i got 2 ford f-150 4x4 an 1988 with the 302 and a 1989 with a 300 inline 6 both are 5 speeds and i can only keep one wich engine the better one

 

you're only gonna get people's preference here, but i say 302, i've had a couple and every one of them never ever missed a beat.
i had one 300. it ran fine but power was sub par.

 

300 big six is my choice.

 

I think it depends what you use the truck for. Myself, I use my half tons kinda like cars, so I am extremly happy with the performance and fuel economy that a 302 with a manual provides.

If your going to do more hauling, or some towing I would go with the 300. The 302 has to wind up the rpms abit to make the torque, where the 300 doesnt, making the 300 a little nice for that kinda stuff.

Ive owned a few different trucks with 302's over the years, and currently have three 302's and I think they are a pretty good engine. The highest mileage ive gotten so far out of one was 485k, and I still see the truck driving around.

 

I love my 302. The 302s just seems to have more ***** and can be reved out pretty good even in bone stock form. For pulling with the 302 just use steeper gears in the rear end.

 

Certainly a tough choice.

Consider prior post as to what you will use the trucks for.

Then:

Miles on the truck.

How you like the trucks--which is your favorite to drive?

Equipment--one a stripper, one a luxo-barge? Which one fits the forcast?

Condition: Any rust, accidents, whatever in the history of one vs. the other?

MPG: Got a good read one vs. the other?

TBA: New tires, batteries, accessories on one vs. the other?

Good luck to you.

 

I currently have the 300 6 in an extra cab with over 170,000 and the thing purrs like a kitten and cruises at 80 no problem. My dad had the 302 regular cab. I drove them both and it seemed the 302 had better "get up and go", but I like the six because there is better access in the engine compartment.

 

All things being equal, I'd take the 300 big-six over the 302 any day of the week. Had both, and much MUCH prefer the 300.

 

the 1989 f-150 with the 300 inline 6 only needs body work on the box and cab corners and the 1988 needs tranny rebuild and interior work can make one good truck outta both , what i plan on usen it for is towin stuff and 4x4in, fishin and campin

 

Keep the 300 then... and whatever axles have more gearing.

 

Even if you weren't going to be doing towing and other "truck-type" driving, I'd go with the Big Six. The longer stroke of the 300's rods creates the big torque, vs. the shorter stroke of the 302. Therefore, it doesn't have to thrash to do it's thing. I rarely rev mine beyond 2,500, when shifting, with 3.55 gears. It will pull from 1,700 without lugging, under moderate throttle application.

With the Mazda 5 speed, (no creeper gear) I believe the ratios are evenly spaced--it sure feels like they are to me, in the '88 F-150, anyway. That torque and trans makes for effortless, satisfying motoring, IMO. It shifts easily up through the gears to a loping, easy 65 mph cruise (though 70-75 is not much "busier," actually), and 90 mph comes up fairly easily, if you press down on the pedal (still not on the floor).

I have drug my 3,000+lb. boat at speeds in excess of 75mph, briefly (for stupidity's sake) with the 300 six, and it has completely outpulled my friend's (admittedly tired) F-150 302 with the same boat, over the same hills--no contest in the pulling dept., at least compared with that particular 302.

I watched my father's brand new (in 1979) 302 F150 2x4 auto get 9 mpg. I watched my friend's (admittedly beat) 1980 F150 302 auto die a premature death, after running crappy, with terrible power, for years (admittedly, that was a crappy truck, and both were carbureted). OTOH, my two carbureted and one EFI Big Sixes all ran well and while the mileage was not great, they got between 15-17 mpg. Cracked 19 mpg once, with the 1972 240 six (with an automatic!), which was the earlier edition of the 300 Big Six (same block).

As was mentioned, the 300 is waaaay easier to work on, and actually produced MORE torque than the 302 for some (if not all?) model years. In my 1972, I can STAND ON THE GROUND UNDER THE HOOD to change the spark plugs (no A/C).

