I just blew the head gasket in my 302 and was planning on just going ahead and rebuilding the whole thing since it's got about 140K miles and was neglected by the previous owner (sat for almost three years, among other things). gas mileage has dropped off over the last few months even after a tune up and it doesn't have the power it should. now my question....should I just trade my 302 in for a rebuilt long block or try a different motor? A buddy's got a 289 bored .030 over with a stout cam and some other choice parts in it he'll sell to me cheap, probably around $300 - $400 or so. He claims 325 HP but I don't know if that's accurate or not. It's also carburated whereas my 302 is injected. Will this be a problem? I've looked around and there appears to be alot of choices I could go with. I'd like to try and keep the project under about $1500 but a little over that would be possible I think. I've thought about a 429 or 460 also, but this will be my first engine swap so input from the knowledge base here is greatly appreciated. I've got a couple friends that are going to lend a helping hand and they are good mechanics with more experience than I, so I'm not tackling this project blindly, but I trust the opinions of the FTE members. I want reliability, but I also want more POWER! I've got a C-6 transmission, BTW. thanks again, --Eric

 

Since you are limited to about 1500...go with your buddys engine but talk him down as low as possible. You will need the rest of the money for the extras needed to get it to run correctly since your puter was designed for an injected motor. If you can get a long block for cheap go for it. Easier to start with something the same that came out. Or use the $$ for a good rebuild kit and for some machining to be done to clean up mating surfaces on your existing motor.

Good luck!

 

I suggest you buy a new motor all together. In my experience, rebuilds tend to have problems with overheating among other problems. if your buddies can help out it would help with keeping costs down. rent a cherry picker and buy a case of beer and make it whole day out of it. The cost of a mechanics labor is outragous. and never underestimate the usefulness of a haynes manual.

 

Good stuff. I've got the Haynes manual already and I've also got access to a garage with a lift, engine hoist, engine stand, pneumatic tools and so on and so forth. I figure if I do go ahead and get a long block I really shouldn't have to have much done that we can't do ourselves. I figured the 302 long block would be easiest, but I really would like to have something with a bit more power. I know it's hard to get more power and still keep it at a reasonable price. It seems horsepower is directly proportional to amount of $$$$ spent.

 

well ecsmith, you are set

 

You are right about $$ being proportional to HP. But never under estimate hte little 302. I am running a 302 in my 85, and have pulled a whole load more than I probably should of. But it still runs strong, never skips a beat and has put alot of newer trucks to shame. I just came back from hunting about 2 weeks ago and it pulled a 3 horse slant trailer with 2 horses and gear, that was bigger than my truck. I still managed to pull up the mountian passes at about 55. I passed I dont know how many vehicles, newer then mine, that were either going slower or were broke down. But if you really want to boost power in a 302, when you buy a few extra parts, get a cam shaft with the lobes stepped up a bit for better low end and take the block in to have the cylinders bored out and go with bigger pistons. Should give ya about 50-75 more horses.

 

Well, the more people I talk to you the more it seems like just getting a 302 long block would be the best idea. the easiest at least. But the thought of something more powerful sure is appealing. What would be some of the best things I could do while it's being rebuilt that would still keep me at least close to my budget while giving me some HP gains? thanks again....Eric

 

Try air flow...both intake and exhaust.

 

a good cam, set of headers would be a good start. you should be able to get a 302 rebuilt for around a grand or less. contact compcams they will set you up with one that wont freak the computer out. then get yourself a good set of headers figure about 300 for them and 100 for the cam.

late

 

I would have to step up to a 351. Find a core and rebuild it. Cost is about the same as 302 and you end up with a lot more torque just with a stock rebuild. Add a cam and it's an even bigger difference.

 

Thats true, but he would need to get a few things to make the 351 work. such as upper and lower intake, oilpan, y pipe redone , 351 distributor

 

Also true but, if he got a rebuildable core, most of that would probably come with it.

 

I just put in a wrecking yard 5.8 ltr out of a 95 truck. it was complete with 86k miles for around $800. i figure on a couple years use out of it then rebuild it. Ive spent a total of 1200 to get it running in the truck. if you go this route, find a 351 from 88-92, this will keep you from doing what i had to .

late

 

Interesting new devolpment here... I just got an email back from a company here in Georgia about a rebuilt motor. I gave them my VIN# with my request for a quote and they wrote back that I have a 351. The guy I bought it from said it was a 302 but he wasn't the first or even second owner so now I don't know. The 5.0 and 5.8 look so similar I never doubted it was anything but a 302. I'm gonna head out and see if I can get the numbers off the block or the valve cover and find out for sure. If it's a 351 I'd be pretty tickled!

 

another way to identify is the firing order . check out the distributor. 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 is a 351w and 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 is a 302.