, regardless of oil pan shape. Ford innards in a custom-made, less tall oil pump housing looks like a remedy, along with revised pan and pickup plumbing. See "How to Rebuild Your Small Block Ford" (HP Books) for details of the engine's construction and external accessories.

The 544 heater air inlet would need relocating as a minimum.

This seems like an exacting, shoehorn job that would be a challenge to devise and build, and an exasperation when servicing engine internals, clutch, or trans. Fortunately it's practical to unwrap all of the car's front sheet metal from around the engine and to drop the front suspension and crossmember, as one unit, out from under it.