1980 302 performance
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Elder User
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From: Geneva,Ohio
1980 302 performance
I have the engine out of my 80 f150 im curious as to what cheap bolt on performance upgrades I can do. It has holly 2 barrel carb everything else is stock,im an inline six guy this is my first v8
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2011
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Pretty much... the sky is the limit with the 302 vs. the 300.
And as far as mods go, there is nothing that really isn't bolt on anymore. The only limiting factor is your budget.
For instance, you could take a 289/302 and stroke it to either a 317, 331, or 347 with bolt in stroker kits. 4 bbl carbs, turbos, superchargers, aluminum intakes and aluminum heads, headers, cams, ignitions, oil pumps...
Pretty much, you name it.
You could easily build up a 302, but it'll never have the torque a 300 has until you stroke the 302. And even then, the money spent stroking a 302 you could've spent building a 351. Then it becomes the age old argument, "Well, if you wanted to stroke a 302, why not just get a 351? If you wanted to stroke the 351 and build it, why not get a 400, why not get a 429, why not get a 460...?" and on and on.
And as far as mods go, there is nothing that really isn't bolt on anymore. The only limiting factor is your budget.
For instance, you could take a 289/302 and stroke it to either a 317, 331, or 347 with bolt in stroker kits. 4 bbl carbs, turbos, superchargers, aluminum intakes and aluminum heads, headers, cams, ignitions, oil pumps...
Pretty much, you name it.
You could easily build up a 302, but it'll never have the torque a 300 has until you stroke the 302. And even then, the money spent stroking a 302 you could've spent building a 351. Then it becomes the age old argument, "Well, if you wanted to stroke a 302, why not just get a 351? If you wanted to stroke the 351 and build it, why not get a 400, why not get a 429, why not get a 460...?" and on and on.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2011
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For your truck (it's an 80, so I assume it isn't a feedback carburetor or TBI, right? I don't know specifics on TBI, feedback carb, DSII on 302's so I'm not sure.) I would recommend a high flowing intake manifold, a set of long tube headers, and a 600CFM 4 bbl carburetor for the most obvious bolt on performance gains. These are relatively easy to do and if you shop around right, you could do all this for around 500$.
If it's computer controlled though, that's a different story.
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IMO, keep the Holley carb, if it runs right, and put a dual exhaust with a crossover tube in on there, and drive it.
IF YOU MUST, go buy a JY 302 and rebuild it with 9:1 CR, a decent cam, a good 4bbl manifold, 500-600 cfm vacuum secondary 4bbl and small diameter long tube headers. 250 horse easy.
You can take your time and get what you want out of it, and do the swap in a week end.
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Elder User
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From: Geneva,Ohio
I'd say the hardest things about cam swaps are cam bearings, break in, and dealing with the harmonic balancer and timing gears and chain. It's actually not that hard if you've got a little mechanical inclination, some time, and some patience.
For your truck (it's an 80, so I assume it isn't a feedback carburetor or TBI, right? I don't know specifics on TBI, feedback carb, DSII on 302's so I'm not sure.) I would recommend a high flowing intake manifold, a set of long tube headers, and a 600CFM 4 bbl carburetor for the most obvious bolt on performance gains. These are relatively easy to do and if you shop around right, you could do all this for around 500$.
If it's computer controlled though, that's a different story.
For your truck (it's an 80, so I assume it isn't a feedback carburetor or TBI, right? I don't know specifics on TBI, feedback carb, DSII on 302's so I'm not sure.) I would recommend a high flowing intake manifold, a set of long tube headers, and a 600CFM 4 bbl carburetor for the most obvious bolt on performance gains. These are relatively easy to do and if you shop around right, you could do all this for around 500$.
If it's computer controlled though, that's a different story.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Rock Valley, IA
I don't know much about the SBF as I've only rebuilt my 460, but from the experience I would say it's not that difficult to rebuild a 302. The parts are probably much cheaper too.
Anyway, what I would say is this; how much money are you willing to spend on this project? That will determine what performance you can get out of it. You can get new domed pistons for a higher compression ratio, you can stroke it as 1983F150 said, you can get the decks on the heads planed to add to compression ratio, since it's already at the machine shop why not take your block in and have it bored .030 or .040 over...
The list can go on and on and on. There are many performance parts out there. Go to jegs.com, summitracing.com, jrmotorsports.com or any such sites and you can have your pick of the litter, as it were.
Anyway, what I would say is this; how much money are you willing to spend on this project? That will determine what performance you can get out of it. You can get new domed pistons for a higher compression ratio, you can stroke it as 1983F150 said, you can get the decks on the heads planed to add to compression ratio, since it's already at the machine shop why not take your block in and have it bored .030 or .040 over...
The list can go on and on and on. There are many performance parts out there. Go to jegs.com, summitracing.com, jrmotorsports.com or any such sites and you can have your pick of the litter, as it were.
Last edited by lavatan; Jan 26, 2012 at 08:11 AM. Reason: Typos
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Rock Valley, IA
I'm not sure how important it is on the SBF engines but if you do put a stroker kit in, you may want to take the crank, external balancer (if SBFs have one), pistons and rods to a machine shop and get it balanced. That will keep the engine from shuddering while it is running.
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OK, now don't hit me, but why would you give a rats rear about "performance" for a farm truck?
I grew up on a farm--the truck needs to start and run and stay running and it needs to be able to creep along as slow as possible for some jobs.
Tune it up, make sure it's safe and forget my prior post about a rebuild and 4bbl and all that other stuff.
Unless you have a drag strip on your farm....
I grew up on a farm--the truck needs to start and run and stay running and it needs to be able to creep along as slow as possible for some jobs.
Tune it up, make sure it's safe and forget my prior post about a rebuild and 4bbl and all that other stuff.
Unless you have a drag strip on your farm....