I'm looking to see what I can do to beef up my truck a little. It's 4 speed straight drive. I'm already in the process of putting shorty headers on it. I'm just looking to see what else can be done to get if more power. Cam etc...

 

Welcome to FTE.

Almost everything you do to an engine raises rpm at which you get peak power. Sometimes you kill low end doing it.

Making the engine bigger, all else remaining the same, lowers the rpm where you get peak power.

That year 302 in trucks was pretty weak at 139 hp if this is correct:

Engine_Specifications

The heads and cam are the problem. The "usual" advice with these is to leave them alone intake wise. The headers will be some improvement, but don't expect miracles.

The "usual" advice is a rebuild with better heads and cam. The other "usual" advice is a swap to a 351W, nearly a bolt in swap.

Conanski is the SBF guru in these threads:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-look-for.html

I'm having some issues with a slow search function today, but you can find all kinds of 302 talk in the SBF forum.

 

that year will have speed density EFI which has some limitations on what performance mods can be done. Exhaust is a great start, also consider having the Y pipe replaced with either an aftermarket or one bent up by an exhaust shop.

what size tires are you running? if your trying to turn bigger meats most engine mods wont help , a gear change will give proper results.