300 vs. 302 swap question
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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300 vs. 302 swap question
just wondering what the pros and cons of doing this swap is? if any body knows please let me know. ive got a 1980 F-100 stepside (wood bed) and it would make a great hot rod truck. as much as i love the 300 its not a hot rod truck engine. would yall swap the 300 out or build it up?
thanks,
theccowboy
thanks,
theccowboy
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,218
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From: Parkville, MO (KC)
Whatever you do, DON'T swap a 302 for the 300. If you want a hot rod, then fine, get a big block such as 460 and get it over with. To get performace out of a 302, you need two things -- a light vehicle and high revs. The one you don't have, the other you don't want.
Trucks as "rods" are best with a bone rattling basso profundo sort of rumble that you get best with a BIG eight. Used to be, the distinctive sound of a split 6 six was also associated with old "rods" too. Now of course, done wrong, your exhaust can *sometimes* sound like a ricer a bit. Which is definitely not what most of us want. Done right, the 300 can sound and perform awsomely.
Don't let the profusion of 5.0 performance parts convince you that it is a performance engine. It was a popular engine in a lot of vehicles and in a car, it can really be sweet. In a truck it is a compromise, at best, and a joke if you ever try to tow anything but tin cans. If you think the reason to go 302 is because it is cheap, consider that a 460 might cost you a grand more. Is it really worth the trouble to swap in an inferior engine "just" to have a V8? You'll regret it.
I hope I have slammed this thought enough to dissuade you from doing this.
Trucks as "rods" are best with a bone rattling basso profundo sort of rumble that you get best with a BIG eight. Used to be, the distinctive sound of a split 6 six was also associated with old "rods" too. Now of course, done wrong, your exhaust can *sometimes* sound like a ricer a bit. Which is definitely not what most of us want. Done right, the 300 can sound and perform awsomely.
Don't let the profusion of 5.0 performance parts convince you that it is a performance engine. It was a popular engine in a lot of vehicles and in a car, it can really be sweet. In a truck it is a compromise, at best, and a joke if you ever try to tow anything but tin cans. If you think the reason to go 302 is because it is cheap, consider that a 460 might cost you a grand more. Is it really worth the trouble to swap in an inferior engine "just" to have a V8? You'll regret it.
I hope I have slammed this thought enough to dissuade you from doing this.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,299
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From: The Vieux Ford, Kansas
I would say a 302 is a good choice, i have seen an 1992 F-150 SWB run 11s in the 1/4 with a stroked 302 and was still very streetable, you will want to run after market heads and the 347 kit is a plus but this is the kind of the thing any motor would need you most likely won't find any stock motor 460 or 302 that will be a racer all motors need work unless you go find a Cammer or something. 302s are cheap and not hard to find and parts are cheap. The 302 won't require a front spring change due to weight like the 460 would and your brakes will still stop you safely. Have fun
-johnoby
-johnoby
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2003
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What tranny are you running? You might end up swapping that as well. If you're looking soley for street performance, stop light to stop light, cruising and a little track time I wouldn't go with either a 300 or a 302. Bolt in a 351w. You're going to need new mounts, harness, linkage, exhaust and plumbing (at least) anyway. The 351w still uses the smallblock bell-housing and mounts and you'll get better stroke than with a 347 kit. It's a little stouter at the mains and just as easy (almost) to pull out of a yard.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 2
From: Parkville, MO (KC)
Sure, the 302 can produce the HP and torque of a 300. If you gear it right and rev it up, it will work. It will even beat the 300 if you rev it far enough -- and if you want to live at 4k then fine, have it your way. He (the original poster) wants a "hot rod" engine. To me, the 302 is not that. Want a novel rod, then keep the 300 and put some nice stuff on it. Want a V8 -- get something with displacement. 302 is just too small for real trucks, no matter how much you rev it.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 788
Likes: 1
From: Hendersonville, TN
Originally Posted by mattri
What tranny are you running? You might end up swapping that as well. If you're looking soley for street performance, stop light to stop light, cruising and a little track time I wouldn't go with either a 300 or a 302. Bolt in a 351w. You're going to need new mounts, harness, linkage, exhaust and plumbing (at least) anyway. The 351w still uses the smallblock bell-housing and mounts and you'll get better stroke than with a 347 kit. It's a little stouter at the mains and just as easy (almost) to pull out of a yard.
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,038
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From: Spokane WA
Wanna do a lot of work and tow houses up mountains...keep the 6
wanna go fast and Rev high? have cheap available bolt on parts....go 302
want something still bigger? go 351....
I get so tired of hearing somebody, at least once in every engine swap thread bring up just throwing a 385 series motor in it.......thats not the answer for everyone.
and to say 302s arent performance engines? Whatever, tell that to the guys running 10s in 4000 pound mustangs, gimme a break.
460 swaps require front end beefing up on an f150 of that vintage, dana 44s with any decent tire size dont like 460s (or ford 9s for that matter)
My vote for what you want.....302
wanna go fast and Rev high? have cheap available bolt on parts....go 302
want something still bigger? go 351....
I get so tired of hearing somebody, at least once in every engine swap thread bring up just throwing a 385 series motor in it.......thats not the answer for everyone.
and to say 302s arent performance engines? Whatever, tell that to the guys running 10s in 4000 pound mustangs, gimme a break.
460 swaps require front end beefing up on an f150 of that vintage, dana 44s with any decent tire size dont like 460s (or ford 9s for that matter)
My vote for what you want.....302
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Lewistown, PA
Originally Posted by Icicle
I get so tired of hearing somebody, at least once in every engine swap thread bring up just throwing a 385 series motor in it.......thats not the answer for everyone.
What I would do is build a 302 or a 351 with some nice go fast goodies, supercharger,
3.73's in a 9" w/ 35 spline axles, trac loc, and a C6 w/ a manual valve body and a 2400 stall torque converter. Then sit back watch ricers and camaros scream with agony.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,978
Likes: 1
From: Alvin, Texas.
I would build the 351w as well. Unlike a 460, you can get some revs out of it when necessary. 460 = pulling engine....trying to put the characteristics of a 302 into it, well, one can imagine how much sense that makes.
As for having to swap brakes with a 460 swap, well, the though is nice, but unless a truck with a 460 survives 130mph over and over again, there is no need for bigger brakes. Stock F150 disks will stop said truck doing normal highway speeds whethre equipped with a 300, 302, 460, etc.
As for having to swap brakes with a 460 swap, well, the though is nice, but unless a truck with a 460 survives 130mph over and over again, there is no need for bigger brakes. Stock F150 disks will stop said truck doing normal highway speeds whethre equipped with a 300, 302, 460, etc.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 84
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well to me working on a inline six is so easy i can change the plugs in a couple of minutes if i jump into the engine bay this makes working on the engine fun to me. A V-8 is a different story not much room at all if compared to the 300. If you want to hotrod a truck a V-8 would be nice if you want to make the V-8 sound or just have the power to move quickly a built six would provide some jaw dropping power to people that would laugh at a six.
