Engine swap or engine build?
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2025
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Engine swap or engine build?
I've read a lot of material and watched a lot of you tube and I'm not sure what the best path is. My engine is a 302 from a 1986 f150, first year of fuel injection. Does it make sense to spend $8500 and have my engine built by an engine shop with a guaranteed dyno of 375-400 hp or do I do a coyote swap and I would imagine the cost would be much more. I am farming out the real work to the professionals, it's way out of my current abilities. What makes more financial sense, actually none of this makes financial sense lol! So which way do I go and what will need to be done to my c6 to survive the added hp? I don't want to spend the $, but I will have gone through this entire truck, spent lots of my time and $ working on it, so why not the engine too! I had the transmission rebuilt about 200 miles ago.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 290
Likes: 92
Since neither engine is "stock", it really doesn't matter which way to go. Coyote will be more expensive, generally. Is the 302 in poor shape? Could you just do a top end on it? You might be able to cut costs if you really look into it. BTW, what's your budget?
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2025
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The original budget or the new one? I am kidding, but I'm sure you know what I mean by that. I thought $8500 was high, but I am not versed enough to know that. The truck runs awesome with zero leaks. Transmission was rebuilt very recently. As far as detailed health and the internals, I have no idea and have no idea where to start. I want a 100% reliable engine with more hp that I could drive cross country and not worry about.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 290
Likes: 92
The original budget or the new one? I am kidding, but I'm sure you know what I mean by that. I thought $8500 was high, but I am not versed enough to know that. The truck runs awesome with zero leaks. Transmission was rebuilt very recently. As far as detailed health and the internals, I have no idea and have no idea where to start. I want a 100% reliable engine with more hp that I could drive cross country and not worry about.
If you want that kind of reliability, personally I'd go Coyote. Although there's nothing wrong with the old iron, it's just that technology has moved along. I'm prepping to do a '67 F250 with a 390 I just had built by Blair Patrick. It's now a 445 that cranks out 526 hp and should make a fun little truck.
Just a quick look on Ford Performance and a Coyote starts about $11.5k. This would make me consider making that 302 the core of your build. No reason to toss a healthy engine.
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2025
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I just may pull it and have it worked on. I would be happy with 300-350 hp, it would be a huge improvement and I would at least know the health of what was under the hood. A coyote engines is serious $$ and then I would be looking at a new transmission. I can't imagine 526 hp, that would be a serious machine!
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 290
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I'd do a compression test to get an idea of the health of that engine. 300-350hp is easily obtainable with a healthy base. Put in a new cam, Edelbrock performer manifold and a holley or Edelbrock carb and you're there.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,855
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From: Minnesota
I know you can get some good stuff through Summit Racing or Jegs. Take a look at these options.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/m...RoCnVgQAvD_BwE
https://www.jegs.com/i/ATK-Engines/0...xoCGNAQAvD_BwE
I am sure there are other options as well, but way below your $8500 budget.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/m...RoCnVgQAvD_BwE
https://www.jegs.com/i/ATK-Engines/0...xoCGNAQAvD_BwE
I am sure there are other options as well, but way below your $8500 budget.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
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The original budget or the new one? I am kidding, but I'm sure you know what I mean by that. I thought $8500 was high, but I am not versed enough to know that. The truck runs awesome with zero leaks. Transmission was rebuilt very recently. As far as detailed health and the internals, I have no idea and have no idea where to start. I want a 100% reliable engine with more hp that I could drive cross country and not worry about.
I'm not saying not to, but if your truck is running and driving and not leaking... what would make you doubt it's health? If you're just wanting more power, maybe go bigger in CI's. IME, when guys start pushing their engines to the max, they have more issues over a basically stock motor with upgrades like heads, intake, exhaust.
It's your money and your truck, so spend as you wish, maybe you could find a 351W that you could mate to your C6 adding some size and HP/TQ in the process..
IMHO, the 302 is a tad small for a big truck if you're wanting to go fast, and yes the 300 is small, but I'm not looking to go fast or have massive HP, but that's me.
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Oh, I know what you're talking about with budgets. They change with the wind.
If you want that kind of reliability, personally I'd go Coyote. Although there's nothing wrong with the old iron, it's just that technology has moved along. I'm prepping to do a '67 F250 with a 390 I just had built by Blair Patrick. It's now a 445 that cranks out 526 hp and should make a fun little truck.
Just a quick look on Ford Performance and a Coyote starts about $11.5k. This would make me consider making that 302 the core of your build. No reason to toss a healthy engine.
If you want that kind of reliability, personally I'd go Coyote. Although there's nothing wrong with the old iron, it's just that technology has moved along. I'm prepping to do a '67 F250 with a 390 I just had built by Blair Patrick. It's now a 445 that cranks out 526 hp and should make a fun little truck.
Just a quick look on Ford Performance and a Coyote starts about $11.5k. This would make me consider making that 302 the core of your build. No reason to toss a healthy engine.
I'm guessing you went with Trick Flow heads? I chose Edelbrocks at the time since that was the only thing available. I don't like using their stuff, aside from intake manifolds, since they have never really been a "max performance" company. Heads, headers, etc. Their numbers are always way short of the competition. I think they err on the side of reliability, fitment, and similarity to stock designs. From what I understand, their FE head is basically a 428 CJ head cast in aluminum instead of iron.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 290
Likes: 92
Would you mind if I asked the details of your 445 build? I'm making about 75 fewer horsepower with our 445 that used to be a 360 and wondering what the difference is. I'm happy with the build and don't need any more power going through the old girl, but I'm curious about the source of the differences in power output.
I'm guessing you went with Trick Flow heads? I chose Edelbrocks at the time since that was the only thing available. I don't like using their stuff, aside from intake manifolds, since they have never really been a "max performance" company. Heads, headers, etc. Their numbers are always way short of the competition. I think they err on the side of reliability, fitment, and similarity to stock designs. From what I understand, their FE head is basically a 428 CJ head cast in aluminum instead of iron.
I'm guessing you went with Trick Flow heads? I chose Edelbrocks at the time since that was the only thing available. I don't like using their stuff, aside from intake manifolds, since they have never really been a "max performance" company. Heads, headers, etc. Their numbers are always way short of the competition. I think they err on the side of reliability, fitment, and similarity to stock designs. From what I understand, their FE head is basically a 428 CJ head cast in aluminum instead of iron.
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