I have a 1985 F150 currently with the inline 6 cylinder and the four speed transmission. I had an offer to get a V8 302 out of a 1979 f150 and wasnt sure what all is involved with this conversion.... if anyone else can give me any ideas id love to hear all about it or even if it should be considered. I am just fresh into the older trucks and want to learn all i can about mine.

 

The mechanical side of it is not too bad....the electrical and emissions is a different thing. The ignition on your 85' 300 should be EEC. That 302, I'm sure has a 2bbl carb on it. Trying to get the ignition, computer and fuel system to work is the challenge. You would have to convert it all over to a DSII (which is not difficult and there are threads on here on how to do that)

For the mechanical, the bellhousing on the 302 and 300 should match. You may need a different flywheel and clutch, if the doner is not a manual.

You will need a different radiator and associated hoses
Exhaust
The accessories should come over with the 302 (PS, alternator, etc...)
If you have AC and want to retain it, that may be a challenge in getting the right brackets.

Overall, not a real difficult swap, but not straight forward either.

 

You will also need to check your local/state emissions laws as you will be modifying the original emissions equipment, which in some areas you will not be able to get away with. As for Federal Laws...that's a whole different story.

And welcome to the forum!!! Do us a favor and edit your profile and list where you are and tell us a bit about your truck.

 

X2 on what Kev said. However, why would you want to change? The 300 six is a workhorse, a real truck engine. The 302 is a high revving engine suitable for a lightweight car. The 6 makes very good low-end torque, which is exactly what a truck needs. The 302 makes little little torque down low - in stock form. Yes, you can get some torque out of it, but it'll cost money and even then it won't have the torque of the 6 where it is needed.

 

Also, you will have to have different frame mounts for the motor mounts to mate to. The ones for the 300-I6 sit on the engine crossmember, the ones for the V8's attach on the back side. The swap isn't difficult, but the gains you would realize moving to the 302 will be dissappointing, in my opinions.

 

I just noticed you are in Ontario, Canada. We had a guy just a little while back having some problems, because they have "new" rules there that you will have to meet all the emissions stuff that originally came on the motor in 1985. He was going to have to replace his 86 302, with an older 289 because he didn't have all the emission stuff that came on the 302. I'm not sure if that would apply to you, but you should definitely look into it. It could be a deal breaker. Good luck.

 

I agree with Gary, I would keep the 6 it is easy to work on, simple to maintain, hard working, and as tough a motor as you will find.
I have had three 300 6s, one 302, and now own a 460, all in this generation of Ford trucks. I had good service with all, but enjoyed working on the 6 more, just having more room under the hood makes lots of chores easier. Just my 2 cents, the 300 (stock) is no speed demon, but a true work horse.

 

A good 300 is hard to beat. There aren't a lot of upgrades, but there are some. You can upgrade with an Offenhauser intake, headers, small four barrel carb, and cam and have a nice little hot rod motor, that is not the usual run-of-the-mill V-8. Careful though, with the emissions police.

 

I agree with what 86fordtruck has to say and enjoy reading of the performance upgrades which he and others have done or are working on, but one can simply choose to embrace the 4.9L/300 for what it is... a simple and reliable engine with good torque and sufficient horsepower for a daily driver / sometime work truck and save a lot of money.

 

Thanks all to the threads given me alot to think about, as i said im new to all this and just learning about the truck and all the possibilities it has, i may consider leaving the inline 6 in her not quite sure yet. just had the engine given to me so thought id think bout it...

 

Glad to find this discussion already exists. Needing to do the same thing to my truck: '84 F150 Stepside. I agree with everybody here about the 300 six being a workhorse, however, in my particular case, it's become a necessity because my 300 is real tired, leaking oil from pretty much everywhere, burning oil like it's gasoline, & I'm fairly certain it's pretty close to blowing. I have a fresh '74 302 shortblock I built a few years ago just sitting around, as well as a pair of heavily ported E6 heads & factory Ford foxbody Mustang shorty headers ready to bolt on. I live in Kansas, so I'm not too worried about emissions. My biggest concern is making sure the C4 tranny in the ol' girl'll bolt up to the 302. Any ideas on what flexplate I need, i.e. 157-tooth vs. 164-tooth? My 302's a 28oz engine, so I do know that much. Thanks in advance, guys.

 

The truth is I've done it depending on year of 302 it will fit in perfectly I did the swap of a heavy duty 1985 f150 to a light duty 1986 f150 the only issues I had were drivetrain not matching up had to replace rear end with mustang rear end and like the first guy said I had to rewire the whole truck engine mounts line up perfectly engine fit nice no need to change clutch or flywheel as long as ur 302 is an 1985 engine it will go pretty smoothly

 

Passenger vehicles built prior to 1988 do not have to be E-tested in Ontario.

You can swap but will need to have the emission equipment for an 85 302 "present and in place" to be legal.

"Present and in place" does not necessarily mean functional.

Thank God I live in Alberta where vehicles are inspected...never and as long as it safe (suspension, steering,brakes and lights) it's on the road.

 

Torque? - Welcome to FTE! I assume you realize that the previous response was 18 months ago. And JohnnyAce hasn't posted on FTE essentially since then?

As for placing a 302 where a 300 six has been, I assume that you replaced the perches but failed to mention that. Otherwise there are going to be major issues. As shown here, the perches for a six are ~5" forward from those of a V8. That's going to give clearance problems between the engine and radiator. And, it will mean a different transmission cross member will have to be fabricated. Plus, the driveshaft(s) won't work.

But, all of that pain and expense can be avoided by replacing the perches with the right ones for a 302. Then the engine mounts will fit perfectly, and the engine will sit where it is supposed to sit.

I say all of that because despite this being an old thread there are others out there reading the threads on FTE and we don't want them to get the wrong understanding.

 

Thank you, Gary.

I will close this thread to keep people from adding posts and arguing only over things like the virtues of this or that but with no real substantiation or evidence....