I have an 85 F150 with a 300 6-cylinder, 4-speed, completely factory. I have a 302 block from an 89 F150. What would i need to change to get this to work? I plan on using an eldebrock carb on the 302, but what do i do about the computer? can I remove it completely? any help would be appreciated. thanx

 

I dont know if you would want to remove it completely, you coud run into some problems there. Is it 4wd?

 

yes, it is 4wd

 

Hey man I just preformed this exact swap in my 85 F-150. I had a carburated straight six, with all the stupid emissions sensors and stuff on it. All you need is the engine cradles for a 302 because the ones off the six wont work. The holes are already in the frame for the cradle all you have to do is bolt the ones for the V-8 up. After you drop the motor in and bolt it to the trans which also matches you will have to get another radiator and fan shroud, because the radiator hoses are in a diffrent location. If the you have all the brackets on the 302 you really dont have anything to worry about, unless it was a serpentine belt drive then you might have to go to a wrecking yard and hunt down a old school three belt pully system. You will need your alternator bracket (which also contains the smog pump bracket in one piece, which I just cut off and ground smooth, because who uses a smog pump???) , power steering pump bracket, harmonic balancer pulley, a/c brackets, and water pump pulley. The water pump on a serpentine belt dive spins the oppisite direction than a conventional belt system so be sure to get the right one. A 302 is also balanced different than a straight six so you will have to change the fly wheel. If your harmonic balancer has a weighted spot on it, look on the front or back side of it and if it gets thicker on the edge in one spot that means that it is externally balanced and that you will need to acquire a fly wheel that is also. You will probally be able to find one at a wrecking yard as well. Make sure the one you get has a weighted spot on it is well. Considering the fact that you said that your motor is an 89 model it is more than likely to be externally balanced and unless the 89 302 was a standard as well you will need to make these changes in order to keep your motor from having a vibration which can reek havoc on your main berrings. Your ignition coil and distributor plugs are the same and will plug right in. You may have to extend some of the wires like the oil pressure guage wire and the water temp wire just make sure you use the same guage/size wire. Other than that the only problem I have ran into is that my motor will not rev past 4000 RPM's and I think that might have somehthing to do with the computer I am still asking around about that. My truck runs fine other wise. And all the emmisions sensors and O2 sensors that were on my six I just left unplugged and havent had a problem with them yet. I am more than pleased with the power I gained with the swap and it really didnt hurt my gas milage either 13 to 14 with the six and 12 to 13 with the eight I'll take that for the hp gain. If you run into any problems or have any questions please feel free to ask I'll try to help in any way. I try to check this sight every night if possible.


Good luck

Chops810

 

thanks for the info, Chops. I won't be doing this swap until spring, so you caqn relax on checking up until then. thanks again for the much needed info

 

what if I take out the computer and put a duraspark II in it? with an Edelbrock carb? I will have to use an electric fuel pump as the block I have is from an 89, do I need a regulator? What is a good cam (i.e. specs) for 4-wheeling?

 

I would use the edelbrock performer cam, the front cover/cam eccentric drive and mechanical fuel pump might be nicer, the parts would be cheap, probably around the price of an electric fuel pump, you will need a regulator and gauge to 7 psi,

The duraspark 2 is perfect

 

you don't need a regulator if you get an electric pump for carbs. they put out just enough fuel to power the engine. i use one now and no problems