94 Engine Upgrades
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94 Engine Upgrades
Hi everyone,
I've been debating buying a new truck or keeping my current truck, and I just can't bring myself to sell my 1994 F150. It's got the 5.0, 4x4. I've got 33" mud tires on it and a full custom exhaust with shorty headers. In looking to get some more horsepower and torque, I contacted and engine shop that told me I should swap in a 302 HO, but said that engine is pretty much maxed out in potential. Having read a bunch of threads about similar topics, I have a couple clarifying questions.
1. As my 302 sits now (175,000 miles), what can I safely do to it to gain some power? (money is not an issue) It does burn oil if that matters at all.
2. Is the 302 HO engine good for a truck? What can I do as far as upgrades on this engine?
Thanks as always for your input!
I've been debating buying a new truck or keeping my current truck, and I just can't bring myself to sell my 1994 F150. It's got the 5.0, 4x4. I've got 33" mud tires on it and a full custom exhaust with shorty headers. In looking to get some more horsepower and torque, I contacted and engine shop that told me I should swap in a 302 HO, but said that engine is pretty much maxed out in potential. Having read a bunch of threads about similar topics, I have a couple clarifying questions.
1. As my 302 sits now (175,000 miles), what can I safely do to it to gain some power? (money is not an issue) It does burn oil if that matters at all.
2. Is the 302 HO engine good for a truck? What can I do as far as upgrades on this engine?
Thanks as always for your input!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,197
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From: Central Wisconsin
1) Swap in a 351w. Its nearly a direct drop in and it makes more power stock than you'll ever get out of that 302.
2)No. The 302 is a good motor in a mustang, or other relatively light car, not so great in a truck.
2)No. The 302 is a good motor in a mustang, or other relatively light car, not so great in a truck.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
A 302HO is a 302 truck engine with a different cam in it.. that's it! What that should tell you is that you can get more HP from the 302 but you won't get much more torque, so you may want to look at some other options. Two of those options would be a 351 swap or a supercharger, both of these will give you a lot more torque for turning those mud tires.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2008
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Likes: 2
Hi everyone,
I've been debating buying a new truck or keeping my current truck, and I just can't bring myself to sell my 1994 F150. It's got the 5.0, 4x4. I've got 33" mud tires on it and a full custom exhaust with shorty headers. In looking to get some more horsepower and torque, I contacted and engine shop that told me I should swap in a 302 HO, but said that engine is pretty much maxed out in potential. Having read a bunch of threads about similar topics, I have a couple clarifying questions.
1. As my 302 sits now (175,000 miles), what can I safely do to it to gain some power? (money is not an issue) It does burn oil if that matters at all.
2. Is the 302 HO engine good for a truck? What can I do as far as upgrades on this engine?
Thanks as always for your input!
I've been debating buying a new truck or keeping my current truck, and I just can't bring myself to sell my 1994 F150. It's got the 5.0, 4x4. I've got 33" mud tires on it and a full custom exhaust with shorty headers. In looking to get some more horsepower and torque, I contacted and engine shop that told me I should swap in a 302 HO, but said that engine is pretty much maxed out in potential. Having read a bunch of threads about similar topics, I have a couple clarifying questions.
1. As my 302 sits now (175,000 miles), what can I safely do to it to gain some power? (money is not an issue) It does burn oil if that matters at all.
2. Is the 302 HO engine good for a truck? What can I do as far as upgrades on this engine?
Thanks as always for your input!
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New User
Joined: Apr 2015
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I appreciate everyone's input thus far. Sounds to me like a 351w swap is a good direction to take this. My question then become what fitment issues will I have in doing this swap? I have a 5 speed in there, I forgot to say that earlier.
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So looking into it, swapping in a 351 will have some good cost and be pretty labor intensive. I originally just wanted to put GT40 heads on my current block and call it good, but I'm not sure if that's safe for the rest of the engine, considering the amount of oil it burns (1qt per 1200 miles). I read a bunch of other threads about doing this, and it seems to be a popular mod. Seeing that I can get a set of those heads rebuild on Ebay for around $600, that seems like something I'd be interested in. I just don't know if it's okay to do on my current engine.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,635
Likes: 3
From: Lansdale, PA
You didn't read very much then...
The engine itself costs the same as a 302, and if you're rebuilding it, a good rebuild able 351 is like 75-150 bucks. Rebuild kit is like $50 more.
Buying a complete engine will give you BOLT IN factory reliability. You literally only need, an engine, ypipe, flywheel, and if you're not maf, a computer.
If you are maf, you bolt the 351 in and start it up. The end.
It's as easy and cost nearly the same as putting in a 302ho in your truck.
I suggest you keep reading, and then ask more questions.
The engine itself costs the same as a 302, and if you're rebuilding it, a good rebuild able 351 is like 75-150 bucks. Rebuild kit is like $50 more.
Buying a complete engine will give you BOLT IN factory reliability. You literally only need, an engine, ypipe, flywheel, and if you're not maf, a computer.
If you are maf, you bolt the 351 in and start it up. The end.
It's as easy and cost nearly the same as putting in a 302ho in your truck.
I suggest you keep reading, and then ask more questions.
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: SW Florida
Why the hell would you want to put new heads on a bottom end that's about halfway thru it's useful life wear-wise and leaking oil like a stuck pig? So you can beat the tar out of it enjoying your upgrade only to have a rod let go? I ain't trying to be rude here, it's your money and your truck so do as you wish, just trying to help you understand what would be a wiser investment of your money.
As for a 351 swap being labor intensive, I'd say it's about the same amount of work to replace heads on your existing engine vs. removing the whole thing and bolting in a 351. They are both Windsor blocks and are 100% interchangeable as far as engine swaps go. Both will fit on the factory motor mounts, bolt up to your transmission, and work with your existing cooling, electrical, hydraulic steering, a/c, all that stuff because the front dress is even the freakin' same! Can't get much easier than that!
As for a 351 swap being labor intensive, I'd say it's about the same amount of work to replace heads on your existing engine vs. removing the whole thing and bolting in a 351. They are both Windsor blocks and are 100% interchangeable as far as engine swaps go. Both will fit on the factory motor mounts, bolt up to your transmission, and work with your existing cooling, electrical, hydraulic steering, a/c, all that stuff because the front dress is even the freakin' same! Can't get much easier than that!
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
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There should be very little debate here: search for a lowish mileage stock 351. It's a truck motor far and away more than the 302.
It's pretty much as bolt-on as heads (which is never as simple as slapping on new heads).
It's pretty much as bolt-on as heads (which is never as simple as slapping on new heads).
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
I have done a 302-351 swap(and vise versa) over a weekend without any issue by myself.. that's right just me and an engine hoist. But I didn't have any stuck exhaust bolts to fight with, the 5.8 was complete and ready to go with the correct flexplate for the application, and the truck had MAF so no wiring or computer changes were needed.
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