The Big Six is bulletproof, internally-speaking. I've heard of them going 300-400,000 miles. I currently have an indicated 92K on my '88, which I believe is probably 192K. I usually add very little oil b/w 3,000 mile changes, if I add any at all.

Having said that, on my '88, I did replace the pollution pump, EGR, water pump and the thick film module on the distributer (this last done while traveling, by a dealer, including a new distributor, but I think I got "took" for the $400. they charged. There was also a recall on this module, I am told). But I've driven the truck for 7-8 years, and I only paid $500 for it. (admittedly, it needed work when I bought it, but just from neglect.)

But those are things that can go on any engine. I wouldn't even consider the 302, if both engines are in similar condition (no offense to 302 fans intended).

When I bought my 1981 Big Six, it wouldn't idle. The clutch was slipping so bad I could barely drive it home, there was no reverse, and the brake pedal kept going to the floor, with almost no brakes. I fixed all that and drove it for years.

The funny part was, before I bought the truck the Big Six wouldn't idle because the bolts holding the carb down HAD FALLEN OUT--and it STILL RAN! Just wouldn't idle. It had long ago swallowed the carb base gasket, and polished the aluminum plate on top of the manifold to a nice shine--i.e., it had been driving WITH THE CARB LOOSE FOR A LONG TIME. The only thing keeping the carb over the manifold were the various hoses/air cleaner snorkel/tube, and it was only "in the neighborhood" of the intake manifold, obviously, as it had done the polishing mentioned.

Before buying the truck for $300., I actually picked up the carb, while holding the engine at a high idle, via the carb linkage, to show the owner how effed-up it was, that there were no bolts holding the carb down. I think that little demonstration brought the price down from the $750. or whatever the ridiculous amount was he wanted at the time (in roughly 1995 or 1996). I think it stalled when I did this, or I set it back down real quick--can't remember.

But that's the forgiving nature of the Big Six, in a nutshell, IMO....

In fact, my father's (bought new in 1973) F-250 with the Big Six also shook the carb loose a couple of times, until he got it tightened (Lock-tited?) enough. They are not a "vibratey" engine by any means--they're quite smooth, in fact. But I've heard (and experienced) that they liked to toss their carburetors. You won't have that worry with EFI, obviously....

Sorry to be a windbag--in closing, I'll just add that I have a beautiful, 1997 F-250 4x4 SCLB, with 460 and 5-spd ZF, sitting in my yard (just bought it, not yet licensed) and already I'm mourning parting with my '88 F-150 LB, 2x4 with the Big Six, if that tells you anything. It's time to move on to a bigger truck, (with 4x4) but I am sure gonna miss driving that 300 six....


Hope this helps.

 

I would also go for the big six. I have an 88 F150 4x4 5spd with the 6, it has over 350,000Km (217,000ish miles) on it and it sill pulled my 14 foot 60's brick of a trailer, then haul my waterlogged 70's 8 foot camper around while turning 33x12.5 Mud tires. It still fires up every time like it has been running every day. I plan on rebuilding the engine as part of other work I am doing on the truck, it should run just fine for another 200,000 Miles and then some.

I have heard countless people tell me to keep the big six as so many people regret going with the 302. Though no one has told me why.

Hope this helps you some.

 

yea thanx for the replys im gonna keep the 300 inline 6

 

I dunno about that 300 I6 but I'm the kinda person that if its a truck I want it to sound like a truck. My friend has a I6 and it sounds like a honda when your driving
As for speed I can take his truck out and I've had first hand towing with each truck and they're about the same if not identical. I've got 249k on my 302 and he's had to rebuild his engine after it died at 150k

 

yea donno the 300 inline 6 is a good engine if you keep good care of it mines got 255 000 kms and still runnin strong and when the time does come i think itll be worth rebuilding there both good engines but i think the 300 will be better for what i need to use it for