Need a bit more power
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Alabama
Need a bit more power
Need a bit more power. Will also want to use for towing small horse trailer.
Truck is a 1982 4WD F150 recently rebuild 302 oem spec. low miles , 2bbl carb. 3.00 gears , C6
Thinking about these options:
1) Edelbrock Performer 4bbl carb & manifold, headers, dual exhaust.
2) same but with new Edelbrock cylinder heads.
3) put in a new 351w rebuilt.
Wondering what you' all would do?
Didn't want to spend a heck of a lot of money.
Truck is totally re-built mechanically. The cab and bed are real rough
but not too concerned.
Thanks!
Truck is a 1982 4WD F150 recently rebuild 302 oem spec. low miles , 2bbl carb. 3.00 gears , C6
Thinking about these options:
1) Edelbrock Performer 4bbl carb & manifold, headers, dual exhaust.
2) same but with new Edelbrock cylinder heads.
3) put in a new 351w rebuilt.
Wondering what you' all would do?
Didn't want to spend a heck of a lot of money.
Truck is totally re-built mechanically. The cab and bed are real rough
but not too concerned.
Thanks!
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
you'll def. want to change those 3.00 gears, 302's like to rev up before they make any decent power. Your option 1 will probably get you some decent gains without spending too much money. Adding heads and changing the cam will get you even more power, they are real weak points in this era of truck. There are numerous articles on the mustang sites comparing the stock heads to aftermarket ones. A head and cam change could easily get you another 75-100 horsepower on a 302, but you will need to gear it accordingly.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 24
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From: Alabama
Thanks. Yeah the gears are a good idea that I have been
trying to avoid. Will have to really think about that.
Will probably first go with option one. I don't need a heck
of a lot more power.... just enough to make a decent difference
because they way it is now is real close to unacceptable.
Thanks again.
trying to avoid. Will have to really think about that.
Will probably first go with option one. I don't need a heck
of a lot more power.... just enough to make a decent difference
because they way it is now is real close to unacceptable.
Thanks again.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
Thanks. Yeah the gears are a good idea that I have been trying to avoid. Will have to really think about that. Will probably first go with option one. I don't need a heck of a lot more power.... just enough to make a decent difference because they way it is now is real close to unacceptable. Thanks again.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 24
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From: Alabama
Yeah, will have to really think about that.
It's 4wd so I'd have to do the front too.
It sure does sound needed.
What would you suggest? I have a Chevy Hot Rod with 3.73
which are great for that. Maybe 3.50 area for this truck?
It's 4wd so I'd have to do the front too.
It sure does sound needed.
What would you suggest? I have a Chevy Hot Rod with 3.73
which are great for that. Maybe 3.50 area for this truck?
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
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my truck has 3.55 stock, but it is still a little slow to get up and go with my 32 inch tires. If you are running stock tires I imagine 3.55 would be pretty suitable, especially with that c6. you won't want to sit at too high of an rpm on the highway.
If you want i could make a quick video of the speedometer on my truck while I floor it. It has 1.7 rr roller rockers and an electric fan, also has a good exhaust, but behind the stock manifolds. It is fuel injected though so Im not sure how much of a difference in performance that makes between our 2 trucks.
If you want i could make a quick video of the speedometer on my truck while I floor it. It has 1.7 rr roller rockers and an electric fan, also has a good exhaust, but behind the stock manifolds. It is fuel injected though so Im not sure how much of a difference in performance that makes between our 2 trucks.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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Need a bit more power. Will also want to use for towing small horse trailer.
Truck is a 1982 4WD F150 recently rebuild 302 oem spec. low miles , 2bbl carb. 3.00 gears , C6
Thinking about these options:
1) Edelbrock Performer 4bbl carb & manifold, headers, dual exhaust.
2) same but with new Edelbrock cylinder heads.
3) put in a new 351w rebuilt.
Wondering what you' all would do?
Didn't want to spend a heck of a lot of money.
Truck is totally re-built mechanically. The cab and bed are real rough
but not too concerned.
Thanks!
Truck is a 1982 4WD F150 recently rebuild 302 oem spec. low miles , 2bbl carb. 3.00 gears , C6
Thinking about these options:
1) Edelbrock Performer 4bbl carb & manifold, headers, dual exhaust.
2) same but with new Edelbrock cylinder heads.
3) put in a new 351w rebuilt.
Wondering what you' all would do?
Didn't want to spend a heck of a lot of money.
Truck is totally re-built mechanically. The cab and bed are real rough
but not too concerned.
Thanks!
What size tire are you running?
Almost, in fact nearly everything, you do to this (or any engine) to improve power moves the powerband up the rev scale. But with 3.0s and say a 29 inch tire, you are only turning 2085 rpm at 60, 3065 in 2nd at that speed.
Change to 3.50 and you have 2433 at 60.
Run your truck in 2nd gear at 2000 rpm and then at 2400. Punch the throttle and see where you get the bigger reaction.
Go here and plug in your numbers for more comparisons:
Novak Conversions - Gearing & Gearing Math for Jeeps
Also, what size 2bbl are you running? Look for some numbers in a "clock face" arrangement on the carb. Look for numbers like 1.08, 1.23 etc. The bigger the number, the more cfm, and a bigger one will help. (a 500 cfm Holley 2bbl would work too, but is a bit of overkill)
Last edited by 85e150; Apr 18, 2008 at 04:30 PM. Reason: add link
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
3.50 to the 3.75 range would be good IMO.
I had a 1973 F-100 with 302V8, T-18 4-speed, and 4.11's and it would pull down a house, but it would also max out at 65 MPH, and get 11 mpg.
So something in the middle of those extremes would be just about right.
I had a 1973 F-100 with 302V8, T-18 4-speed, and 4.11's and it would pull down a house, but it would also max out at 65 MPH, and get 11 mpg.
So something in the middle of those extremes would be just about right.
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Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 24
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From: Alabama
Hi All:
Thanks for the advise.
Seems 3.50 gears is the way to go. Just not into doing the job.
Wish I did it a few years ago when I put axel bearings in the back
and a new axel in the front.
Bedmondo: Thanks for the movie offer but I'll be OK.
Oh yeah... using stock tires.
Thanks again....
Thanks for the advise.
Seems 3.50 gears is the way to go. Just not into doing the job.
Wish I did it a few years ago when I put axel bearings in the back
and a new axel in the front.
Bedmondo: Thanks for the movie offer but I'll be OK.
Oh yeah... using stock tires.
Thanks again....