The 350 is chevy's mainstream motor, it's in everything from boats to trucks...you name it. The 305 was not very popular cuz it stinks, but they were used in some cars and some boats.

The 302 from Ford is their mainstream motor, I feel it's pretty equivlant to the 350 as far as popularity if you don't count things like boats...maybe slightly less popular than a 350....not anything drastic. However, Ford's 351 is way more popuar than chevy's 305....so in essenace chevy has all it's popularity in the 350, but the Ford has a lot of popularity in the 302 and a good amount in the 351. Many chevy owners don't think of it that way

 

Well said MustangGT221. If you look at hp numbers before VORTEC, the 302 had equal hp to a TBI 350, and the 351 was about 20 hp more. Also, now this is just my opinion, but chevy didn't have better interiors until 99, and even then they were not much nicer. Also, Chevy's are more prone to rust than Fords. Just look at most 20 year old Chevy's and Ford's, the Chev is generally worse. I know one guy with a 88 Chev and did boxsides, cab corners, etc. about 3 years ago, so the truck was 12 or 13 years old.

Trevor

 

in my opinion, the only(slight)downfall of fords, especially thier powertrains is interchangeability. im speaking mostly of engine to tranny. correct me if im wrong, but i think chevys only have one bellhousing pattern. but all it takes is a hint of intelligence to overcome that hurdle-something that most gm owners lack.

 

I think its a better idea... it allowed ford to build smaller, better geared transmissions for cars... and stouter, heavy duty trannys for 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks.

Just my opinion.

 

dont get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with it. it just can give some people a headache sometimes. thats why this forum is here.

 

Ford is also selling a 5.0 "Cammer" engine through the dealerships. It's a 400 HP 5 liter DOHC engine based on the 4.6/5.4 blocks. Rumor has this engine making it into the Mustang as either a Shelby model or in the new SVT Cobra. Chevy is stuck in pushrod mode,and is making HP using cubic inches. The only problem is that inches require metal, which adds weight. So they use plastic body panels (hey, the don't rust!) to improve performance, but the plastic shrinks and expands A LOT when temperatures change. Just look at the panel gaps on a Saturn for a very clear understanding. The plastic fantastic (a.k.a. Corvette) has the same issues. Looks like crap.

Bottom line, Ford does with 4.6 liters what Chevy does with 5.7. And if Ford panels rust, it's because the owners aren't ashamed to take them out into the elements where they will be seen.

 

That's one thing I like about Chevy - there interchangability. I like the fact that a Turbo 400 thats behind a 292 I6 can be bolted to a 454 with no changes. But that is one of the few things I like about Chebby. I meant to put that in my post above, but forgot.

Trevor

 

To purchase that Crammer motor is like $16,000. It's not a cheap motor but I guess it's really nice. They had one on a racing mustang with like 600hp and a 7500 full redline.

Also I've found that the interchangability on the F-series has been exceptional. You can swap a M5OD tranny (f-150) out for a ZF-S420 from an F-250 or F-350 as if you just removed/reinstalled the same one. The bolt patterns on the 300 six is the same as the windsor motors. The heads for the smaller V-8s all interchange (289, 302, 351), the pistons from the 302 work on 351 stroker motors, the axles swap interchangabily between the F-series vehicles. You could even put a 92-96 clip on a 87-91 truck and fool people into thinking its newer than it is. The rear axle on a ranger is the same one that is on the Mustang...I could go on all day...I think I've seen several examples where ford's done a good job on interchangability. Not just talking about trucks either...

 

Some more good points there Mustang. If you put a set of 351W heads on a 302, that is as good as you can get a 302 to breathe, in my opinion. However if you compare Ford powertrain's interchangability to that of Chevy, the Chevy is better (I use that term loosely) due to the fact that everytransmission will bolt to every engine available in a full size pickup. At least up to 98, I can't say about newer Chev's because I don't know.

Trevor

 

No, it is indeed an LT1. 265 cid, or 4.3 liters, V8.

p.s. found this on a search:
265 - There was only one block used for the 265 cid version of the LT1. It’s a 10168588 casting that had the numbers "4.3" cast on the side, too. It’s real easy to spot if the heads are off because of the small 3.74" bore.

265 - The 265 has it’s own unique crank with a 3.00" stroke. That’s the same stroke the original 265 had back in 1955; it’s funny how things go around and come back full circle. It’s a 10168568 casting.

265 - The 265 rods are 0.240" longer than the ones in the 350. Both blocks are the same height, but the stroke for the 265 is 0.480" shorter, so the rods have to be longer to make up for half the difference. These rods can be identified by the single, raised dot on both sides of the shank.
not trying to start a ruckus, just posting proof that there is a smaller version of an LT1...

info from http://www.automotiverebuilder.com/ar/ar99928.htm
I realized this was an LT1 one night reading an older hot rod magazine article on the (then) new LT1 engine....when I got to the part about the shaft-driven water-pump, I looked real close at the pictures, and discovered it looked like the engine in the caprice....was floored to find it had a small LT1...

 

t_dickie... After about 85 the 302 and 351w heads were the same....

 

I think it was before 85 as well...but don't hold me to it.

The 289, 302, and 351 heads interchange....even from left to right sides of the motor. The 302 and 289 use a different style bolt to attach it to the motor however, no biggy though. There are lots and lots of aftermarket heads available, it's much more involved than swapping heads from another motor.

I didn't get very specific last time, but I will quickly to demonstrate my point of earlier (regarding interchangeability)....


The 80-96 trucks are extremely interchangeable. You can take a 96 F-150 2wd, and swap in a 80' 4wd's front end to get a 4wd conversion without any modifications or complications. The suspensions are very interchangeable, the axles are very interchangeable, and the transmissions are also very interchangeable.

I'm taking the rear axle from a F-250, putting it in the rear of my F-150 and it'll 100% bolt up (i just need to run 16" wheels cuz of the bigger brakes). The front axle of a 85ish+ F-350 (d60 solid) will bolt into my F-150 with a little modification.

The 300, 302, 351 have the same engine bolt pattern, any small block tranny will fit them...the ZF 5 speed out of an F-250 is going in my F-150 replacing the M5OD thats presently there. It's a literal remove, replace swap...

You can swap 302s and 351s with very little modification, some added parts are required if you swap from a 300, but still very easy.

The gauge cluster w/o a tach can be swapped for one w/ a tach, the wiring is back there...

The 4wd indicator light can even be made functional after a 4wd conversion, the wiring is there.

A bronco 32 gal gas tank will swap into the rear of an F-150 for added fuel capacity (gotta do something with the spare tire though).


I could go on all day....

 

I don't know when they changed but the 351 heads used to have bigger valves, hence more flow.

Trevor

 

That was back in the day when aftermarket heads weren't really available.....for awhile now there have been aftermarket heads that are way better than a stock 351 head...so back in the day they used to swap a 351 head on a 302 but they don't now and havn't for awhile since there are other options. In the beginning it was like that....

 

Yeah, its just a cheaper alternative cuz the GT 40 heads my father bought were around 1600 or 1700Cdn. But I think the block had to be flycut in order for the 351 heads to work, but I could be wrong.

Trevor