302 or 351 w ???
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302 or 351 w ???
Hi guys ,
My 78 F150 has a 351 windsor in it , I think originally it had a 302 .
I want to replace the engine with a new one but I'm not sure what one to buy . This may start an argument but I want to know what engine is better ?????? and if the 302 is a better engine will the tranny off the 351 fit it ?????
Thanks for any and all opinions .
Frank
My 78 F150 has a 351 windsor in it , I think originally it had a 302 .
I want to replace the engine with a new one but I'm not sure what one to buy . This may start an argument but I want to know what engine is better ?????? and if the 302 is a better engine will the tranny off the 351 fit it ?????
Thanks for any and all opinions .
Frank
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Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Somerset, Pa
302 or 351 w ???
Stay with the 351W!!
I had a 302 in my truck originally, granted it was a good engine but I couldn't the the truck to go as fast I wanted it too.
I got tired of driving a slug and put a windsor in, now the truck is REALLY fun to drive. AND the gas mileage stayed the same.
The tranny is the same between the 2 as are the motor mounts. They are directly interchangeable if you would decide to downgrade.
I had a 302 in my truck originally, granted it was a good engine but I couldn't the the truck to go as fast I wanted it too.
I got tired of driving a slug and put a windsor in, now the truck is REALLY fun to drive. AND the gas mileage stayed the same.
The tranny is the same between the 2 as are the motor mounts. They are directly interchangeable if you would decide to downgrade.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: columbia
302 or 351 w ???
Yes keep the 351 it will produce loads more hp than a 302. Plus it can be bored to at least a 390 the 302 has a smaller engine block than the 351w. the 302 is a higher, quicker reving engine but can't compare to the hp potential of a 351w.
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302 or 351 w ???
if youre looking for the difference between a 302 and a 351 w, check out my thread called i need 350 hp, and quick!! Theres two guys in there that will sum it all up for you, as i am also curious between the two
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302 or 351 w ???
Hi the_jugwa , thanks for the referral but it's still not what I'm looking for . I needed a truck for hauling wood , gravel , manure for my garden , you know basic truck stuff . I also needed a second vehicle for basic transportation , my wife and I both work but we don't make a lot of money so I thought an old Ford would be my best bet , They are pretty resiliant as far as the body goes , they are pretty easy to fix ( I can do most of the work myself ) and the parts for them are fairly cheap, unfortunatly I ended up buying one with a bad engine . It sounded good when it was started and it seemed to run well also , but after I bought it I found out that as soon as it warmed up the oil pressuer drops to about 4 or 5 lbs or less " crap" Mains ??? doesn't matter , I don't want to be worried about breaking down every time I leave home so I decided to buy a new engine , overall the old truck is in pretty good shape and I think it's worth a new engine .
So I'll pose my question again , What engine will serve me better the 351W or the 302 , remember, gravel and manure are pretty heavy
Thanks for any opinions,
Frank
So I'll pose my question again , What engine will serve me better the 351W or the 302 , remember, gravel and manure are pretty heavy
Thanks for any opinions,
Frank
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
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From: Iowa
302 or 351 w ???
Franks
Either engine will do the job for you. In stock form a 351W will do it a lot better. You don't need to be concerned with horsepower. Torque is all you care about and a 351W has it on the low end where you need it in a truck.
The 351 will usually get the same if not better fuel economy. In very simplistic terms, it's because it's not under load all the time with the carbs throttle blades standing vertical everytime you load the engine down a bit.
BTW, this is coming from a guy with a 302 in his truck. My truck doesn't do any work though.
Either engine will do the job for you. In stock form a 351W will do it a lot better. You don't need to be concerned with horsepower. Torque is all you care about and a 351W has it on the low end where you need it in a truck.
The 351 will usually get the same if not better fuel economy. In very simplistic terms, it's because it's not under load all the time with the carbs throttle blades standing vertical everytime you load the engine down a bit.
BTW, this is coming from a guy with a 302 in his truck. My truck doesn't do any work though.
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302 or 351 w ???
Now that's the kind of answer I was looking for, Thanks very much FatFender for your straight forward answer It was what I needed to hear .
Regards,
Frank
Regards,
Frank
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
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From: Montana Territory
302 or 351 w ???
When you find a donor vehicle make sure that you verify its a Wheezer not just an M the VIN codes on pickups are the same; H. That particular engine can be found in large Ford cars and 77-96 ford trucks after 86 they are Fuel Injected and more expensive but they are more efficient. Pre 86 engines will run you about $225. If you get one from a junkyard check to make sure that all the fluids look good even the tranny fluid even though you aren't taking that part, that wil show how well they were taken care of. You don't need to pull the heads or anything if the fluids are good. They can tell a lot about the motor. Good Luck.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Seattle/Tacoma Washington U.S.A.
302 or 351 w ???
302 -Daily Driver
351-Hauling, Towing, Going really fast.
Pluses about the 302 : Much better gas mileage if you use it as a daily driver and upgrade your carb. Easy to find parts, and very common engine to work on.
Minus about the 302 : To much weight can drag you down and use lots more gas.
Plus about the 351 : Good for work... Towing a boat, or a bed full.
Minus about the 351 : Alright gas mileage for a daily driver, but not as good as the 302. Parts arent as easy to come by as the 302.
