I had never owned a 302 but drove my dads 95 f150 in high school. I used to burn the tires at red lights and around every corner on 31" tires. I recently purchased my 94 f150 4x4 with e40d. Im on 3.55 gears with 33x12.5 tires. The truck really is a turd. On hard rainy days i cant do a burnout or slide around turns. Towing my two jetskis will slowly hit 65mph but constantly downshifts because it cant keep up. I can go faster but fuel milage gets worse due to no overdrive. This is 850lbs worth of jetskis on a small trailer.
I havent checked compression yet but will in a few days. Im looking at a 26ft camper and plan to be hauling my jeep on a 18ft flatbed. As it sits i dont think the truck would move either without the gas pedal on the floor.
Im looking for someone who has a similar setup with a strong motor to get some insite. Im curious if gearing is hurting me that bad or if a worn 250k mile motor is my culprit. Even after a rebuild, i would hate for the truck to still not tow worth a frick!

 

Worn motor....In my opinion...Time for 351W swap.

Difference between my 300K mile 302 and a newer 351W F4TE with Roller cam is: Night and Day.

 

What do you mean no overdrive? The E4OD certainly has an OD ratio not that it is helping you in this case. Have you tried towing with OD locked out or is that what you're talking about?

With 33" tires your effective gear ratio is close to what it would be with 3.08 gears and the stock tires, and that simply won't do with a 5.0 under the hood. I suspect your motor is tired but even if it was fresh a 5.0 truck needs 4.10 gears minimum to be an effective hauler and that is with nothing bigger than 31" tire. So you need to go with even deeper gears or downsize the tires and do something with that motor.

 

I have OD, but to maintain my 60-65mph while towing the jetskis, it constantly down shifts out of OD and my rpm goes screaming just to keep up. Im assuming this is more of a gearing issue.
Tires are brand new and i love the size and look of 33's. I dont mind sacrificing a little. Ill get some compression numbers tomorrow and trans pressure specs if i have the right fittings.
Anyone here running 33's with a lower ratio? What are you running and how is towing and highway speeds?

 

You don't need to worry about making the motor scream... the 5.0 needs to rev to make power so you need to let it.

 

I know this aint my thread but what is the power band on a 5.0 in our generation of trucks? I get worried driving over 2500 rpms because its loud (im sounding like a woman)

 

I was referring to the rpm scream as horrible fuel mileage. I guess thats where i will sacrifice with bigger tires.
What ratio do you recommend to keep the 33's? I would rather sacrifice a little bit of low end and be able to cruise at 70mph

 

Don't bother rebuilding that garbage. A 5.0 has no business being in a truck that's going to be used as a truck. Put a 351w in it and 4.11 (or 4.56) gears and you'll have something.

If you're dead set on keeping that 302, put 4.56 gears in it. That'll be closer to 4.11 gears with the 33" tires figured in. Your power band is higher on the 302 than you probably realize. And getting into the powerband means you'll be using your fuel more efficiently.

 

I really didnt want this truck to be have major fabrication work which is why i was going back to a 302. Just did a ton of reading and i believe 351 is the way to go. Two questions i couldnt find solid answers to. Does the facory 302 fuel pumps supply enough for the 351? Do all accessories and brackets mount up?

 

1)yes, stock for stock. Same pump across the line all engines.
2)no, deck height is different between the blocks, brackets are different sizes between them.

 

Check the brackets for multiple unused holes. The front drive on my 95 302 had sets of holes to also fit the 351also.

 

Check the brackets on the front of the engine, on my 95 302 there were another set of holes to let the brackets mount to a 351.

 

302 towing is an oxy moron.


the cost and work is virtually the same whens wapping 302 to 351. junkyard is the source for any bracketry you may need, if of course the donor 351 doesn't have what you need on it already.

 

ANY time you hook to the trailer take it out of OD. It is THAT simple

3.55 gears, a 302 and 33" tires are what is killing you.

Either go back to stock size tires, put 4.56 gears, or put a different engine in and AND still re-gear or put smaller tires on

My 460 supercharged truck has 35s, 3.55s and I NEVER use OD because it just bogs it right out when towing

Unless you have a diesel. 3.55 are NOT for any type of towing

 

Should have got a I-6.. Sorry I had to do it. Diesel Brad is right keep that 302 out of overdrive and let it rev, and if that isn't enough you are going to need gears or a 351w.