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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Small Block Engine Swap

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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 08:01 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by Conanski
If the 302 is an all original motor for a '90 truck it won't have a roller cam it'll have a base flat tappet cam that completely smothers the motor(RV cam swap highly recommended). These motors have been around forever so it shouldn't be too much trouble to come up with a vacuum advance distributor and carb intake at a scrapyard. You'll also want a timing cover with the mechanical fuel pump hole unless you have an electric pump on your truck already... I'm pretty sure both motors use the same timing cover. The 5.0 accessory brackets I have bolted up to my 5.8 no problem.. and this makes sense since the brackets bolt to the heads and these motor use the same head. I did however have an alignment issue with the crank pulley, so use the brackets and pulleys from 1 motor or the other, don't mix and match.
I appreciate the feed back. I will probably run an electric fuel pump, and (as you say) It shouldn't be hard to find a vacuum dist. I bought a remanned 4bbl for my 351 and A 4 bbl manifold may be the most expensive piece to buy.
An RV cam sounds like a good idea, while the motor is out. Thanks! Woody
 
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 09:43 PM
  #17  
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well what might you be doing with this 351w. I need one and would not be against a rebbuild if you would let it go cheap. Your a good trip away from me so It would need to be CHEAP


let me know what you think
 
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 11:58 PM
  #18  
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I wouldn't trust most parts stores either, the reman engine I got was from a reputable company with factories worldwide, they build them for resale as vehicles, and for stationary powerplants... its a great source for the old out of production motors
 
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Old Mar 7, 2008 | 07:37 PM
  #19  
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I had a reman 302 from a chain store in my 82 f150 back in highschool. After it rusted out I pulled the motor and put a Ford Motorsport A312 cam and a 4brl on it and dropped it in my 84 Mustang...then it got T-boned so I pulled the motor and dropped it in my next Stang, an 85 GT. When I bought the 85 the orginal motor had a snapped crank at the #2 bearing, and I wondered how this happened. I found out when the throttle got stuck under the floor mat when I hammered it one day. I went to pop 2nd and wathed the tach hit 8k. I turned off the key and pulled over until I figured it all out. This happened one more time before I threw out the floormats.

Anyway, the reman engine did just fine and I flogged that car for another two years until I got out of college. So all told, that engine lasted me 8 years and 60k miles before I sold a strong running car. I guess the remans are hit and miss.
 
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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 05:58 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by axkiker
well what might you be doing with this 351w. I need one and would not be against a rebbuild if you would let it go cheap. Your a good trip away from me so It would need to be CHEAP


let me know what you think
hey axkiker,
I'm afraid you may get tired of waiting for my old 351. I'm waiting for the weather to break, before I start the swap and want to make sure I am satisfied with the 302 before I will turn loose of the rebuildable 351. If you got plenty of time, keep in touch.
Woody.
 
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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 08:02 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by WoodN1_76
hey axkiker,
I'm afraid you may get tired of waiting for my old 351. I'm waiting for the weather to break, before I start the swap and want to make sure I am satisfied with the 302 before I will turn loose of the rebuildable 351. If you got plenty of time, keep in touch.
Woody.

Well I actually do have a while. I am also waiting for the weather to break before I start in on mine. Keep in touch maybe we can work something out.


thanks
 
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Old Apr 18, 2008 | 08:43 PM
  #22  
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I finally got the used 302 engine in this truck. I thought I would let everyone know what it took to get this swap completed. I had a '86 351W. and removed it and replaced it with a '90 302 engine that had EFI. I had to buy an intake manifold ( got an Edelbrock performer intake off ebay for $60.) I had to buy a vacuum distributor ( I chose a remanned '84 distributor from a major chain for $60.00) I used my 351 timing gear cover, so I could mount the mechanical fuel pump. I had to use the '86 pulleys, water pump, and belts, but had to modify the alternator bracket and fabricate some of the power steering brackets. These accessory brackets do mount on the heads, but the difference in deck height ( I guess) made for alignment problems, especially with the power steering. I am happy with the performance of the 302 ( but I'm an old man), but I sure didn't realize the difference in small block Fords.
 
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Old Apr 19, 2008 | 10:01 AM
  #23  
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Glad to hear it's all working smooth. Don't try and tell people on these boards that the 302 runs good. They don't want to hear it. But they will tell you it runs bad.
 
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Old Apr 19, 2008 | 02:43 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by IcemanV8
Glad to hear it's all working smooth. Don't try and tell people on these boards that the 302 runs good. They don't want to hear it. But they will tell you it runs bad.
I wouldn't say that it runs bad. They are great car engines.

I just don't like them in trucks.

302 for cars...

300 , or 351w for trucks.

My opinion.
 
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