And fatfenders, where do you get your informaton? I have had a 302 and a 351, both of them are windsors and I put them in my 77 F-100 and I got 12 city and 14 freeway with the 351, and the 302 got 15 city and 18 freeway and the 302 had a 600 CFM Carb and Power+Plus Intake....? I dont see how you can compare the gas mileage between a small block and a big block? The big block will always use more gas ... Even on an EFI 302 and 351...
But Frank, it sounds like you need to rebuild that 351...
351-Hauling, Towing, Going really fast.
Pluses about the 302 : Much better gas mileage if you use it as a daily driver and upgrade your carb. Easy to find parts, and very common engine to work on.
Minus about the 302 : To much weight can drag you down and use lots more gas.
Plus about the 351 : Good for work... Towing a boat, or a bed full.
Minus about the 351 : Alright gas mileage for a daily driver, but not as good as the 302. Parts arent as easy to come by as the 302.
And fatfenders, where do you get your informaton? I have had a 302 and a 351, both of them are windsors and I put them in my 77 F-100 and I got 12 city and 14 freeway with the 351, and the 302 got 15 city and 18 freeway and the 302 had a 600 CFM Carb and Power+Plus Intake....? I dont see how you can compare the gas mileage between a small block and a big block? The big block will always use more gas ... Even on an EFI 302 and 351...
But Frank, it sounds like you need to rebuild that 351...
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
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From: Iowa
302 or 351 w ???
"And fatfenders, where do you get your informaton?"
Racer Dave,
My info is from working in an independent auto repair shop for about ten years, back when many SBFs still had carburetors (which is the subject of this thread, because Frank is running a late seventies F150)
Your mileage can definitely vary. In one instance, my father and an uncle both had 78 LTDs. My uncles 351W toted the heavy car around much better and got about 3 mpg more than my fathers 302. Both engines seemed to run as good as a carbed early smogger era motor could. You'll have to trust me that I maintained both engines and they were in tune. I have seen this scenario repeated over and over with different makes and models. It has just been my experience that a 302 in the wrong application will slurp fuel bad. Actually applies to many motors in the wrong application, which OEM is prone to doing so they can offer a cheap base model car to the cost conscious shopper.
I won't debate that a 351W will ALWAYS get better fuel economy, because it isn't so. But it very likely is for Frank's situation.
Regards
Racer Dave,
My info is from working in an independent auto repair shop for about ten years, back when many SBFs still had carburetors (which is the subject of this thread, because Frank is running a late seventies F150)
Your mileage can definitely vary. In one instance, my father and an uncle both had 78 LTDs. My uncles 351W toted the heavy car around much better and got about 3 mpg more than my fathers 302. Both engines seemed to run as good as a carbed early smogger era motor could. You'll have to trust me that I maintained both engines and they were in tune. I have seen this scenario repeated over and over with different makes and models. It has just been my experience that a 302 in the wrong application will slurp fuel bad. Actually applies to many motors in the wrong application, which OEM is prone to doing so they can offer a cheap base model car to the cost conscious shopper.
I won't debate that a 351W will ALWAYS get better fuel economy, because it isn't so. But it very likely is for Frank's situation.
Regards
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
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From: Montana Territory
302 or 351 w ???
Okay then i will say it. In this particular vehicle where weight is an obvious issue. Where towing is not optional. The 351W will always get better gas mileage than the 302. It makes more power so you don't have to stand on the gas pedal as long to get moving. More cubes and more power does not really ever mean you will be getting better or worse gas mileage. You can build motors to get better gas mileage and still make tons o' power.
I saw earlier that somebody said a 351 was a big block. The only thing that would make it a big block would be the FE bellhousing or 351M/400/429/460 (335/385) bellhousing. The 351W,351C,302,289 and other wheezers share the same patern and are generally called Small Block Fords.
I saw earlier that somebody said a 351 was a big block. The only thing that would make it a big block would be the FE bellhousing or 351M/400/429/460 (335/385) bellhousing. The 351W,351C,302,289 and other wheezers share the same patern and are generally called Small Block Fords.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Iowa
302 or 351 w ???
"You can build motors to get better gas mileage and still make tons o' power."
Yes Matt you can, but it's much harder to do it than it is to type it. It is easy to improve torque somewhat and get better mileage. A mild cam and good exhaust will accomplish that. If you want "tons O power" it gets more complicated. Got any secrets you'd like to share?
Yes Matt you can, but it's much harder to do it than it is to type it. It is easy to improve torque somewhat and get better mileage. A mild cam and good exhaust will accomplish that. If you want "tons O power" it gets more complicated. Got any secrets you'd like to share?
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From: Seattle/Tacoma Washington U.S.A.
302 or 351 w ???
I know the 351 is a small block, If I posted differently (my bad). Yes I would like to know how to get more HP and tourque and get good gas mileage please!!! I have a 77 351 siting and a 77 302 in my truck, I had the 351 and like the 302 much better.
But.... I dont haul anything except for ***.... lol, the 302 is good for my aplication. And yes the 351 would be best for his aplication. I was just giving him some info like he asked for...
Also my truck is a F-100 and a Shortbox... So I am sure that does a little for gas mileage (weight).
But.... I dont haul anything except for ***.... lol, the 302 is good for my aplication. And yes the 351 would be best for his aplication. I was just giving him some info like he asked for...
Also my truck is a F-100 and a Shortbox... So I am sure that does a little for gas mileage (weight).