1989 f250
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1989 f250
I am looking to get the most power I can get out of this truck, without having to go out and buy gear changes. I've heard I can turn the distributor???? and maybe adjust the timing, but im not sure how much that would help, and if it is even worth trying? Help me? This is a 1989 F250 with a 302 motor and it is four wheel drive if that helps
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From: La Grande, OR
what are you wanting to do with it? The 302 isn't a big motor, so you're not starting with a big platform, but it is definetly doable...i've seen some 302s push 400 horse after the work done. The amount of power that you can get is directly proportional to the size of your wallet. The bigger the wallet and the more you're willing to spend, the more power you can get that engine to make.
Swapping gears doesn't give your truck any more or less power, it just shifts the power curve of the engine vs your speed so it will be making the most power wherever you want it.
Yes you can adjust the timing, but it doesn't help THAT much. Do some simple upgrades......air intake, exhaust (headers maybe), tune-up (plugs, wires, rotor, cap), and make sure everything is working as it should.
Swapping gears doesn't give your truck any more or less power, it just shifts the power curve of the engine vs your speed so it will be making the most power wherever you want it.
Yes you can adjust the timing, but it doesn't help THAT much. Do some simple upgrades......air intake, exhaust (headers maybe), tune-up (plugs, wires, rotor, cap), and make sure everything is working as it should.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Elyria, OH
Or going with a new cam and headers and new exhaust. All depends on how mechanically inclined you are.
IMHO, a K&N FIPK (only intake that is available for these through K&N. Not sure about other brands) on these trucks don't help much for the power, may help em breath a lil easier than stock, but nothing to major there. Long-tube headers and a good flowing exhaust w/ 2.5" pipe will uncork the motor alot and bring some gains in power and fuel economy. But as nighthawk285 said, the bigger the wallet and the more your willing to spend, the more power this engine will make.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Elyria, OH
It should bolt right up almost. Just different flex plates on the trans or something similar. heck if you get lucky you may be able to find a 351w/tranny combo at a junkyard and put your money into a rebuild instead on the 302.
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or you could put a 347 stroker kit in the thing and keep the original block, ditch the fuel injection throw in a big solid roller cam victor heads victor intake 850 double pumper holley NOS cheater system with a 250 shot, i'd say it would move along pretty well
or you could get a 351 bore and stroke it to a 427 and do the same thing cnc ported victor heads ported victor manifold FAT solid roller cam 1050 dominator blowthrough carb and a supercharger
wouldn't that be fun till the block split in half :-)
but seriously you need to tell us how much you know how to do, i would assume you don't know much about motors because if you did you wouldn't be asking how to get more power maybe you should stick to intake and exhaust
we also need to know how much to spend, i can build you either one of those motors but it's going to cost like 8-10 grand lol
or you could get a 351 bore and stroke it to a 427 and do the same thing cnc ported victor heads ported victor manifold FAT solid roller cam 1050 dominator blowthrough carb and a supercharger
wouldn't that be fun till the block split in half :-)
but seriously you need to tell us how much you know how to do, i would assume you don't know much about motors because if you did you wouldn't be asking how to get more power maybe you should stick to intake and exhaust
we also need to know how much to spend, i can build you either one of those motors but it's going to cost like 8-10 grand lol
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Okay, I'm looking to just beef it up some so it doesnt bog down as much on hills with a trailer hauling three quads. I know this engine isn't all that big and powerful, I just want to know if there is a way to make it not bog down as much on the hills, cuz that is all thats around me. I could deal with spending between $50-$150. I just bought this truck a little while ago, and I am still a student so I am limited on the money issue. This is part my dad's truck too, so anything we do has to be approved by him. He might to the exhaust, but nothing too much more
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also, we have spent alot lately too on adding the tow package and everything to make this truck capable of hauling a pop-up camper and quad trailer. Please don't suggest I drop a 351 into it, I'm looking to keep the 302, just beef it up some. Can you explain to me how to get more power by turning the distributor. I'm not going to mess with the timing because like nighthawk285 said it wont do too aweful much to the engine. Also, this engine likes to start up, cough a little and die, then once I start it again, it stays running and just fine? I figured it is just the nature of the beast, any other opinions?
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Elyria, OH
Can you explain to me how to get more power by turning the distributor. I'm not going to mess with the timing because like nighthawk285 said it wont do too aweful much to the engine. Also, this engine likes to start up, cough a little and die, then once I start it again, it stays running and just fine? I figured it is just the nature of the beast, any other opinions?
A free flowing exhaust is a good upgrade for these motors. I suggest a glasspack with high flow cats. Or even remove the cats if you dont have emissions testing. This will uncork the motor and give more power/fuel economy.
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What gears do you have? If they are higher (numerically lower) than 3.55, that is your problem. 3.55s are questionable, I would say 3.73s are the bare minimum for good towing performance, 4.10s are better. Also are the tires stock size?
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thank u, I just remembered that it hasn't coughed since we put plugs, wires, rotor and cap on it, maybe I will try the distributor soon. also my wiper blades don't work right, when I turn them on they go on then turn off half way through the movement and then move about thirty seconds later, any suggestions?
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to do the distributor you need a timing light, you can pull the smog pump and break the fins out of it and lube the bearings and rip off the stock cat and weld in a straight pipe and put a glasspack in place of your factory muffler that gives you some pretty cheap hp
i know some tree huggers might get their panties in a bunch but it does increase power not by a lot but it does
i would say your wiper motor is burnt out you can get a new one at rockauto.com
i know some tree huggers might get their panties in a bunch but it does increase power not by a lot but it does
i would say your wiper motor is burnt out you can get a new one at rockauto.com
pedant
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From: EXTREME southwest CT
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From: La Grande, OR
If you're on a budget, and you're trying to build this up to tow, swapping gears is going to be the best way to do it (I know its not what you WANT to do but......). Other than dumping some more bucks into it than you are wanting to, you're going to have to just drive it like it is and learn to work with the bogs.......shift down at the bottom of the hill before it bogs and such....
What tranny do you have, automatic E4OD, C6 or manual ZF?
What tranny do you have, automatic E4OD, C6 or manual ZF?