302 rebuild
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: Montana
302 rebuild
Does anyone know what it would take to get a modest increase in torque from a 302? I have a 93 f250 and it runs great; down the hiway! Yet at every stop light or on every hill, or with every gust of wind I find myself gearing down. If I wanted to shift gears all the time I would be a truck driver. My motor is fast but not powerful.
I am looking into options when I rebuild. (E.G. boring, stroking, cam, compression ratio etc..)
I am looking into options when I rebuild. (E.G. boring, stroking, cam, compression ratio etc..)
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: Montana
hmm - I have 180K on the motor and the rear end is still in good condition. I am thinking that a rebuild would be a better way to go. I kill two birds with one stone. New motor more power.
Thanks for the response Bill.
Thanks for the response Bill.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: durham bridge n.b., canad
I have a 1994 Bronco with a 5.8 (351) and auto/overdrive. It has good torque & gets pretty good gas milage. I have a 7000 lb tandem trailer (electric brakes) that i haul saw logs to a mill with. When it is maxed out it hauls it easily. Without the trailer it gets close to 20 miles to the Canadian gallon. If going to the expense of a rebuild perhaps you should consider a 351 crate engine. Best of luck in your choice, and Merry Christmas. Bill Hanson.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Kalamazoo
Originally Posted by FordCardinal
My motor is fast but not powerful.
Well, to me, that pretty much describes what exactly a 302 is!! Can spend a lot of money trying to make it something different, but might want to look into just going with something with more cubes to begin with as oppossed to trying to make the 302 into something it wasn't really desinged to be to begin with. It may be cheaper in the long run. After 180K on that 302, retire it with full honors and look around for its big brother.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: Montana
Charlie and Bill-
Both of you bring up some excellent common sense points! Kudos to both of you. Great responses and I greatly appreciate it. I fully understand the logic that both of you use!
Of course I will have to wait for the $$$ but I think that a 351 is the best way. Any ideas on where to purchase one, and will it require a lot of modifcations to put one in?
THanks and Merry Christmas!
Both of you bring up some excellent common sense points! Kudos to both of you. Great responses and I greatly appreciate it. I fully understand the logic that both of you use!
Of course I will have to wait for the $$$ but I think that a 351 is the best way. Any ideas on where to purchase one, and will it require a lot of modifcations to put one in?
THanks and Merry Christmas!
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 690
Likes: 0
From: Sweden
The swap from a 302 to a 351w is well documented. They are very similar physically though a number of parts will need to change. The biggest items are the injector harness and the computer.
Trending Topics
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
the injector harness does not need to be changed. the ecu does along with the upper/lower intake, oilpan, distributor and the Y pipe widend a little. everything else will work from the 302 like throttlebody, motor mounts,acessory brackets, injectors and of course the wiring harness. the flywheels are different as well.
What i did for my 5.8 swap was locate a complete low mileage motor. it had everything from oil pan to upper intake. the motor made good oil pressure and had outstanding compression . this made the swap a drop in deal. best upgrade i ever made to my bronco
What i did for my 5.8 swap was locate a complete low mileage motor. it had everything from oil pan to upper intake. the motor made good oil pressure and had outstanding compression . this made the swap a drop in deal. best upgrade i ever made to my bronco
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: Montana
So can a guy just get a complete 351 (Windsor I am assuming) and drop it in with little to no problem? Does the tranny bolt right up? If I understand correctly, the wiring and everything else should work so it would be as though I just dropped in another 302; correct?
Thanks
Thanks
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
yes the tranny will also bolt up. the more complete of a 351w you find the easier it is to swap in. the 302 harness might have a connector or 2 that dont have a home on the 351w but that is fine. the proper ecu wont even care. i paid $800 for my motor from a wrecking yard, came out of a 95 f250 and had 80k miles on it. the motor will easily last another 100k with proper tlc which to me is well worth it. you could start with a bare long block 351w , just gathering all the stuff would be a tad time consuming but not a problem. remember the 5.8 was an option in your year rig
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Eglin AFB
damn the 351 go 460 and be done with it. just kidding. i am thinking of doing the 351 swap eventually, but i also have a tendency to run into 250s with 460s in them with like 65000 miles on them as well.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Kalamazoo
Not on all of them, Kemical. The non-HO 302s in some passenger cars contnued to use the 28oz. The 302 we pulled out a a Merc GM had a 28oz on it. Apparentl all HO-302 went to the 50oz, but not the non-Ho motors up to around '90-91 from what I could best determine.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
my 88 bronco 302 had a 50oz imbalance and was not an HO. that motor in the grand marc probably wasnt the original motor
This is from http://www.performanceparts.ford.com/faq/faq.asp
.: What is the crankshaft balance factor of my 302 or 351W/C engine?
1968-80 302 engines were built with a 28-ounce imbalance factor.
1981-2001 302 engines were built with a 50-ounce imbalance factor.
1969-97 351W engines were built with a 28-ounce imbalance factor.
1970-74 351C engines were built with a 28-ounce imbalance factor.
This is from http://www.performanceparts.ford.com/faq/faq.asp
.: What is the crankshaft balance factor of my 302 or 351W/C engine?
1968-80 302 engines were built with a 28-ounce imbalance factor.
1981-2001 302 engines were built with a 50-ounce imbalance factor.
1969-97 351W engines were built with a 28-ounce imbalance factor.
1970-74 351C engines were built with a 28-ounce imbalance factor.
Last edited by Kemicalburns; Dec 23, 2005 at 11:09 AM.