Motor upgrade options

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Dec 15, 2008 | 03:28 AM

65 Fastback

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Motor upgrade options

Hello truckers

I have a 89 F150 with a flogged out injected 302 Windsor. I have been offered a carbed 302 dynoed at 240HP. If i purchase this engine and install headers and a dual exhaust system will this give me a lot more grunt? Or should i stick with my engine and rebuild with a new cam with a ported and polished aluminium head? Any ideas appreciated.

Dec 15, 2008 | 10:49 AM

Conanski

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From: Ottawa, Ontario

The cam in the carbed motor is probably not EFI friendly, and if that motor only produced 240hp on an engine dyno then they left a lot on the table. If that was from a chassis dyno then that's a differnt story, there's a lot of loss through the driveline so the motor could be over 300hp at the crank.

The bottom line is if you can get the motor for a good deal and change the cam then you will have a much more powerful motor than what's in there now and you don't have to eliminate the EFI.

Dec 15, 2008 | 10:18 PM

1Fastang

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What do you mean by "flogged out". If something is wrong with your system it might be cheaper just to get salvage yard parts. As opposed to doing a whole engine swap.

Dec 15, 2008 | 10:45 PM

65 Fastback

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Low compression in 7 cylinders, not blowing smoke or burning oil though... Generally still very gutless after a good tune

Dec 15, 2008 | 11:47 PM

pfogle

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From: Oak Harbor, OH

You're gonna want a cam that has a lobe separation of 112 to 114 degrees for the computer to be happy. In '89 there isn't a lot that the computer controls so changing to a carb requires new low pressure fuel pumps, and a new duraspark distributor and ICM.. Everything else should work. The transmission is a manually controlled automatic, as opposed to electronically controlled.

Jan 16, 2009 | 03:36 PM

PerfDistIgnition

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 65 Fastback

If you go with the carbed 302, you will need a distributor with advance weights, springs, and a vacuum advance to control your timing.

If you decide to get a new distributor, consider our custom curved Duraspark Distributor built with our new Full Length Oil Impregnated Bronze Bushing. The full length bushing improves timing stability and spark scatter. If stock appearance is not an issue, take a look at our one piece D.U.I. Distributor. Whether you choose the Duraspark or the D.U.I., we curve each on a distributor machine based on your engine combination. Please see them at:
http://performancedistributors.com/forddistributors.htm
Also, there is now an excellent installation article on the D.U.I. Distributor on the Ford-Trucks.com site at:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/idx/0/358/article/DUI_Ignition_Installation_In_A_Ford_351W_V8.html

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Jan 16, 2009 | 04:04 PM

1966Tbird

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i have actually done this swap, my 302 in my 89 is carbed you need to use a bypass fuel pressure regulator and -an hoses with a 3/8ths return line to the tank, don't use a HEI dizzy they are huge and suck had to use an offset air cleaner, you will need to put the fuel pump on a toggle switch it's the pink wire under the dash behind the brake pedal
russell part #640850 will hook up to the fuel filter
here's some pics of after the swap