1981 300ci
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: BC
1981 300ci
Ive got to replace a bunch of parts on my truck including the clutch.. and I was wondering if it would be smarter to drop a 302 in instead of building up the 300 ... im a big fan of small block v8s but this 300 has run me good for a long time .. any suggestions
and I'm going to be building the engine up quite a bit so how much power can you squeeze out of the 300?
and I'm going to be building the engine up quite a bit so how much power can you squeeze out of the 300?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,218
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From: Parkville, MO (KC)
Of course, you are not going to get truely unbiased answers to that question here, nor over at the 302 forum either. What I personally believe to be a reasonable answer is the the following.
For day in/ day out driving and towing, where you are not interested in having your foot in it and reving the engine to get the work done, the 300 is a better choice. In terms of durability, the 300 might have a slight edge, but the 302 is no slouch either. Geared correctly, assuming that you don't mind, or even *like* to "get into it" a lot, the 302 will deliver as good or a little better horsepower than the 300. But at higher RPM.
If you like aftermarket parts and all sorts of performance mods, then the 302 might be cheaper as well, with more options. But the 300 has some decent offerings too. Advantage 302 here as well.
The 300 is a truck engine, good at doing what trucks were originally intended to do -- work. Pull stuff, get moving at low RPM, without reving it up and slipping the clutch. Even with my little 240 (de-stroked 300) I have enough torque that I can enter traffic lugging at 1000 rpm in 4th and she will chug right on up to crusing speed. Don't try this with an 8. The torque figures that you see for a 302 are always measured at at least 1000 rpm higher than a 300. The 300 has low end torque. It is a pleasure to just drive, especially if you don't get into lots of RPM and what not.
For day in/ day out driving and towing, where you are not interested in having your foot in it and reving the engine to get the work done, the 300 is a better choice. In terms of durability, the 300 might have a slight edge, but the 302 is no slouch either. Geared correctly, assuming that you don't mind, or even *like* to "get into it" a lot, the 302 will deliver as good or a little better horsepower than the 300. But at higher RPM.
If you like aftermarket parts and all sorts of performance mods, then the 302 might be cheaper as well, with more options. But the 300 has some decent offerings too. Advantage 302 here as well.
The 300 is a truck engine, good at doing what trucks were originally intended to do -- work. Pull stuff, get moving at low RPM, without reving it up and slipping the clutch. Even with my little 240 (de-stroked 300) I have enough torque that I can enter traffic lugging at 1000 rpm in 4th and she will chug right on up to crusing speed. Don't try this with an 8. The torque figures that you see for a 302 are always measured at at least 1000 rpm higher than a 300. The 300 has low end torque. It is a pleasure to just drive, especially if you don't get into lots of RPM and what not.
Postmaster
Joined: May 2004
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Yes, you make a good point of how torque ratings.
We hear alot on this website how the 300 is a great "torquey" engine.
In a sense it is....it provides it's maximum torque at a low rpm.
But, keep in mind, V8s provide as much or higher amounts of torque.
Case in point (Federal engines):
4.9 6 250@1600 rpm
5.0 8 250@2000
5.8 8 278@1400
7.5 8 331@2200
6.9 8 307@1800 Diesel
That's interesting how the 5.8 maxes out at only 1400 rpm.
Source: 83 Ford Lt Truck Specification Book
We hear alot on this website how the 300 is a great "torquey" engine.
In a sense it is....it provides it's maximum torque at a low rpm.
But, keep in mind, V8s provide as much or higher amounts of torque.
Case in point (Federal engines):
4.9 6 250@1600 rpm
5.0 8 250@2000
5.8 8 278@1400
7.5 8 331@2200
6.9 8 307@1800 Diesel
That's interesting how the 5.8 maxes out at only 1400 rpm.
Source: 83 Ford Lt Truck Specification Book
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