Trying to get more power
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Trying to get more power
Good afternoon, I'm looking to upgrade a few things on my 1986 f150 with the 302, 4 speed trans to give it a bit more power. Currently it has a 2.5" flowmaster exhaust with the cat removed, other than that the truck is stock as a rock. I was looking into possibly getting some shorty headers, switching out the stock throttle body for a throttle body out of a 5.0 mustang so I can install a cold air intake, and possibly installing an mds ignition kit. Any advice you guys have would be greatly appreciated. Has anyone done the throttle body conversion and know if it works? also if the ignition kit would add anymore power? Thanks for your suggestions.
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Thanks for the reply franklin, I'm looking for mostly empty power. My truck is my daily driver, and occasionally my camping truck. The most I put in it is camping gear for my wife and myself and sometimes an ATV. Currently the truck has the 3.55 rear end, t-18 4 speed manual tranny and the 302.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
You can do some little mods to it, but you can't go crazy since the electronics on your engine are speed density. In other words the factory tested the stock engine, found out what it needs to run, and set that in stone in the computer with look-up tables. That's why the mustang guys like the mass-air system which can adjust for engine changes.
You might want to go to a mustang forum and see what they are doing to a 302 for power. I am not much up on some of this stuff, but is there possibly a mass-air conversion kit for the trucks?
You might want to go to a mustang forum and see what they are doing to a 302 for power. I am not much up on some of this stuff, but is there possibly a mass-air conversion kit for the trucks?
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Your efforts won't produce very much in gains on this truck application.
As mentioned it is a Speed Density system.
The cam profile is for truck application and so has it's max torque at about 1800 rpm with max HP at about 3200 rpm then it's about done pulling hard.
Short headers only causes a loss on torque under such conditions.
Making the throttle body larger also cause more air the EEC is not expecting and tends to be a loss because the program cannot account for it like a Mass Air system.
There used to be a Mass Air conversion offered but it may no longer be available.
Replacing the cam with a longer profile in an attempt to move the power band upward also runs against the program. What happens is the MAP sensor detects intake vacuum and fuels the motor from the signal.
If the intake vacuum is reduced from longer cam profiles it makes a mess of drivabilty, starting and idle.
Sorry to dampen your desires but you should know what you have before spending money and effort and get a result worse than stock, in the end.
Good luck.
As mentioned it is a Speed Density system.
The cam profile is for truck application and so has it's max torque at about 1800 rpm with max HP at about 3200 rpm then it's about done pulling hard.
Short headers only causes a loss on torque under such conditions.
Making the throttle body larger also cause more air the EEC is not expecting and tends to be a loss because the program cannot account for it like a Mass Air system.
There used to be a Mass Air conversion offered but it may no longer be available.
Replacing the cam with a longer profile in an attempt to move the power band upward also runs against the program. What happens is the MAP sensor detects intake vacuum and fuels the motor from the signal.
If the intake vacuum is reduced from longer cam profiles it makes a mess of drivabilty, starting and idle.
Sorry to dampen your desires but you should know what you have before spending money and effort and get a result worse than stock, in the end.
Good luck.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 907
Likes: 6
From: nw pa.
hey
i had the same problem.302 gut less in a truck
so i swapped in a 351w, with a carb great improvement.
bye bye efi...
i had the same problem.302 gut less in a truck
so i swapped in a 351w, with a carb great improvement.
bye bye efi...
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You can make as much power as you want with a 302, but it depends on what you want to spend. These trucks do respond to your basic hot rodding parts. Headers, intake, ignition, pulleys, exhaust and gearing.
It's better to use long tube headers than shorties, 85-86 truck intakes are oddballs and you might consider changing to the later 87 newer accessories for a number of reasons besides intake tubing, you can do as the mustang guys and advance timing for instant improvement and also coils, wires, spark plugs and there is a popular thread about the 6 liter tuneup thats good info,if you change over to the newer accessories you can get pulleys, there are a few opinions about exhaust but exhaust will improve power and gearing will improve acceleration of course.
Becoming familiar with the injection system is key and with the right parts it can do a lot. And it's always helpful to keep your eye out for good used parts and donor trucks. There is a lot of hands on involvement on this site and has great advise and information.
A stock mustang throttle body does not bolt onto a stock truck intake.
It's better to use long tube headers than shorties, 85-86 truck intakes are oddballs and you might consider changing to the later 87 newer accessories for a number of reasons besides intake tubing, you can do as the mustang guys and advance timing for instant improvement and also coils, wires, spark plugs and there is a popular thread about the 6 liter tuneup thats good info,if you change over to the newer accessories you can get pulleys, there are a few opinions about exhaust but exhaust will improve power and gearing will improve acceleration of course.
Becoming familiar with the injection system is key and with the right parts it can do a lot. And it's always helpful to keep your eye out for good used parts and donor trucks. There is a lot of hands on involvement on this site and has great advise and information.
A stock mustang throttle body does not bolt onto a stock truck intake.
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