Worthy Upgrades?
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
How far do you want to go down this rabbit hole?
Exhaust will be one part that will help these smog engines out. gutting the smog equipment and going with aftermarket would help even more so. heads and cam upgrade will be a big help as well seeing as these smog heads are the bottle neck. But have to ask yourself how far do you want to go.
Im working on a 306 build to replace my smog 302 and with my current planned configuration I will be right at $9,500 or so for the engine and exhaust system.
Exhaust will be one part that will help these smog engines out. gutting the smog equipment and going with aftermarket would help even more so. heads and cam upgrade will be a big help as well seeing as these smog heads are the bottle neck. But have to ask yourself how far do you want to go.
Im working on a 306 build to replace my smog 302 and with my current planned configuration I will be right at $9,500 or so for the engine and exhaust system.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 129
From: Atlantic Canada
I love my little 302, and it sounds delicious, but I spent way too much money on it.
If I was going to do it again, I'd probably...
Remove all smog equipment (if possible in your area)
Install 4bbl intake and carburetor (Holley or Edelbrock 600CFM with electric choke and vacuum secondaries)
New timing chain and gears
New custom curved distributor.
Shorty headers and free(er) flowing exhaust. (I say shorty headers because long tubes are more difficult to fit).
New higher performance heads and cam and stuff like that are nice, but once you're in that far you're damn near into an engine build...which is fine if that is what you want to do. I did, and ended up rebuilding an engine that didn't need to be rebuilt...lol. It's all good if that's what you want, and it fits with the needs/uses of the truck.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Anything with a conventional mechanical distributor + vacuum advance can be tuned for very noticeably better performance and welcome economy & range. Trucks generally had very "lazy" slow advance curves using stiff springs.
Somebody once pointed out lots of people will bolt on all kinds of spendy $$ perfomance manifolds & carburetors though neglect the distributor advances curve. Cost? Next to nothing, except your time and effort. Look into DIY distributor curving.
Need a timing light, some tape for the balancer and familiarize yourself with Ford distributor mechanisms. Kind of a pita to do but you'll thank yourself every time you drive it.
Somebody once pointed out lots of people will bolt on all kinds of spendy $$ perfomance manifolds & carburetors though neglect the distributor advances curve. Cost? Next to nothing, except your time and effort. Look into DIY distributor curving.
Need a timing light, some tape for the balancer and familiarize yourself with Ford distributor mechanisms. Kind of a pita to do but you'll thank yourself every time you drive it.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
By SMOG equipment, I assume you mean Catalytic converter? I"m not very comfortable messing with anything timing wise. It's been a long time since I have even messed with any of that.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Trust me, if I can do it you can too. I'm pretty slow. It's the "biggest bang for the buck" around by far, easily.
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Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
So is there any reason to go with a true dual exhaust or can I just stick with the dual to single, eliminate the CAT and get a better flowing muffler?
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FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,876
Likes: 4,115
From: Angier, NC
How far do you want to go down this rabbit hole?
Exhaust will be one part that will help these smog engines out. gutting the smog equipment and going with aftermarket would help even more so. heads and cam upgrade will be a big help as well seeing as these smog heads are the bottle neck. But have to ask yourself how far do you want to go.
Im working on a 306 build to replace my smog 302 and with my current planned configuration I will be right at $9,500 or so for the engine and exhaust system.
Exhaust will be one part that will help these smog engines out. gutting the smog equipment and going with aftermarket would help even more so. heads and cam upgrade will be a big help as well seeing as these smog heads are the bottle neck. But have to ask yourself how far do you want to go.
Im working on a 306 build to replace my smog 302 and with my current planned configuration I will be right at $9,500 or so for the engine and exhaust system.
Having spent a pile of money building a mild 302 for my 1984, I can tell you what I'd do: Buy a 351 Windsor...lol. J/K....sort of, but not really.
I love my little 302, and it sounds delicious, but I spent way too much money on it.
If I was going to do it again, I'd probably...
Remove all smog equipment (if possible in your area)
Install 4bbl intake and carburetor (Holley or Edelbrock 600CFM with electric choke and vacuum secondaries)
New timing chain and gears
New custom curved distributor.
Shorty headers and free(er) flowing exhaust. (I say shorty headers because long tubes are more difficult to fit).
New higher performance heads and cam and stuff like that are nice, but once you're in that far you're damn near into an engine build...which is fine if that is what you want to do. I did, and ended up rebuilding an engine that didn't need to be rebuilt...lol. It's all good if that's what you want, and it fits with the needs/uses of the truck.
I love my little 302, and it sounds delicious, but I spent way too much money on it.
If I was going to do it again, I'd probably...
Remove all smog equipment (if possible in your area)
Install 4bbl intake and carburetor (Holley or Edelbrock 600CFM with electric choke and vacuum secondaries)
New timing chain and gears
New custom curved distributor.
Shorty headers and free(er) flowing exhaust. (I say shorty headers because long tubes are more difficult to fit).
