4.9l's usually max out between 200-300hp...

Most v8's start at that...

I've been looking into costs of a swap, etc...

And looks like $1,500 is gonna go further with a v8...counting buying the engine, etc...

 

Without reading this whole thread the 300/ 302's are very comparible. A properly tuned and geared 300 pulls harder than any stock 302 I've seen. The problem with every 300 was Ford's poor choice of gearing. 2.73's and 3.08s are useless behind this engine. Every truck should have come with at least 3.55's. I personally dumped my stock 2.73's, went to 3.55's and couldn't be happier. Save your money and change your ring and pinion.

 

I've got one...a LSD, 3.55 to be exact...Just waiting to go in...

Funds aren't flowing as I'd like, at the moment...

 

We had one of the earlier 351 engines with efi, and it was no hell either. It did have a little more power then any stock 302 I had, but got about 35 percent worse fuel economy.

I love the 302 in a daily driver half ton, and it totally kicks *** compared to anything else that came stock in these years of trucks.

I realize for you guys that tow and work your trucks a little harder then I work my old truck (I have a diesel for the real work) you may like the low down torque from the 300, or the higher torque from the 351.

But for us guys that just use our half tons for burning around with the odd thing in the box, in stock form, the 302 is hard to beat!

 

Yeah.. depending upon what year the truck was you could be left pretty unimpressed by a 5.0 or 5.8. My Father had a '78 E150 with a carbed 351 and that thing was a gas guzzling slug, but then he got an '86 with the 351HO in it and man what a beast, I loved that truck. Then Ford went backwords again with the early EFI motors, there was almost nothing to distinguish an '88-91 5.0 from a 5.8 from the drivers seat, if you never opened the hood you probably wouldn't know what motor you had because they were both pretty lame and had pretty much the same power output.. which was just barely enough to maintain highway speed on level ground. From '94 on Ford installed a cam that actually opened the valves enough to let the engine to breath somewhat decent so these trucks preformed much better, but if you have never driven something that new or swapped an aftermarket cam into an older motor you wouldn't know the potential lurking under the hood just dying to get out.

 

I have a 91 bronco with 5.0 some mods. Was gonna swap the 5.0 auto for 5.8 5speed. I just picked up a 95150 xcab with 4.9 5speed. WOW!! This little stright 6 totally puts the gas hog 5.0 to shame!! I have started looking for a 4.9 for the bronco now.

 

One thing in the 300's favor that no mentioned is straight sixes are easier to work on. Lots of room on either side of the block.

 

Problem is a none of the 5.0 trucks were geared properly either and once that's done the little V8 has the advantage right back again, then throw a few simple upgrades on the motor and it's making the kind of HP a 4.9 can't match for anywhere close to the same cost.

Did I mention my truck got 18.5mpg US on a 70mph cruise down to Montreal and back yesterday.

 

One of my favorite parts....

 

The 300 needs 3.55 gears and 5speed. But yes an empty half ton dd needs a 302

 

For a DD or commuting truck the 302 is nice. But for doing the work of towing, hauling, and pulling I'd go 300. Just look at both cranks to see why.

 

Is it possible to just pull a 300(4.9) and drop in a 302/351 and have everything match up? I mean you would have to get a different wiring harness and all those little things. But are the mounts the same?

 

No...

Different radiators, engine mounts, and if a manual transmission, different flywheels, etc...

 

sidewinder; you've been on the i6 forum enough to know what to do here. [don't mean to sound rude] just trying to say keep the 6. you won't have to change any mounts, crossmembers, wiring, or other stuff associated with engine swaps. and just for kicks go to u-tube and click on "6cyl ford outpulls bigblock chev"

 

You're correct...(No offense taken)...
It'd be an EASY $500+ to get all the parts needed to do the swap, given I already had a 302....