Was just talking to the wife and we are looking at making her 79 bronco into a daily driver for her. First thought I had was put a EFI 302 in it. What are some options that you guys would consider?? Our thinking is $25000 into the truck she wants versus $40000 into a new one.

 

If you could find a '90-96 F series or Bronco in good running condition you would have everything you need to do a 5.0 or 5.8EFI swap, the '92+ trucks are a bit more complicated with the speedo cluster and rear axle being necessary but then you also get a roller motor. If you opt for an '86-89 truck the EFI wiring is simpler but the fuel system is more complicated. A 5.0 Mustang would also make a good donor vehicle and so would a 5.0 Explorer but now you are into a much more complicated OBD2 system, but it's also a more refined platform with the potential for better performance and fuel milage.

 

Why not find a nice clean 79 bronco and install a Fast 2.0 efi system on it, self tuning system. Really sweet set up.

Self Tuning EZ-EFI 2.0 Fuelairspark.com

 

We actually have a fairly clean/strait 79 Bronco now. We were originally going to restore it as the fiancé's toy, but then the idea of a daily driver came up. We spend plenty on keeping our daily driving trucks fairly new so the though was lets put that same money into something else that she would love to drive instead.


I like the idea of the ez-efi system. Looks like a nice option for what we are looking for. Keeps it fairly simple for me.

 

I am going to add the big system to my bronco when I can save up the $$ for it, I know my 850 double pumper is holding back on some HP (would be cool of I could hit 700hp on 93 octane)

 

Lol. Well not really going for the high hp end here. Looking more drivability. She wants a mild smooth runner that cruises nice. Lol. She has already said she doesn't want it as loud as my short box. Lol.

 

I thought about doing this a while ago. My '79 Bronco came equipped with a 400M engine which was pretty anemic given its displacement. I ended up retrofitting late model 5.0 EFI to my 400M using Price Motorsports adapter plates and a modified Lightning lower intake mated to a Cobra upper. With a 65mm TB, 70mm MAF, 30 lb/hr injectors, long tube headers, and EDIS8 ignition, the 400M is super smooth running and makes roughly 300 hp, 450 ft-lbs of torque. With 4.11:1 gearing and 35" tires I see about 3000 RPM doing 75-80 mph on the highway and I can get up to 13-14 mpg with the C6.

A late model 5.0 from an Explorer with the 4R70W 4x4 transmission will actually bolt up to the NP205 and get you an overdrive gear. Requires full computer control, though. In any case, EEC-V control is worthwhile, fully tuneable, and that overdrive gear would be real nice for highway. Downside is that the 302's crank journals are a bit small for a '78-79 Bronco, which is why 351W and 351M-400M engines have 3.0" journals. A 351W mated to the 4R70W is a sweet combination, but again... requires full computer control so it's a bit of a project. Man oh man, is it sweet when it's done, though. I have this combination (stroked to 408) in a '71 Mustang.

 

There is no such thing as a 400m. There is a Ford 400. The 351m is a destroked 400.