Hey guys, just picked up a 95 F150 w/ 302 & auto. Truck has a 6" lift and 33" tires, and only 67k mi. Ive already given it a fresh oil change, checked plugs (was gonna replace, but they looked brand new, and the gap was good at .044) replaced plug wires, replaced cap/rotor, replaced fuel filter, replaced air filter, set timing to 10* btdc, and aired all tires to 30psi. (35max) Wondering what are some little things i can do or add to maybe kick up the power OR mileage up a notch. I know asking for both isnt possible really, so what ya got for me either/or? Thanks for any help!

 

Get rid of those tires and rims! Thats a huge drag on power and mileage especially for a 5.0. If thats out of the question, air filtration mods and exhaust may help some.

 

Advance the timing a more, put in as much as it will take without pinging. And add gearing, the 5.0 needs even more than the 5.8 since it doesn't produce as much TQ.

 

As we tell everyone, headers and exhaust.
Advance the timing like Paul said.
That lift will kill your mileage, as will the larger tires.
If you don't plan on off-roading much you might consider taking the lift off and selling it to me for next to nothing lol.

 

Lol, sorry man, lift n tires are here to stay. I know the 302 is no 351, just looking for the little things that everyone else has done. I tried bumping the timing to 14*, but i dont think it ran quite as good. Maybe 12*?

 

I was going to start another thread but I will just hijack this one. I just got a 302 out of an 83 ltd very low HP I had already researched that. What are some good mods when I rebuild. It had early efi that ahs to go but I would consider maybe a newer setup. Just looking for something that is driveable but can get out of its own way. I am putting it in a 1954 f100.

 

Yeah man, the farthest I've heard guys going is 13*.
Definitely do exhaust and headers. And consider removing the smog system, for the most part.
The best way to get better mpg is drive like a grandpa!

 

Swap on some late model E7 heads to bump compression and upgrade to a cam that actually opens the valves. Add your favorite induction combo and a 2.5" single exhaust and it'll be as good as any other little windsor around.

 

if you plan on doing a decent amount of highway driving with it a tonneau cover will help out with the mpgs but wont make much difference in town.

 

Thanks for all the ideas guys, these really help! About exhaust... I have a set of shorty headers lyin around here, but ive heard that its the y pipe that is the big problem w/ this exhaust. Will it help me at all to bolt these headers on, or is it really just a waste of time w/ the stock y pipe and cats?

 

Long tube headers & custom exhaust will help a lot.Need good gearing with the tires..a good cam with lots of lift ..Some good heads & the 302 will make good power thru the rpm range it just takes some work...Lew

 

Shorties are a complete waste of time with the stock Y-pipe and cats. Here is the Y-pipe section from my truck, the head pipes are 2.25" but crimp down to 1.9" before entering the first cat. The exit pipe diameter is 2.87" but there is also a crimp where the air line attaches that reduces this to 2.4".

 

So a full exhaust then...
Question, are cats even worth it? We do no emissions testing here of any sort, and the exhaust shop said they will put it together, but will not remove my cats for me. Any pros/cons of going catless, other than the enviroment of course?

 

I would get rid of the cats..If you know a good muffler shop i would just tell them the trucks for off road use only then there not resposable.. Otherwise you have to do it yourself..They make exhaust for race cars..So tell them its a race truck...I do it all the time...But the guy knows me...Lew

 

Headers, 2.5" exhaust (true duals), and 4.10's or lower. You are gonna have to have the gears to feel any of small mods with those tires and the 302 if you want some real spunk off the line.

I've driven a late 80's f150 5.0 with 4.10(or 4.11's?) and you can definitely feel the difference compared to my 3.50's. I'd like to have them in my truck, but I have no problems with my performance, and it'd kill my highway RPM worse than it is with my NP435/31x10.50's. But it gives a much more torquey feeling right off idle starting in 2nd. At least I have 6.69:1 1st gear if my 'puny' 5.0 can't get something rolling or is lacking that torque at 600 - 900RPM climbing a hill off road.