351W EFI Mods
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Cleveland Oh
351W EFI Mods
I am getting ready to swap out the 302 EFI in my 1990 F-250 with a 351W EFI I was wondering what the best kind of mods to get more power out it are. I am not looking to get too extreme. I still want to pass emissions I am just a college kid so I can afford to get to crazy and I need to get some gas mileage. Do they make a cam lifter intake set-up that works with the computer. I am new to working on ford motors for performance.
Thanks
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2003
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351..... gas milege...??? these words i have never heard in the same sentance. i am thinking about swaping my 351 out for a 460 now. it alredy has power... lenty of it, and they will get more than 10 mpg with an overdrive and 4.10's. you will be sorry you got a 351. i am getting 7-8 mpg in a 1/2 ton 2-w.d.ext. cab short bed with a 351 c-6 and 3.55 rear end. it doesn't have any power to brag about and even driving it normally-babying it will get you 8 mpg. the truck has only 65,000 miles on it and does not throw any codes or lights. i have new spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel filter trying to gain 1/2 mpg... but it is not helping. do yourself a favor and go straight to big block 460. i have not seen any erformance stuff either for a 351. theres lots for a 302 and you can make a 302 run better than a 351 if you want to. imho.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: New Jersey
I'll offer a contrasting opinion.
93 F350 crewcab, longbed, single rear wheel, 5.8L EFI engine, ZF 5sp manual tranny. I average 12mpg or so on the highway, but if I'm gentle I can usually get 14-ish. This is in a tired truck, with 325K on the odometer.
I too will be swapping out my 5.8L for a 460, (well, a 500cid stroker, with two turbos as well), but I expect about the same mileage (or slightly better) when not thrashing the accelerator that much.
While it is true you can get significantly more power out of a stroked 302 (5.0) than a 351 (5.8L) factory engine, starting with 49 more cubes and stroking the 351 closer to 400 cubes, well, produces even more power and more torque.
And since strokers generally don't like high rpms, and you own/drive a truck, its a good match since if the truck is geared right, you WANT less rpms and more grunt (torque) anyway. Makes towing, acceleration, etc, all that much easier. And, you get better mileage to boot, again, if built/geared appropriately.
93 F350 crewcab, longbed, single rear wheel, 5.8L EFI engine, ZF 5sp manual tranny. I average 12mpg or so on the highway, but if I'm gentle I can usually get 14-ish. This is in a tired truck, with 325K on the odometer.
I too will be swapping out my 5.8L for a 460, (well, a 500cid stroker, with two turbos as well), but I expect about the same mileage (or slightly better) when not thrashing the accelerator that much.
While it is true you can get significantly more power out of a stroked 302 (5.0) than a 351 (5.8L) factory engine, starting with 49 more cubes and stroking the 351 closer to 400 cubes, well, produces even more power and more torque.
And since strokers generally don't like high rpms, and you own/drive a truck, its a good match since if the truck is geared right, you WANT less rpms and more grunt (torque) anyway. Makes towing, acceleration, etc, all that much easier. And, you get better mileage to boot, again, if built/geared appropriately.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Cleveland Oh
Well what should I do?
Ok now you guys got me thinking. I got about $200 tied up in the 351W EFI its currently in a E-350 1 Ton van I could do a little work here and there on it and fix it up and it might pull a decent price since it has brand new tires on it. The body is pretty rusty though.
I got a 90 F-250 4x4 with a 302 EFI and 4 spd manual. I got lots of low end matter of fact I mainly start out in 2nd since I got a granny first gear. The problem I have is that I have no ***** on the highway when I am pulling my race car. Trying todo even 65 is a stretch. I mean my buddies v6 chevy is passing me pulling the same weight.
My thinking was that the 302-351 swap is pretty easy since most/ all brackets are compatible and the wiring is the same. I figure it was pretty much just plug and play. I figured the 351 would give me more power with out too much more cost. I was going to drop the 351 in asis and then bolt up some shorty headers and a dual exhaust.
The vehicle is going to be for mostly plowing and off roading fun maybe some towing.
After all of this I dunno what todo. Should I put a few dollars in the van and unload it and keep the 5.0l and just add dual exhaust to it. Or should I swap in the 351 help me out.
I got a 90 F-250 4x4 with a 302 EFI and 4 spd manual. I got lots of low end matter of fact I mainly start out in 2nd since I got a granny first gear. The problem I have is that I have no ***** on the highway when I am pulling my race car. Trying todo even 65 is a stretch. I mean my buddies v6 chevy is passing me pulling the same weight.
My thinking was that the 302-351 swap is pretty easy since most/ all brackets are compatible and the wiring is the same. I figure it was pretty much just plug and play. I figured the 351 would give me more power with out too much more cost. I was going to drop the 351 in asis and then bolt up some shorty headers and a dual exhaust.
The vehicle is going to be for mostly plowing and off roading fun maybe some towing.
After all of this I dunno what todo. Should I put a few dollars in the van and unload it and keep the 5.0l and just add dual exhaust to it. Or should I swap in the 351 help me out.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 92
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From: Kissimmee, FL
351 swap by all means, or if possible, a 460. I have an 89 w/ a 302 and 4 speed manual and I plan to swap in a 460. Unfortunately the 4 speed manual, with the way your gearing is, on the highway our trucks are ****. I know I go 70 at around 3k rpm and that's w/o a load in the bed or somethin to tow. The 302 is great for a mustang but on a truck that ways over 1000lbs more u need more power
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 92
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From: Kissimmee, FL
I believe the 351W efi motor has 210hp and 315 ft lbs of torque. The 460 has 235 hp and 390 ft lbs of torque. Either way ur goin to get bad gas mileage, but if ur going to be towing I highly reccomend the 460. Try and find a wrecked f250/350 w/ a 460 and zf tranny. The zf has an od gear so ur truck doesn't scream on the highway.
Last edited by doosky2k; Jan 29, 2005 at 12:44 PM.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Shelton Wa.
I just did the 302 to 351w swap and love it. there is no comparosson to the two motors. i do not have 1000 miles on my 351 yet and with the e4od tranny and 355 gears i am getting close to 14 mpg on my trip to work in it. 70 mph is a bout 2100 rpm. when i did the swap i also put a mild cam in it,260 degrees duration .450 in. lift and the shorty ford racing headers and i dont regret it a bit.kinda rekindled the love i once had for my truck.
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