Troque 300 vs. 302

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Oct 30, 2003 | 08:59 AM

ramrod7373

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From: Redding, Ca USA

Troque 300 vs. 302

I am looking in to getting a used 4x4. I would like to know what you guys think about the 300 vs. 302. I don't really haul that much, just a little travel trailer hunting once a year. What are the torque spec's of the 300 vs. the 302. How much HP do these put out vs. the 302. Thanks.

Oct 30, 2003 | 09:22 AM

motorhead_83

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From: Houghton, MI

Im not sure about the exact specs, but the 300 has a lot more usable power than the 302, and at a lot lower rpm. I do know that the the newer ones, 87 to 92-or-so 300's put out 145hp, and the 302's put out 160-65 hp. If I remember correctly, during those years the 300 and 302 had the same amount of torque, but the 300 makes it at 1000 less rpm than the 302. I have had both and I will take the 300 hands down over the 302, especially for what you are doing. I really like the down low torque and lugging ability of the 300. It sounds like I use my truck the same way as you as well, i pull a trailer during deer season, and a sled in the winter but thats about it. Other than that I just use mine around town the rest of the year, and for wheeling as well.

Oct 30, 2003 | 08:14 PM

ibf250

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heres my experience with the two. my cousin had an f-150 with a 302 and my uncle has an f-150 with a 300. both of them tried pulling the same car hauler with the same car on it to see which one pulled better. the 302 didnt slow down or downshift a single time on the way to the track. the 300 slowed down to 35 miles per hour and was in 2nd and 3rd gear many times going up hills. he has a really steep yard, and the 300 pulls it up in his yard twice as good as the 302 did. either way, i wouldnt use either of them if you plan on towing very often. cousin sold his 302 and got a 460, uncle is trying to sell his 300 to buy a dodge hemi. the 300 or 302 will be more than enough to pull 10k pounds or more if you live on flat ground, but if youre anywhere near hills and are ever wanting to pull heavy loads id go with the 302.

Oct 30, 2003 | 10:09 PM

46stude

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From: TX Coast

The 300 in my '81 Dually has pulled more loads than I can remember. 10K on the flatbed- no BS. As for which is better for hauling, 300 is the way to go. A 302 is a good Mustang motor, but for a truck, stick with something w/ some low end torque. Just my honest opinion.

Oct 31, 2003 | 10:47 AM

ibf250

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the 300 is a good motor, i dont doubt you pulled 10k since youre in texas. the hills up here in tn just absolutely kill my uncle when tries to pull anything. but like i said earlier, the 300 did better than my cousins and my dads 302 when it came to pulling the load from a dead stop up a steep yard. but it honestly would not pull a 3300 pound car and 1500 pound trailer up a mild slope without having to drop down to 2nd gear. that is the only 300 ive had any experience with, but after seeing that one i swore itd be the only experience id have with one. maybe it just wasnt geared right or something, but it really turned me against the 300.

Oct 31, 2003 | 06:35 PM

Silver Streak

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From: Broken Arrow, OK

The biggest problem with the 300, or any engine in a late model truck for that matter, is gearing. Most 1/2 tons come with worthless gears like 2.73 or 3.08, some lucky ones get 3.55's or deeper. I've got 3.08's and have never had trouble pulling anything I've hooked to, but we don't have many hills here. I usually run down the highway in 5th (I know, that's supposed to be bad) and sometimes need 4th for the hills.

Oct 31, 2003 | 06:42 PM

hoxiii

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Joined: Jul 2003

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From: Pittsburgh

My last tuck was a '67 f-100 with a 300, 3 speed, and 3.73's. It wouldn't run over 62 on the highway but i NEVER had to downshift it to pull a hill on the highway, loaded, unloaded, or towing. It'd slow down to about 55 or so but kept chugging along. My current truck is an '85 with 3.08's (soon to be 3.73's) and it'll pull anyhing you want on the flats, but it won't get out of it's own way in 4th (direct) going up a hill.

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Oct 31, 2003 | 11:15 PM

acerockola77

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Joined: Apr 2003

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From: WA

If you have the right gearing, the 300 will pull anything. The 302 is a good engine, but not a truck engine. The 300 makes loads of torque at low RPMs. 300 is a better truck engine by far.