1990 f150 302 to 390 swap
#1
1990 f150 302 to 390 swap
i have an 1990 4x4 ford f150 that i love but the only down fall is the 302 i use this truck to tow mid sized trailers up and over the mountain passes of washington once or twice a year and it has been taking a toll on my little motor i recently came upon a new (crate) 390 for cheap and i could not pass it up i have the a 5 speed throttle body 302 now and i was wondering how hard would a swap to the 390 be and what i might encounter along the way as far as hangups.
#2
#3
#5
Here you go...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...-150-pics.html
There would be very little difference between doing this on a 90 and an 85.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...-150-pics.html
There would be very little difference between doing this on a 90 and an 85.
#6
#7
The motor mounts and transmission will bolt right up. The exhaust manifolds and the front of the engine are about 2 inches wider. You may be able to cut the exhaust header Y pipe in the correct place and modify it to work. There will probably be a few minor issues with the accessories that bolt on the front of the engine. I don't know about the computer.
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#8
WHY ? The 351 W is the best simplest choice and with the right gear some free flowing exhaust and a few simple mods you will be pleased!My advice is to find a donor truck that will have all the parts especially since the 351 trucks have an oil cooler and usually the factory tranny cooler good luck and you wont regret it
#9
the intakes are different thats is it. every thing else will work on a 351w from a 302.but dont waste your time on building a ford small block if you are going to pull or haul stuff with your truck. go a head and do the 390 swap better motor for that app than a sbf.i my self am doing a 390 swap in a 95 f150 cause of the same reason as you too little power out of a small block. and before anyone goes and gets there panties in a bunch i like sbf in cars not truck.
#10
the intakes are different thats is it. every thing else will work on a 351w from a 302.but dont waste your time on building a ford small block if you are going to pull or haul stuff with your truck. go a head and do the 390 swap better motor for that app than a sbf.i my self am doing a 390 swap in a 95 f150 cause of the same reason as you too little power out of a small block. and before anyone goes and gets there panties in a bunch i like sbf in cars not truck.
#11
it would be easier to swap in a 460 then doing a 390 swap in any truck manufactured after 1985.
most 390s are great motors but not ball busters either especially in stock form. a 460 would be a way better choice.
I am all for the 5.8 in this case but understand that gearing in your truck is going to play the largest role when towing anything.
most 390s are great motors but not ball busters either especially in stock form. a 460 would be a way better choice.
I am all for the 5.8 in this case but understand that gearing in your truck is going to play the largest role when towing anything.
#12
I'll do a +1 for the 351 and a +.5 for the 460
You found out why the 302 isn't a very good truck motor. It was great in cars but never belonged in a truck.
The 351 would be a very easy swap and it has been documented several times on this site. It is a good truck motor especially with the few mods as mentioned and should serve you well for what you're doing.
I love the 390. I personally believe that it was one of, if not the best, all round motor ever made. Built for the purpose, it can do anything from low revving heavy towing to high PRM oval track duty. But in this case it would be more than it's worth to get it swapped in. The trans would have to be changed, motor mounts built from scratch, an entire front dress rounded up and a new exhaust fabbed (I would think manifolds could work but I doubt there's a header made for this apt). And after the whole thing is in you have to wonder if it would be emission legal in your area.
If you need more power that a 351 can give you then a 460 would be easier than a FE. You can get a lot of factory parts to make this work. There are also a couple of aftermarket companies that make parts to make this a bolt in. Plus those swap parts are relatively cheap and work.
On a side note, if you are pulling loads that require a big block then you may want to step up to a chassis to go with it. Getting a load up a grade is fairly easy but getting it down the other side safely is another story. You can get 460 powered 250/350s cheap these days.
You found out why the 302 isn't a very good truck motor. It was great in cars but never belonged in a truck.
The 351 would be a very easy swap and it has been documented several times on this site. It is a good truck motor especially with the few mods as mentioned and should serve you well for what you're doing.
I love the 390. I personally believe that it was one of, if not the best, all round motor ever made. Built for the purpose, it can do anything from low revving heavy towing to high PRM oval track duty. But in this case it would be more than it's worth to get it swapped in. The trans would have to be changed, motor mounts built from scratch, an entire front dress rounded up and a new exhaust fabbed (I would think manifolds could work but I doubt there's a header made for this apt). And after the whole thing is in you have to wonder if it would be emission legal in your area.
