302 or 300
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,711
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From: Pittsburgh
If you're going to use the truck as a truck go with the 300. More torque, better driveability, better longeity, all and all a better motor. If you're going to daily drive this truck i'd also go with the 300, more driveable. If you're going for a cruiser/toy that's never going to see a load it's a toss up between the two, comes down to wether you'd rather have a 6 or an 8 under the hood.
Justin
Justin
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 997
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From: Weston, Nebraska
My 86 F-150 4x4: 300 will last twice as long and is up to anything you can dish out and if the tires won't move it'll tear off the motor mounts w/ it's awesome low-end torque (I had a bad day that day) My 300 started givin me probs at 200K, I sheared off the timing gears, ripped a motor mount, replaced the carb, and some other minor things.
My dads 79 F-150 2wd: 302 will run a lot faster down the road then the 300, it's at a loss for low-end but once you get it rapped up you gotta keep it there to make your power, especially when pullin stuff. One thing about the 302 is if you are plannin on building one of the engines up then go w/ the 302, the 300 gets the shaft for build up items. If you do go w/ a 302 and you like loud trucks, diffently true dual it, the Y pipe don't sound the best.
This engine has had it's share of probs but it's a 79, but it's only got 40K on it.
That's my 2 cents.
Someone in the 6 forum made up a nice little saying:
Use the V-8 for a date, the 6 ain't for chicks.
Redneck-Cowboy
My dads 79 F-150 2wd: 302 will run a lot faster down the road then the 300, it's at a loss for low-end but once you get it rapped up you gotta keep it there to make your power, especially when pullin stuff. One thing about the 302 is if you are plannin on building one of the engines up then go w/ the 302, the 300 gets the shaft for build up items. If you do go w/ a 302 and you like loud trucks, diffently true dual it, the Y pipe don't sound the best.
This engine has had it's share of probs but it's a 79, but it's only got 40K on it.
That's my 2 cents.
Someone in the 6 forum made up a nice little saying:
Use the V-8 for a date, the 6 ain't for chicks.
Redneck-Cowboy
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, TN
I've had both, and if I wanted the torque, and the gas milage, then I'd go with the 300. If you want the look, and unbeatable sound of a V8, there's nothing like a 302.
If it means anything to you, my current rig has a 302..and not a 300, although if you're going to use it for pulling, I made killer money in the winter times pulling people out with the 300, that I doubt the 302 would do, even though it's the same rear end, and same granny 4.
If it means anything to you, my current rig has a 302..and not a 300, although if you're going to use it for pulling, I made killer money in the winter times pulling people out with the 300, that I doubt the 302 would do, even though it's the same rear end, and same granny 4.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 997
Likes: 0
From: Weston, Nebraska
linx:
I'm assuming your talkin about your 86 below your post, does that have the 302 in it? If it does and has the same rearend as the 300 you have 3.08's w/ 37's for tires, is that correct? If so were is that 302 gettin the power to turn that high gear ratio? Are you just using 1st to start off? I got the exact same truck as you, only w/ a 300 and w/out the lift and big tires. I was thinkin off just puttin a 6 lift on mine with 35's w/ original gears. Isn't it pretty hard to keep a lower speed in 4th? I know that tranny, it has a nasty jump from 3rd to 4th gear, like a 2000 rpm difference, how hard do you use this truck? I beat the crap out of mine, but I think I'd bust my rea-end or I'd smoke my clutch if I put on bigger tires w/out going to 3.50's or 3.73's, I still got the original clutch at 220K.
Redneck-Cowboy
I'm assuming your talkin about your 86 below your post, does that have the 302 in it? If it does and has the same rearend as the 300 you have 3.08's w/ 37's for tires, is that correct? If so were is that 302 gettin the power to turn that high gear ratio? Are you just using 1st to start off? I got the exact same truck as you, only w/ a 300 and w/out the lift and big tires. I was thinkin off just puttin a 6 lift on mine with 35's w/ original gears. Isn't it pretty hard to keep a lower speed in 4th? I know that tranny, it has a nasty jump from 3rd to 4th gear, like a 2000 rpm difference, how hard do you use this truck? I beat the crap out of mine, but I think I'd bust my rea-end or I'd smoke my clutch if I put on bigger tires w/out going to 3.50's or 3.73's, I still got the original clutch at 220K.
Redneck-Cowboy
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, TN
Redneck-Cowboy,
I'm not running 3.08's. I believe mine has 3.73's, but I may be wrong. I bought the truck as work truck, and just started working on it to have something to play with. I don't have any problem taking off, and I take off in 2nd. In first, I can probably only go about 3 mph. I cruise 55 in 3rd...and have no power loss in 4th. My wife was following me one time, and my speedo read 65, and she said I was doing 90, so obviously no loss there. The truck originally had 3.08's in it, but I bought a 4.10 locker rear end, and realized that someone had already changed the rear end out after working on it.
