Small Block Engine Swap
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Southeastern , Illinois
Small Block Engine Swap
I have a 1986 F-150 with a very tired 351HO. I have an opportunity to buy a 1990 5.0 engine.
Will this smaller newer engine fit my truck? Will my 351 intake and distributor ( non computer) fit this newer motor?
The guy selling the engine claims they are both small blocks and the 5.0 will go right in. He says the intake and dist. will fit, or I can convert it to the computer ( which seems like a lot of work, to me).
Any help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance,
Tom
Will this smaller newer engine fit my truck? Will my 351 intake and distributor ( non computer) fit this newer motor?
The guy selling the engine claims they are both small blocks and the 5.0 will go right in. He says the intake and dist. will fit, or I can convert it to the computer ( which seems like a lot of work, to me).
Any help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance,
Tom
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To be honest, even though your 351 may be tired, I think youll be disappointed by how much less torque youll have. If I were you, Id yank the 351 out and rebuild it. Also, the fuel injection can be temperamental if fiddled with and it is a mess of wires youll have to trace since you dont have EFI now.
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The 351w intake and distributor will not fit the 302. The 351w has a larger driveshaft for the dist, and the 351w has a taller deck or block. This makes the 351w intake manifold wider.
But the 302 would bolt into the motor mounts and the tranny. A lot of the accessory brackets from the 351w would not fit. You also need a rear sump oil pan for the 302 so it will fit the truck(if it's from a car). You could buy a aluminum intake and 4 bbl carb to put on the 302.
But the 302 would bolt into the motor mounts and the tranny. A lot of the accessory brackets from the 351w would not fit. You also need a rear sump oil pan for the 302 so it will fit the truck(if it's from a car). You could buy a aluminum intake and 4 bbl carb to put on the 302.
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From: Southeastern , Illinois
Originally Posted by Franklin2
The 351w intake and distributor will not fit the 302. The 351w has a larger driveshaft for the dist, and the 351w has a taller deck or block. This makes the 351w intake manifold wider.
But the 302 would bolt into the motor mounts and the tranny. A lot of the accessory brackets from the 351w would not fit. You also need a rear sump oil pan for the 302 so it will fit the truck(if it's from a car). You could buy a aluminum intake and 4 bbl carb to put on the 302.
But the 302 would bolt into the motor mounts and the tranny. A lot of the accessory brackets from the 351w would not fit. You also need a rear sump oil pan for the 302 so it will fit the truck(if it's from a car). You could buy a aluminum intake and 4 bbl carb to put on the 302.
My old truck is just an old truck and not worth rebuilding the 351. Do you think I can get a distributor( from a pre EFI) motor that will fit this 5.0?
Sorry for all these questions, but i'm used to dealing with older small block chevys, where almost anything interchanged.
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Originally Posted by boggerted
To be honest, even though your 351 may be tired, I think youll be disappointed by how much less torque youll have. If I were you, Id yank the 351 out and rebuild it. Also, the fuel injection can be temperamental if fiddled with and it is a mess of wires youll have to trace since you dont have EFI now.
I appreciate the response anyway.
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From: Southeastern , Illinois
Originally Posted by andym
Yeah, if you had a 351 HO in there you're gonna hate the 302.
Distributor you can use, intake you can't. Converting between EFI and carb is a big hassle. Get the 351 rebuilt.
Distributor you can use, intake you can't. Converting between EFI and carb is a big hassle. Get the 351 rebuilt.
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im not sure if you have the duraspark 2 ignition but if no it is supposed to be easy to convert
i am in the process of gathering the parts to put a 5.0 in an 82 f150
the 5.0 motor requires a distributor with a steel gear because of the hardened cam
they say the gear costs about 50 bucks but you can get a rebuilt distrib for the ds2 ignition from autozone for an 85 mustang 5.0 gt 5 speed carburated that only costs 49 bucks that will work for you and you can turn in your distrib for the core
good luck
gt
i am in the process of gathering the parts to put a 5.0 in an 82 f150
the 5.0 motor requires a distributor with a steel gear because of the hardened cam
they say the gear costs about 50 bucks but you can get a rebuilt distrib for the ds2 ignition from autozone for an 85 mustang 5.0 gt 5 speed carburated that only costs 49 bucks that will work for you and you can turn in your distrib for the core
good luck
gt
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try this (i am kinda slow learning these computers and typeing)
http://www.autozone.com/N,15300030//...eResultSet.htm
hope that takes you there. they show several diferent distribs with steel or
iron gears and some with vacuum advance.
gt
http://www.autozone.com/N,15300030//...eResultSet.htm
hope that takes you there. they show several diferent distribs with steel or
iron gears and some with vacuum advance.
gt
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Get on ebay and buy and hei distributor for about $60.00. Make sure you buy a 302 distributor for a 302, a 351 W is different. If it is a 1986 and up with a factory roller cam, make sure you get the one for a roller cam, their is a difference. These are very easy to install, I have put several in trucks. You can put any carberator style intake on the 302, just make sure it is a 302, the 351W is 2" wider and will not fit the 302. Your alternator bracket and power stearing brackets on the block will interchange, at least mine did. Other than that it will fit right down in the same towers and bolt right up.
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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.
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Motor swaps? I did a "remove and replace" on the 5.8 in my 83', I got a remanufactured motor from a chain parts store for about 800 dollars, (cheaper than I could rebuild), and it has a 3 year warranty...
the 289, 302, 351w are all from the same engine family, oil pans, timing covers and valve covers are interchangeable... heads on the 351 use a 7/16ths diameter bolt, while the 289, and 302 are a 3/8ths, but otherwise are interchangeable, the intake manifolds are different on all, due to the differing deck heights of the blocks... the distributors may or may not swap... but most parts will....
and yes, the 302 will not perform as well as the 351, you will be disapointed
the 289, 302, 351w are all from the same engine family, oil pans, timing covers and valve covers are interchangeable... heads on the 351 use a 7/16ths diameter bolt, while the 289, and 302 are a 3/8ths, but otherwise are interchangeable, the intake manifolds are different on all, due to the differing deck heights of the blocks... the distributors may or may not swap... but most parts will....
and yes, the 302 will not perform as well as the 351, you will be disapointed
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Judging from what I've heard about engines from parts store chains, I wouldn't spend $10 on one of them. They rebuild them with absolutely the cheapest parts and inexperienced employees. I wouldn't expect one to get much past 50k miles.
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Originally Posted by andym
Judging from what I've heard about engines from parts store chains, I wouldn't spend $10 on one of them. They rebuild them with absolutely the cheapest parts and inexperienced employees. I wouldn't expect one to get much past 50k miles.
It was on sale for $699.00 ( This has been about 12 years ago) First issue was the motor ran hot. My old 302 never had a cooling problem with the same radiator. When I complained, I was told to take the truck to their shop and have it inspected ( at my cost). the shop told me to get a 3 core radiator. I did and the truck naturally ran cooler. I seldom drove the truck but no sooner than the 1 yearwarranty ran out , the crankshaft broke completely in to 2 pieces. Then the valve seats wore out ( the heads did not have hardened seats) I never got 10,000 miles out of this motor.
I was working then and sure wish I would have rebuilt the original motor myself. I had spent a lot of money over the years with this chain store, and finally the MGR. admitted they had a large problem with these rebuilt motors!