[updated:LAST EDITED ON 15-Nov-01 AT 10:44 PM (EST)]I'm looking for advice on my next project: I have a 1984 E150 van with a tired old 302 in it.

I've tried to extend it's useful life with an intake manifold, carb and cam change, but it's soon time to be retired and put through a rebuild sometime down the road. For it's replacement, I'm buying a 351W out of a '92 mini-bus (think 'short schoolbus') for $350 complete with all electronics and fuel injection setups and plan to convert the van to fuel injection.

My question is: What would you guys recommend in the way of parts (pistons, heads, cam, etc) to build up a 'torque monster,' per se, out of this 351? I'm also considering stroking it to a 393 if it will help increase torque by a decent amount.

I'd like some other opinions on this before I get started, since I have no clear direction yet. I use this as my primary transportation, but occasionally haul a 7000 lb car trailer or my 3500lb camper over hilly/mountainous terrain.

Specs on the van are: AOD tranny, 3.50 ford 9" rear, 30" BFG Longtrail TA's, custom Flowmaster exhaust consisting of stock Mustang GT headers bolted to a 2 1/4" 'Y' pipe with 3" exit, a 3" hi-flow cat, 3" cat-back exhaust with a 2-chamber Flowmaster muffler.

Your inputs are GREATLY appreciated!

Please email responses to: compuche@spam.hydrosoft.net
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If you want torque i would definitly look into boring it .030 over and stroking it. You probably want to run off regular 87 octane so i would stick with 9.5:1 pistons. If you don't want to spend the money on a major build up i think a set of headers, a good intake, high flow injectors and a superchip would give you more than enough power for a daily driver/tow vehicle.

-Jon

 

I think we ought to give our opinions on the AOD for towing this much weight. I would be more inclined to think a c6 would last longer. I wonder what tranny the bus has?

 

>I think we ought to give our opinions on the AOD for towing
>this much weight. I would be more inclined to think a c6
>would last longer. I wonder what tranny the bus has?

In response to that, I have what I believe to be a C6 from an 83 or 84 Bronco 4x4 that I can rebuild or at least clean up and put a 2WD tailshaft on it. I agree with you on the AOD's lack of reliability, but I'm curious how the whole 351W/C6 package is going to handle on 500+ mile trips. Did Ford ever make a C6 with an overdrive or is a Gear Vendors unit the only option for OD with a C6?

Thanks!

 

Cool, does that c6 happen to have 18 bolts on the oil pan? I have a tranny out of an early 80's bronco and i've trying to figure out what kind of tranny it is.

As far as AOD's go i've heard that the early ones sucked but they made some changes and the later ones turned out to be pretty reliable.

-Jon

 

I think I read somewhere that the only OD comparible to the c6 is the E4OD in later models and it has a bunch of solenoids on the side because it's fully computer controlled. I have a 1980 F150 farm truck that I bought 10 years ago, and 3 engines, 1 rearend, and a front axle later, I have yet to do anything to the c6 except change the oil and filter twice. The first time I changed the tranny oil, was the first time it had ever been changed because it had the little plug thing from the factory rolling around in the bottom of the pan.