If you need more power that a 351 can give you then a 460 would be easier than a FE. You can get a lot of factory parts to make this work. There are also a couple of aftermarket companies that make parts to make this a bolt in. Plus those swap parts are relatively cheap and work.
On a side note, if you are pulling loads that require a big block then you may want to step up to a chassis to go with it. Getting a load up a grade is fairly easy but getting it down the other side safely is another story. You can get 460 powered 250/350s cheap these days.
#13
I'll do a +1 for the 351 and a +.5 for the 460
You found out why the 302 isn't a very good truck motor. It was great in cars but never belonged in a truck.
The 351 would be a very easy swap and it has been documented several times on this site. It is a good truck motor especially with the few mods as mentioned and should serve you well for what you're doing.
I love the 390. I personally believe that it was one of, if not the best, all round motor ever made. Built for the purpose, it can do anything from low revving heavy towing to high PRM oval track duty. But in this case it would be more than it's worth to get it swapped in. The trans would have to be changed, motor mounts built from scratch, an entire front dress rounded up and a new exhaust fabbed (I would think manifolds could work but I doubt there's a header made for this apt). And after the whole thing is in you have to wonder if it would be emission legal in your area.
If you need more power that a 351 can give you then a 460 would be easier than a FE. You can get a lot of factory parts to make this work. There are also a couple of aftermarket companies that make parts to make this a bolt in. Plus those swap parts are relatively cheap and work.
On a side note, if you are pulling loads that require a big block then you may want to step up to a chassis to go with it. Getting a load up a grade is fairly easy but getting it down the other side safely is another story. You can get 460 powered 250/350s cheap these days.
You found out why the 302 isn't a very good truck motor. It was great in cars but never belonged in a truck.
The 351 would be a very easy swap and it has been documented several times on this site. It is a good truck motor especially with the few mods as mentioned and should serve you well for what you're doing.
I love the 390. I personally believe that it was one of, if not the best, all round motor ever made. Built for the purpose, it can do anything from low revving heavy towing to high PRM oval track duty. But in this case it would be more than it's worth to get it swapped in. The trans would have to be changed, motor mounts built from scratch, an entire front dress rounded up and a new exhaust fabbed (I would think manifolds could work but I doubt there's a header made for this apt). And after the whole thing is in you have to wonder if it would be emission legal in your area.
If you need more power that a 351 can give you then a 460 would be easier than a FE. You can get a lot of factory parts to make this work. There are also a couple of aftermarket companies that make parts to make this a bolt in. Plus those swap parts are relatively cheap and work.
On a side note, if you are pulling loads that require a big block then you may want to step up to a chassis to go with it. Getting a load up a grade is fairly easy but getting it down the other side safely is another story. You can get 460 powered 250/350s cheap these days.
thank you that just goes to show that there are people out there that know what a real motor is. yes the 351w can do better than a 302 but still open up your wallet with all the things that you need to make it run right. hear is a list of what the 351w needs ( better flowing heads, cam, intake, headers, mufflers, better rods, and pistons,) now the 390 ( nothing) as for the headers go find you a 60 through 73 ford truck that have headers out of a junk yard.and it will fit the frames are the same on any ford truck.just the motor mounts are different.
#14
the 390 was never much of a powerhouse, the 351 is alot easier swap. i went from a 95 with a 302 to a 96 with a 351 and i pull 3 to 4 days a week and there is no comparison the 351 is an amazing engine. ive ran alot of 360s and 390s in trucks when i was younger but they were never a powerhouse. just my 2 cents. goodluck on whatever you decide
#15
thank you that just goes to show that there are people out there that know what a real motor is. yes the 351w can do better than a 302 but still open up your wallet with all the things that you need to make it run right. hear is a list of what the 351w needs ( better flowing heads, cam, intake, headers, mufflers, better rods, and pistons,) now the 390 ( nothing) as for the headers go find you a 60 through 73 ford truck that have headers out of a junk yard.and it will fit the frames are the same on any ford truck.just the motor mounts are different.