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Okay just looking for opinions. I’ve been wanting a bronco pretty bad. I have a trade in the works trading my ‘94 F-250 in pretty good shape with 150,000 miles with the 460 engine and auto trans for an ‘88 bronco that has 116,000 miles that also appears to be in excellent shape. It has the 302 V8 engine with a 5 speed manual trans. Is that a fair trade? What are y’all opinions?
I guess that would be a question I would have for you who have driven both. I have not driven a Ford with the 302. I understand it’s substantially less power but not as big of a gas guzzler so weighing options. Is the 302 a dud to drive?
Due to all issues with M5OD shifting, firewall flex, clutch safety switch, I would pass on a manual.
Trust me I have experienced it for the past year.
My m50d doesn't give me any issues with shifting and never grinds but you can fix the firewall flex by reinforcing it. I don't know about the clutch safety switch giving issues, it may just be the brick nose fords only.
I’d stick with the F250 you currently have over the Bronco w/ 302. It’s a dog, and mileage will only be slightly better (they’re both bad honestly).
What are some of the other factors. Do you tow much? Do you have more use for the bed or would you utilize the enclosed cargo area more?
I don’t really need a large truck. I kinda want a vehicle that is easier to take to the mountains and get around the back roads, camp with, go fishing, hiking, etc
With that said, then I think you might be happier with the Bronco. One with a 351 is more preferable. You could roll with the 302 and see how you like it. If you end up loving that vehicle, but want a bit more pep, you can always swap a 351 in, It’a a very easy swap.
I hate to go too far off topic, but when I lived in Colorado and went to the mountains a lot for camping/fishing whatnot, I had a ‘97 4Runner, 5 speed and loved it! Just a thought of course.
With that said, then I think you might be happier with the Bronco. One with a 351 is more preferable. You could roll with the 302 and see how you like it. If you end up loving that vehicle, but want a bit more pep, you can always swap a 351 in, It’a a very easy swap.
I hate to go too far off topic, but when I lived in Colorado and went to the mountains a lot for camping/fishing whatnot, I had a ‘97 4Runner, 5 speed and loved it! Just a thought of course.
That’s really excellent input. I’ve also read that you can do a lot to the 302 to beef it up, get more power out of it. I will see how it feels when I go drive it tomorrow. That’s awesome about when you were in Colorado. Nothing more exciting than a quiet weekend in the mountains.
That’s true what you said about building up the 302. But keep in mind, short of stroking it, all the extra power will be in the high end of the RPM range, which you rarely use for a daily driver. One thing you could do is install lower gears. That helped a lot with my 302, but I still didn’t achieve the desired results until I swapped in the 351. The 351 creates in power and torque in lower RPM’s. As an added benefit, I didn’t get a decrease in fuel consumption with the larger engine. It doesn’t have to work as hard as the 302. These are heavy vehicles...
That’s true what you said about building up the 302. But keep in mind, short of stroking it, all the extra power will be in the high end of the RPM range, which you rarely use for a daily driver. One thing you could do is install lower gears. That helped a lot with my 302, but I still didn’t achieve the desired results until I swapped in the 351. The 351 creates in power and torque in lower RPM’s. As an added benefit, I didn’t get a decrease in fuel consumption with the larger engine. It doesn’t have to work as hard as the 302. These are heavy vehicles...
The shifting issues are related to firewall flex, stroke of clutch linkage, when pressing down on pedal, heim joint area.
Look up Heim joint repair on this site.
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