At this point, the locker is just sitting in the box, b/c I have plenty of power how it is, although I'm thinking of changing it out just to see.
I'm not running 3.08's. I believe mine has 3.73's, but I may be wrong. I bought the truck as work truck, and just started working on it to have something to play with. I don't have any problem taking off, and I take off in 2nd. In first, I can probably only go about 3 mph. I cruise 55 in 3rd...and have no power loss in 4th. My wife was following me one time, and my speedo read 65, and she said I was doing 90, so obviously no loss there. The truck originally had 3.08's in it, but I bought a 4.10 locker rear end, and realized that someone had already changed the rear end out after working on it.
At this point, the locker is just sitting in the box, b/c I have plenty of power how it is, although I'm thinking of changing it out just to see.
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 5
From: Muskegon, MI (home)
In a truck, the 300 will always win my vote over any 302. I could go on for days about how I prefer the 300 over a 302. The bottom line is: 302- 4 inch bore+ 3.5 inch stroke= higher revs, more top end, more horsepower, cool sound, on the other hand: less torque, less pulling power, worse mileage.
300 six - 4 inch bore + 4 inch stroke= gobs of low end torque and pulling power, low speed grunt, better mileage, on the other hand: less top end, less horsepower
Which do you want?
300 six - 4 inch bore + 4 inch stroke= gobs of low end torque and pulling power, low speed grunt, better mileage, on the other hand: less top end, less horsepower
Which do you want?
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 159
Likes: 1
From: nowhere town nj
ive had both, im young i like power and speed and all that crap and when it comes to it theyre both trucks not race cars. i like mud too. if i want to pull otu tree stumps climb hills or submarine the truck in mud, or burn the tread off the back tires its all abotu the 300 and all done below 4000rpms.
if i want to make alot of noice get bad gas mileage but have power 3500 and above its all about the 302.
the only true advantage of the 302 is top end but as long as you have enough gear you dont need alot of top end and if you dont need to rev above 3500 you get alot better milege
if i want to make alot of noice get bad gas mileage but have power 3500 and above its all about the 302.
the only true advantage of the 302 is top end but as long as you have enough gear you dont need alot of top end and if you dont need to rev above 3500 you get alot better milege
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 5
From: Muskegon, MI (home)
Originally posted by motorheadmach1
ive had both, im young i like power and speed and all that crap and when it comes to it theyre both trucks not race cars. i like mud too. if i want to pull otu tree stumps climb hills or submarine the truck in mud, or burn the tread off the back tires its all abotu the 300 and all done below 4000rpms.
if i want to make alot of noice get bad gas mileage but have power 3500 and above its all about the 302.
the only true advantage of the 302 is top end but as long as you have enough gear you dont need alot of top end and if you dont need to rev above 3500 you get alot better milege
ive had both, im young i like power and speed and all that crap and when it comes to it theyre both trucks not race cars. i like mud too. if i want to pull otu tree stumps climb hills or submarine the truck in mud, or burn the tread off the back tires its all abotu the 300 and all done below 4000rpms.
if i want to make alot of noice get bad gas mileage but have power 3500 and above its all about the 302.
the only true advantage of the 302 is top end but as long as you have enough gear you dont need alot of top end and if you dont need to rev above 3500 you get alot better milege
New User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Rhode Island
go with the 300 i have owned 2 of them one with a c6 one with a c4 . the c6 with a straight 6 will never die there good to about 300 thousand i also owned a 302 that was good for one thing drivingb around town scaring people it was loud longtubes and glasspacs the only reason i dont on any of them any morer is i found v8 top end and 3006 low end all wraped up in my good friend the 460.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 752
Likes: 0
From: Kalispell, MT
300 to 302...what's involved?
I've got an 84 1/2 ton 4 wheel w/ a tired (295,000 from what I've been told by "sources") 300 inline six and a 4 spd manual...I'm considering putting a new motor in. I've read many of the pro-300 postings, and can't agree more with all the +'s to the 300. I'm considering dropping a 302 in, but need to know what all I would hafta change in order to do so. Any help would be more than useful. Thanks.
MontanaFord
MontanaFord
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 5
From: Muskegon, MI (home)
I wouldn't do it, I'd rebuild the six but that's just me talking. You will need small block motor towers and a V8 flywheel. The 300 six flywheel will bolt to a 302 but it doesn't have the correct balancing to be run behind a V8. The transmission will bolt right up to the V8 as they have the same bolt pattern. Instead of a 302 (car motor) why don't you drop in a 351 Windsor, it has similar low end to the 300 six but also has the top end of the 302. The 351w will also bolt directly to your tranny, and uses the same motor towers as a 302. Just my 2 cents!