Horsepower Rating
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 47
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Horsepower Rating
Can anyone tell me what the original horsepower rating was for my 1978 Ford Ranger 302 2V?
I know it wasn't a whole lot. It was built back during one of the the first fuel crunches and it seems Ford was looking for mileage instead of performance. As I recall, with the 2.75 gears, it was tough on this truck to pull the hay trailer. In fact, I remember that it would barely run 85 mph (empty) until my dad had duals put on it.
I am looking for what the stock rating was so I might possibly try to improve things a bit using Ford parts. Maybe match the manifold and head ports or going to a Holley 2BBL that can be tuned.
I'm basically looking for a benchmark.
I know it wasn't a whole lot. It was built back during one of the the first fuel crunches and it seems Ford was looking for mileage instead of performance. As I recall, with the 2.75 gears, it was tough on this truck to pull the hay trailer. In fact, I remember that it would barely run 85 mph (empty) until my dad had duals put on it.
I am looking for what the stock rating was so I might possibly try to improve things a bit using Ford parts. Maybe match the manifold and head ports or going to a Holley 2BBL that can be tuned.
I'm basically looking for a benchmark.
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 47
Likes: 1
That's what I was looking for! I knew the horsepower couldn't have been a whole lot. Even though it didn't have the torque, my 94 four cylinder Saturn Sport Coupe made 121 hp.
I'm not trying to build a race car, but I would like to try and tweak what I have and make it more efficient. My old Ford is retired from farm and work duty and since I've moved to the Dallas area. Now days it never has to pull anything and it rarely has to go faster than 45 mph.
A couple of years back, when the new Dudge trucks got their new engine, people really complained about fuel economy. It seems that with all their infinite wisdom, the folks at Dudge built the heaviest half ton truck on the market with the smallest amount of cubic inches and the least amount of hp. From what I heard, the folks that opted for the larger engine actually got better fuel economy.
Also, the folks that I knew that drove Ford products got better mileage in their trucks if they opted for the 4.6 instead of the V6.
I'm hoping that if I can improve the power/weight ratio of my 302 without getting too radical, it might get a little better fuel mileage and be more fun to drive.
I'm not trying to build a race car, but I would like to try and tweak what I have and make it more efficient. My old Ford is retired from farm and work duty and since I've moved to the Dallas area. Now days it never has to pull anything and it rarely has to go faster than 45 mph.
A couple of years back, when the new Dudge trucks got their new engine, people really complained about fuel economy. It seems that with all their infinite wisdom, the folks at Dudge built the heaviest half ton truck on the market with the smallest amount of cubic inches and the least amount of hp. From what I heard, the folks that opted for the larger engine actually got better fuel economy.
Also, the folks that I knew that drove Ford products got better mileage in their trucks if they opted for the 4.6 instead of the V6.
I'm hoping that if I can improve the power/weight ratio of my 302 without getting too radical, it might get a little better fuel mileage and be more fun to drive.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
If you put a new intake and carb on it, you should get better power and fuel mileage also.
If you put a 600CFM or a little less 4 barrel carb, you'll get better gas mileage than w/ the stock 2v carb. B/c the secondarys only kick in a burn alot of gas when you get on it. While your in there a good RV cam would be nice for torque and give you a few HP, and a set of painted headers are about $100 and would also help a good bit.
That's what I thought a FRESH 302 would push out, 130 HP, sounds right. I know the 351M 400s only push out about 155 HP(which is stupid), but the 400 has 300 ft lbs at very low RPMs, and can be easily moded for some nice power.
If you put a 600CFM or a little less 4 barrel carb, you'll get better gas mileage than w/ the stock 2v carb. B/c the secondarys only kick in a burn alot of gas when you get on it. While your in there a good RV cam would be nice for torque and give you a few HP, and a set of painted headers are about $100 and would also help a good bit.
That's what I thought a FRESH 302 would push out, 130 HP, sounds right. I know the 351M 400s only push out about 155 HP(which is stupid), but the 400 has 300 ft lbs at very low RPMs, and can be easily moded for some nice power.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 535
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From: Tucson, AZ
You can go the easy route, pick up a edelbrock carb, intake, cam package at your local parts store. Order some at least medium quality headers with some new exhaust and you should get an easily noticeable change. Altogether, probably at least a 40 hp gain and 50 lbs.-ft. of torque. I would also swap to at least a 3:1 rear axle ratio after engine mods.
