What would you do?
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From: kirksville mo
What would you do?
Hey there i've got a 1980 f-250 4x4 that i'm doing a ground up restoration on It curently does not have an engine but i do have a parts truck an f 150 86 model with an 302 fi my question is should I keep it fi or should I make it carburated I relize that this would be a lot of work switching the wireing harness but i do have the whole parts truck to work with what would be your suggestions Thanks dave
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switching the harness is not actually that much work i switched the harness from my 86 f150 into my bronco it took less than an hour everything pretty much plugged right in. the fuel system took a little longer had to drill the holes to mount the framerail mounted pump but it will be well worth it efi yeilds better fuel economy and power in my opinion not to mention you don't have to spend hours trying to tune a carb to get the damn thing to run right lol
Post Fiend
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From: Coutts Canada
me i would keep it simple and leave it caberautored, utbroncodriver is right about the conversion though. Just look at it this way, is your skill level up to the task of fixing the FI if it screws up? Me i prefer the cleaner look of caberuation, and with a non holley type carb, such as a carter (what i have and it only took 15 min. to tune) or edelbrock, you can make life a lot easier.
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From: Kalispell, MT
in my personal opinion, and take it with a grain of salt...the 302 does not belong in a 3/4 ton 4x4...the 302 is a light duty motor (IMPO) and i would only put it in a 2wd 1/2 ton, or a car (i.e. mustangs, etc.)....personally, and i know this sounds strange...i would rather have a 300-6 in that vehicle over the 302...the 300 isn't a pony motor like the 302, but it's got all the low end torque and pulling power you would ever want, and with the right gearing and transmission, you can still pull good mileage out of it. if i was going to have a v-8, it would be the 351W, because you can do everything you do to a 302, for basically the same price, and get a better motor out of it in the long run...more power, more torque, more overall performance...but as i said...this is my personal opinion...take it how you will...
MontanaFord
MontanaFord
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From: Chicago, IL
voting for EFI...
i've said it before, and i'll say it again, EFI is simply better. much more reliable, better fuel economy, performance, and believe it or not guys, EASIER to fix.. maybe not as cheap, but its definetley easier from my experiences.
i converted my 300 to EFI without a donor truck. yours should be easier since you have the donor truck, plus you're doing this on a 302 (300 was a pain because of the stupid exhaust manifold)
i've said it before, and i'll say it again, EFI is simply better. much more reliable, better fuel economy, performance, and believe it or not guys, EASIER to fix.. maybe not as cheap, but its definetley easier from my experiences.
i converted my 300 to EFI without a donor truck. yours should be easier since you have the donor truck, plus you're doing this on a 302 (300 was a pain because of the stupid exhaust manifold)
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Unless you are a mechanic/electronic tech. and have access to code checkers, I prefer the simplicity of carbeuration. Just get yourself an Edelbrock performer intake manifold and a carb NO LARGER THAN 600CFM and you'll be fine. The only way you'll spend hours tuning your carb is if you do somthing stupid like try to put a 750CFM or larger carb on a 302 (Speaking from past experience). I did a V-8 conversion on my 85 Ranger using a 302 from an 88 Mustang GT. I used an Edelbrock Performer intake and a 600CFM Holley since, of course, the 88 motor was EFI. I did the swap 4 years ago and have never had to work on the carb since. It gets. about 18-20 MPG with a 5 speed and runs the quarter in 13.52.
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From: kirksville mo
Thank you all for the replies I work at a salvage yard as a mechanic/ parts puller so i have all the tools, code readers ect to do this swap since my boss can't pay us alot we can get our parts for free or greatly reduced so I think I will do the swap unless something else comes in better than this but this is unlikley in our yard since we dont get alot of ford trucks in only my donner truck in the last year . again thanks for your help and imput. Dave
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If you need a good 351W....I got it for you!
I have an 1984 F150 with a 351W .......excellent work truck.....only 1700.00......Motor runs fine....truck it nice as hell.....only 148,000 miles on it.
presleyfam4@yahoo.com
presleyfam4@yahoo.com
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From: kirksville mo
Well i've decited to start tearing down the donner truck tomorrow after work, i'll let ya know how it goes it'll take awhile since i'll only be able to work on it a few hours a night.