Hi

Recently I picked up a 1994 4x4 ext cab short box. It has the 351 with an auto transmission and I was thinking about swapping in a 302 to get better fuel mileage.

I can get a donor truck for $300 (1995 reg cab 2wd) which has the 302 in it.

The intent is that this truck will be my daily driver and hunting truck.

It will pull a light duck rig (boat/motor/trailer about 1200 lb) over mostly short distances (5 to 30 miles), with one or two longer trips each year (150 - 200 miles).

It will haul my quad around once in a while and maybe a load or two of firewood, but that's about it.

Mainly I will just drive it empty or near empty.

Hauling trailers and plowing snow will be done with my 2000 F250 4x4 PSD.

Here's the question:

Are the gains there to make this swap worthwhile or am I better off just keeping the 351 in the truck?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Chris

 

If the 351 is bad it might be worth it... If the 351 is good it will take a long time to recover the cost of the swap, if ever...

 

Bellieve it or not...the gas mileage is almost the same, maybe different by a mile or 2 a gallon. Not really worth it in my book. Very close with each other on mileage.

 

I just swapped a 5.8 in place of my ailing 5.0 in my '95. If your 5.8L is fine DON'T DO IT! The 5.8 has a MUCH easier time pushing that heavy truck around & well tuned, will get about the same MPG as the 5.0 as it has to work harder, especially with the towing/ hauling you have planned (even though its light). Not worth the cost & trouble at all!

 

Well you fellas are leading me towards what my reading has been telling me.

I will go over that 5.8 and see how it is. A compression check might be all I do - if it shows good on all cylinders then I will likely keep the engine (90% positive right now).

The truck ran well on the drive home (about 7 hours) and the body is in great shape as well.

Man, I sure do like the looks of these trucks!

Thanks for the responses!

 

FWIW the 5.8 I had in my truck delivered better milage overall than the 5.0 I have in it now. Don't do it man.