New higher performance heads and cam and stuff like that are nice, but once you're in that far you're damn near into an engine build...which is fine if that is what you want to do. I did, and ended up rebuilding an engine that didn't need to be rebuilt...lol. It's all good if that's what you want, and it fits with the needs/uses of the truck.
You did not say how many miles are on the motor and what the truck may need like the EXH. system or a carb, etc. as some of this can be done in steps.
Need a carb well do the intake & carb. Exh. system is falling off or not there do the shorty headers on back.
Timing chain has a lot of play and needs to be replaced, maybe a cam at the same time but ......... if the motor has miles then a cam may not be a good thing.
You would most likely need new push rods, shorter or longer ones to make match the cam to ge4t the valve train back where it needs to be.
You also did not say what rear gear is in the truck and with the larger tires may feel like a dog.
A lower set of gears would fix that but would also spin the motor faster when in top gear.
This is where a 5sp over drive would work good with the lower gears and make it feel like you have more power.
I got to say I like my 300 six with the granny T18 I know there is not a lot I can do to may a hot rod out if it and I am fine with that.
Dave ----
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
The motor has 91k original miles on it. Axle code is H6 which I assume is 3.50 gears? I'm running 32x11.50's. I don't want it to be a hotrod, just would like to know if I could help it out a bit more. The truck was maintained very well. The Carb was rebuilt in 2019 along with all new brakes all around, and ignition components as well and an electric fuel pump was added.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
If you don't want to do it yourself the next best thing in fact I would say the best thing is to send your distributor out to someone with a sun machine that can recurve the distributor for you. That's what I am doing to eliminate all guess work. Guy I am going to use charges under $150 to slap it on his sun machine and recurve it. But you have to be able to give him the specs of not just your engine but your truck as well.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
First was the 351 then got thinking of that rabbit hole LOL
You did not say how many miles are on the motor and what the truck may need like the EXH. system or a carb, etc. as some of this can be done in steps.
Need a carb well do the intake & carb. Exh. system is falling off or not there do the shorty headers on back.
Timing chain has a lot of play and needs to be replaced, maybe a cam at the same time but ......... if the motor has miles then a cam may not be a good thing.
You would most likely need new push rods, shorter or longer ones to make match the cam to ge4t the valve train back where it needs to be.
You also did not say what rear gear is in the truck and with the larger tires may feel like a dog.
A lower set of gears would fix that but would also spin the motor faster when in top gear.
This is where a 5sp over drive would work good with the lower gears and make it feel like you have more power.
I got to say I like my 300 six with the granny T18 I know there is not a lot I can do to may a hot rod out if it and I am fine with that.
Dave ----
You did not say how many miles are on the motor and what the truck may need like the EXH. system or a carb, etc. as some of this can be done in steps.
Need a carb well do the intake & carb. Exh. system is falling off or not there do the shorty headers on back.
Timing chain has a lot of play and needs to be replaced, maybe a cam at the same time but ......... if the motor has miles then a cam may not be a good thing.
You would most likely need new push rods, shorter or longer ones to make match the cam to ge4t the valve train back where it needs to be.
You also did not say what rear gear is in the truck and with the larger tires may feel like a dog.
A lower set of gears would fix that but would also spin the motor faster when in top gear.
This is where a 5sp over drive would work good with the lower gears and make it feel like you have more power.
I got to say I like my 300 six with the granny T18 I know there is not a lot I can do to may a hot rod out if it and I am fine with that.
Dave ----
Part of me wished I went a bit more mellow but I didn't want to do this job twice so I over built some areas that would allow for more reliability. It is now hard though to start off with a tow build and then end up with on paper a 1/4 mile strip engine by making changes here and there to your initial plan.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
Honestly if you don't want to get too far into it but want a little more power I would look at exhaust and timing. my smog 302 came to life when I bumped the timing from 8* to 12* initial. But you might not be able to, what you would have to do is keep bumping timing up till the engine drags on restart when hot then you back it down a couple degrees. I got mine up to 14* initial but would barely crank when hot so backed mine down to 12*.
The 306 how ever I am going to see what the guy recurving my distributor recommends for base timing.
The 306 how ever I am going to see what the guy recurving my distributor recommends for base timing.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,976
Likes: 2,733
From: Virginia
Do you want a big increase in throttle response and acceleration guaranteed? Put the stock tires back on it. Huge difference. I bought my truck with 35 inch tires on it, I could not wait for them to wear out. They finally dry rotted. I just put 265-75-16 tires on it and it has twice the get up and go and pulling power that it did before. Those big tires killed it. And I have a diesel with 4.10 gears. That little 302 is not a high torque truck engine, it needs to rev to get any power. Those over size tires you have are killing it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
Do you want a big increase in throttle response and acceleration guaranteed? Put the stock tires back on it. Huge difference. I bought my truck with 35 inch tires on it, I could not wait for them to wear out. They finally dry rotted. I just put 265-75-16 tires on it and it has twice the get up and go and pulling power that it did before. Those big tires killed it. And I have a diesel with 4.10 gears. That little 302 is not a high torque truck engine, it needs to rev to get any power. Those over size tires you have are killing it.