I drove an hour spent all afternoon pulling a motor out of a 92 Ford van, I couldn't read the plenum until it was already pulled... Owner kept claiming it was a 351, even after he saw the plenum. But now that it's next to the 351w in my 1987 it's definitely smaller.

What's involved with swapping my 351 to a 302? Will my accessories swap to the block? I want to use my stock carb. It looks like I'll need a new intake manifold at least. Maybe a new distributor too? How disappointing. Should I truck back out there and get my money back???

 

I would get my money back, you legally have 3 (business?) days to do that.

Accessories will work but mounting brackets are different.

 

The 302 being physically shorter could cause some exhaust fitment issues, etc.

 

The Cooling-Off Rule: When and How to Cancel a Sale

 

everything but the intake and oil pan will fit as it should if you change the oil pump to a 351 then your dizzy will work

 

What kind of vehicle did you buy the motor for? Personally, I have a 302 in my F100 that is showing it's age, and everyone says I should swap to a 351, but I love the 302's ability to rev higher, and, from what I read the horsepower ratings were pretty close. It's a personal preference I suppose, but if you put it in a light duty pickup where you may not need the kind of torque the 351 makes, you might find you like the 302 better.

 

The motors going in an E350 15 passenger van... It looks like the 5.0 even has a different firing order than the 351. So there's at least 4 issues: intake, distriubutor/oil pump, exhaust, accessory brackets. I bought the motor for $400 cash off of craigslist... It's too bad because the motor runs perfect and the oil pressure checked out on my manual gage.

 

The 302 will work if you get it fitted, but will be a bit overworked in an E-350. FWIW, the front of the block is noticeably taller on a 351 than a 302.

 

The 302 motor we pulled had a serpentine setup with lots of brackets and a massive EFI setup so I couldn't get a good look at the block. The guy feels bad and is offering to get the parts to make this work. I'm hoping he'll be reasonable and let return it and get my money back. He said it was a 351 and it wasn't. I don't ever tow with the van, but I wouldn't want to have any less power than before.

 

You are going to HATE the 302 in that van. They were guttless in a short bed pickup

 

I called the guy and he's pissed. He doesn't want to give me my money back and claims it's my problem even though he swore it was a 351W. He says now he can't sell it because it's already pulled and the buyer wont hear it run. Either way I'm bringing the motor back to his place tonight and chewin him out.

 

I've been in situations like this before where things went lemony, and if history is a good lesson I'd suggest bringing a buddy with you and at the very least a unconcealed piece to carry with you. Not to threaten or anything, because that certainly won't acheive anything but remorseful apologies to a judge months later, but rather to carry just as a deterrent and a last resort.
It's helped keep a level playing field for me

Most importantly though, good luck and stay safe

 

I'd leave a nasty remark on CL about what happened to you.


Years before the internet sales sites my friend got burnt just the same way. The upper intake even said 5.8L on but it was put on a 302 block. Best way to check for 351W engine is look at the T-stat bolts, if you can get stright to BOTH of them, the engine is 351W if not its a 302.

The guy had a change of mind after 20 of us showed up.........

 

I like all the suggestions so far, especially the part about taking plenty of friends...the bio kind, AND the iron kind.

Did you get a bill of sale with the engine size stated on it, by any chance??

This whole deal is no good. He should give you your money back. (if he still has it and hasn't snorted it all up yet...)

BTW, where are you located? Hopefully not in Florida. They have that stand your ground thing down there, might get you both shot. If you were here in SC, you could just whack 'em with a crow-bar or sumthin...

 

Pardon the language, but have you beat dat *** yet?

I hope you haven't ended up in jail for fighting.

I'd definitely be getting my money back and he'd have his POS 302 back.