Rebuild or replace
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 279
Likes: 1
Rebuild or replace
My '86 Bronco with a fuel injected 302 is in need of overhaul. I'm going to either rebuild the 302 or replace it with a 351.
I really like the idea of the 351 swap, but I also like the fuel injection. I'd like to know if the fuel injection can be switched over easily. Would it be simply a matter of buying an efi manifold for the larger engine or would I have to do a mass air conversion? (injectors on my '86 302 are identical to those on an '88 351 and the HP difference is 190 for my engine and 210 for the stock 351 so they apear fairly similar in terms of fuel/air flow)
Switching to a carbureted motor is possible but would entail fuel pump changes, a carb, and some sort of bracket for the AOD transmissions TV cable. Then there is the smog stuff. (either way I need a new intake)
If I rebuild, I'd want to improve the low end torque. Outside of a stroker kit (which will cost about as much, or more than, a rebuilt 351) I'm not sure there is much that can really be done with the 302. (Lot's of info out there on high end HP, but not much like I'm looking for) And of course radical changes here will likely upset the computer, requiring a mass air conversion.
Any ideas or suggestions on the above obtions will be appreciated.
I really like the idea of the 351 swap, but I also like the fuel injection. I'd like to know if the fuel injection can be switched over easily. Would it be simply a matter of buying an efi manifold for the larger engine or would I have to do a mass air conversion? (injectors on my '86 302 are identical to those on an '88 351 and the HP difference is 190 for my engine and 210 for the stock 351 so they apear fairly similar in terms of fuel/air flow)
Switching to a carbureted motor is possible but would entail fuel pump changes, a carb, and some sort of bracket for the AOD transmissions TV cable. Then there is the smog stuff. (either way I need a new intake)
If I rebuild, I'd want to improve the low end torque. Outside of a stroker kit (which will cost about as much, or more than, a rebuilt 351) I'm not sure there is much that can really be done with the 302. (Lot's of info out there on high end HP, but not much like I'm looking for) And of course radical changes here will likely upset the computer, requiring a mass air conversion.
Any ideas or suggestions on the above obtions will be appreciated.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 2
From: Boise, Idaho
Rebuild or replace
Seems like you could swap in an EFI 351 and use the wiring harness that's in your Bronco now. They might be different but I don't know why they would be. EFI 351s came in vans and trucks.
If you used a stock 351 EFI manifold and a later 94 truck 351 block (F4TE) you could retrofit a roller cam. That would make some nice torque.
If you used a stock 351 EFI manifold and a later 94 truck 351 block (F4TE) you could retrofit a roller cam. That would make some nice torque.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Richmond USA
Rebuild or replace
Hey guys! I'm gonna be lookin' into this soon, too. It wouldn't surprise me to see my 302 whiped out in the next year... I've never really found out what the big differences are between the '85 EFI 302 and say.. the EFI 302s in the Mustangs.. I just have been told they are alot different, besides the noticable differences right on top (dual throttle body, etc). I'll prolly look for a 351 but I don't know how difficult the swap would be. And if I decided to swap a GT40 302 in, would that be simple? Thanks guys.
