Here's a Ford vs. Chevy question that I can't seem to find the answer to after searching online. Consider any Ford and Chevy 1/2 ton from the late '80s and '90s with a V8. Why is it that in the majority of the Chevy pickups have the 350 and not many have the 305, yet Ford is somewhat the opposite, with the majority of trucks I've run across having the 302 and a few having the 351?

I'm gonna hazard a guess at different marketing for Chevy vs. Ford? I've heard the 302 is better than the 305...

 

302 was a decent engine. Ford was trying to get a more practical engine for 1/2 tons. 5.7 liters is a bit much. I was thrilled with the 2v 4.6L in F150's.

 

302 is better IMO than the 305. 5.7 liters or higher is not too much, again . In my opinion. The real win is with the 351. I prefer the Cleveland, a 4 year run engine in the US. SBF bolt pattern, and same motor mounts. Tons of power. 351W is an amazing power plant too. Oodles of aftermarket and the parts availability is stellar. Power by Ford

 

I agree with you 100%, though I've personally never had any experience with the 351C. But what I'm curious about is why then if the 351W is such a good engine do we not see more in the 1/2 tons? Seems to me that every 1980s/1990s GM 1/2 ton on Craigslist has the 350, while most Fords have the 302. Price difference maybe?

 

You where thrilled with the 4.6? That is the most gutless v8 I have ever driven, and I have driven several vans and pickups that had the 4.6, it feels like a v6, I am surprised Ford kept that engine as long as they did.

 

SMH. ^^ ^^^

 

The only thing I can guess is Ford had the 351 neutered back then and it really didn't show enough separation from the 302 to see enough performance gains to justify the mpg hit.
Don't get me wrong- the bore and stroke of the 351 is better suited for a truck engine. If only they had put a set of cylinder heads on it to bring it to life.

 

The 302 was a solid performer. My first truck in high school was a 1990 F-150 XLT Lariat Super Cab 2WD with the 302, and being the stupid kids we were, I occasionally raced my friends, one of whom had a 1993 Silverado of similar configuration to my truck, only his was powered by a throttle body 350. He never could keep up with me. I always pulled at least a truck length or more on him, the 305's were a complete joke, pretty much ran like a full size truck with V6 that just sounded better. Another of my friends had an 85 Bronco that had a H.O carburetor 351 in it, but it was easily the slowest vehicle out of all of them, I don't blame the engine so much in its case though, that truck was worn all to hell and he had 38inch Swampers on it to boot. It really couldn't even get out of its own way.

IMO, Ford's 302 was on par with the TBI 350's, and then GM really took the lead when they came out with the Vortec series 350 in 1995 or 1996. The few 351 Ford's I've driven seemed like they pulled pretty hard, they always seemed to have a lot of torque down low which was nice.

 

Appreciate y'all chiming in. I'm not implying that the 302 is at all a bad engine - I'd actually prefer it over the 300 big six I have in my F-150 now. I guess a 21-year old college kid just sees one truck motor that is 302ci and another that is 350ci and wonders why Ford wouldn't counter with their larger displacement smallblock. But then again, I suppose it's up to the customer to order the engine they wanted and more GM owners wanted the 350 while Ford owners were content with a 302. Ford may have had the edge with their MPFI since 1985 or so, while the Chevrolets continued to use TBI up to the Vortecs??????

I just bought a 1988 Bronco for my little brother (he gets his learners permit in a month). One of our neighborhood friends has a super clean blue '89 Bronco, lifted and running 35s I believe. Anyway he is soooo proud of his 302 smallblock! Plastered "5.0" badges on both sides. 100% stock engine though - only modifications are duals and glasspacks. Still running stock 3.55 gears. He couldn't figure out why our red Bronco kept whipping him every drag race down burnout alley - since under the hood our engines looked the same! Eventually I had to break it to him that Andy's (little bro) Bronco didn't have a 302 under the hood - it had a 351. He'd never heard of it - he thought 302 was it for the Broncos. He watches his step now

If anyone else would like to chime in, please do!

 

I think they were all decent engines for their day. As far as a 302 beating a 350, or a 305 beating a 4.6, imho, a lot, if not most, has to do with gearing, tire sizes, etc etc. I’ve had several 350’s over the years. Good engines, bullet proof. There is a reason a lot of ford resto mod hot rodders use the quintessential SBC. but, that will be a debate for the ages. I had a 305 in an early 80’ s half ton. It was okish, and eventually cranked a head. Had another one in a mid 90’s truck, it was okish again. Had several 350’s in 3/4 tons. Good engines, trucks wore out before the engine. Aside from fords trucks, I currently have a 350 In a yukon. Again, nice little engine. Lots of power, and never an issue. It’s 23 years old now. And I kept a 350 out of a 77 gmc, 4 bolt. Just in case I ever have a need for it - the heads are boat anchors.

I always thought ford builds a tougher truck, but GM builds a better engine... go ahead. Flame away!

 

My folks had a 1986 Chevy Blazer for a few years, purchased new. It had the 305 and that particular engine was a colossal piece of junk. The 302 and 351W are both pretty solid engines, as already stated, Ford just never put a good cylinder head on the 351W.

 

My experience with Ford Vs Chevys are mostly in boat engines, where Ford really shines, and the Chevy 305 is a dog.. . Having said that,, a heavy cruiser with a 305 was a complete gutless wonder, but replacing it with a 350 was like a bolt of lighting hit it, so the 305 Chevy IMO is a waste of time.i knew farmers with the 305 in their trucks too and couldn't tow anything. I really like the 350 and you can do alot with...simple, cheap and reliable performance, but the 351 has much better and smoother low end torque....again in a heavy boat (7k+ lbs) the 351W became my favorite.