Some engine work.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 52
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Some engine work.
To set the platform. I have an 86 f150 with a 302. I do some towing and would like alittle more torque and power. What are my options as far as cam's go? I was looking in my haynes manual and see that you have to take the lifters out too so i might as well upgrade those right?
Give me your ideas.
Give me your ideas.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
if your going to tow look into gears. a cam really isnt going to give you the gains you expecting from a 302 especially since its efi which limits your choices for cams. is your truck 4wd ? and what size tires are you running?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
and your 302 is efi correct. if so its speed density so your choice of cams is small. any cam you chose must have a lobe seperation no less then 114* otherwise it will run like crap. upgrading to a set of E7 heads with some port work along with some 1.7 rockers would sure wake things up a lot. of course headers and freer flowing exhaust like new Y pipe, hiflow cat and single 3" exhaust. with that gear ratio you should be running more like a 33" tire by the way which you can fit without lifting that year truck but lifting never hurt either.
i would really start with exhaust . this will give a decent improvment and would be needed before any motor mod anyhow.
i would really start with exhaust . this will give a decent improvment and would be needed before any motor mod anyhow.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
Since it's an '86, we're also talking flat lifters. If you do change the cam, you have to replace the lifters. They wear in to the lobes of the cam and can't be reused unless they are reground, and since new lifters are so cheap anyway, it's not worth the bother and cost of regrinding stock lifters. Heck, I'm not even sure if anybody still does it!
You can often buy a kit which consists of cam, lifters, and valvesprings. Look for the valvespring requirements of any cam you select as many will recommend upgrading the springs as well.
You can often buy a kit which consists of cam, lifters, and valvesprings. Look for the valvespring requirements of any cam you select as many will recommend upgrading the springs as well.
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 690
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From: Sweden
Lots of people swap out a 302 for a 351W which is more powerful by design. A bunch of stuff needs to be replaced but it all fits since these models were put out with either engine.
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
E7s are a stock Ford head, originally designed for trucks (E7TE) but have proven to be a good head with a little bit of work. Avialable on Ebay and in wrecking yards, just look for the E7TE casting number on the bottom of the head by the pushrod holes. (You can't see it on an assembled engine.)
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
yea just what tiger said. most any wrecking yard will have them on 87+ 302's in trucks and cars. they are a better flowing head then your 86's for sure.
DannyM, i to am a big fan of swaping out the 302 for a 351w but i got tired of trying to justify the swap. it is a very easy swap, doesnt really require to many different parts and will give you an imediate gain of 40lbs ft of torque . but not everyone can do the swap themselves or has the resources to do so.
DannyM, i to am a big fan of swaping out the 302 for a 351w but i got tired of trying to justify the swap. it is a very easy swap, doesnt really require to many different parts and will give you an imediate gain of 40lbs ft of torque . but not everyone can do the swap themselves or has the resources to do so.