5.slow upgrades
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 4
From: Almost Heaven
On second thought, Bill is right. Find a 80s or early 90s F250 with a 351 or 460 and get back to work (check EBay and Craigslist, I bet you can find one cheaper than it would cost for a gear change).
The 302 maybe OK in a 2wd cruiser if you didn't want to hear the hum of a six. But in a half ton tow rig a 300 or 351 was the way to go.
Or if you think those S-10s are bad *** you should try out an old LUV pick up. They could pull a train off the tracks, haul a 100 tons, last a million miles, all while getting 53 MPG city, and running low 8s at the strip.
The 302 maybe OK in a 2wd cruiser if you didn't want to hear the hum of a six. But in a half ton tow rig a 300 or 351 was the way to go.
Or if you think those S-10s are bad *** you should try out an old LUV pick up. They could pull a train off the tracks, haul a 100 tons, last a million miles, all while getting 53 MPG city, and running low 8s at the strip.
Awesome!
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 2
i agree i wouldn't tow with a 5.0 they are high rpm motors not low end grunt motors and a 351 would be better but a 460 would be best for towing, just stick an rv cam in the 460 and open up the heads a little put on long tubes and exhaust and you'll be in love, oh you'd have to get an overdrive tranny as well since a 460 would destroy a aod
but you did say you are new to modding engines, so i would say that you probably wouldnt be able to do an engine swap very easily so if you want to stick with your 5.0 put a cam in it port the heads out portmatch the intake to the heads maf swap it and keep it at around 3,000rpms
or you could put in gears you said you wanted 33s, well i had 33s and 3.73 gears and it SUCKED no acceleration at all i have 4.56 gears and my truck got it's ***** back, i don't know if i would go with 4.88 gears or not for towing just because the pinion will be so small that you might be spitting it out every now and again but definatly do the gears it changes the entire feel of your truck
but you did say you are new to modding engines, so i would say that you probably wouldnt be able to do an engine swap very easily so if you want to stick with your 5.0 put a cam in it port the heads out portmatch the intake to the heads maf swap it and keep it at around 3,000rpms
or you could put in gears you said you wanted 33s, well i had 33s and 3.73 gears and it SUCKED no acceleration at all i have 4.56 gears and my truck got it's ***** back, i don't know if i would go with 4.88 gears or not for towing just because the pinion will be so small that you might be spitting it out every now and again but definatly do the gears it changes the entire feel of your truck
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
I would buy a 250 but i have already done alot 2 this truck. i built offset reciver hitches 4 towing farm equipment, put on 3/4 ton springs and added numerous extra lights. i just want 2 add more power 2 this truck. besides my dad (im only just about 2 turn 18) is going 2 get maaadddd when i tell him i am going 2 build this truck but he would rather i mod this one than spend 6 months 2 find another truck. i want 2 find a 351w 2 build so when i want 2 out it in the truck i will have minimal down time. What would be better, port + polish the stock heads or buy after market ones? port n polsishing the stock ones would b alot cheaper rite? just out of courisity could u build a 300? they are good 4 torque already n my dad would prolly pay 4 the build if it was a 300 (he loves them n so do I). I really just need more torque but i dont need a frame twisting torque monster.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 4
From: Almost Heaven
Since you insist on not buying the correct machine to do the job, you have a few choices here for more power.
Re-gear your truck. You will lose top end power and mileage.
Do an engine swap. Drop a 351 in place of your 302. You gain power all through your RPM, including low end torque, which you need for getting a load moving.
Neither of these are cheap or easy. The cheapest and easiest is to re-gear your truck. You're still left with a rev happy 302 that loves top end power. However I've always felt the 302 can pull alongside a 300 so maybe it can get the job done.
Of course a 3-cylinder Geo Metro can get the job done with the right gearing. It doesn't make it right for the job though. I would rather buy an F-250 with a 351. The 5.0L would be perfect if it had better low end torque considering the fuel encomy you get with the 5.0. Unfortunately the next motor up (351) just loves to guzzle fuel.
Here's an idea. Yank out that 302 and drop a SBC in it's place!
Re-gear your truck. You will lose top end power and mileage.
Do an engine swap. Drop a 351 in place of your 302. You gain power all through your RPM, including low end torque, which you need for getting a load moving.
Neither of these are cheap or easy. The cheapest and easiest is to re-gear your truck. You're still left with a rev happy 302 that loves top end power. However I've always felt the 302 can pull alongside a 300 so maybe it can get the job done.
Of course a 3-cylinder Geo Metro can get the job done with the right gearing. It doesn't make it right for the job though. I would rather buy an F-250 with a 351. The 5.0L would be perfect if it had better low end torque considering the fuel encomy you get with the 5.0. Unfortunately the next motor up (351) just loves to guzzle fuel.
Here's an idea. Yank out that 302 and drop a SBC in it's place!
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 1
From: Mass.
for the love of god no. 
i know your hopefully just joking but the sad thing is alot of people would do this. and i cant say enough about how bad general motors products suck.
i know your hopefully just joking but the sad thing is alot of people would do this. and i cant say enough about how bad general motors products suck.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 4
From: Almost Heaven
Sigh. I'll stick with my little I6. I need something that can take my abuse and the I6 is just the motor for that.
But to the OP: Another thing, your transmission. Do you have a tranny cooler?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 1
From: Mass.
theyre cheap for a reason.... cheap isnt always better, especially when it comes to building engines.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 4
From: Almost Heaven
The winner gets to buy the loser Supper!
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 1
From: Mass.
ill bring our dodge dart, that way you can get beat by a ford and a dodge product simultaneously, or i could use my only gm powered car.....oh wait the engine in that blew up.. i think lew52's f150 will walk all over that el camino, theres no question in my mind the dart will also.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 4
From: Almost Heaven
Italian sounds good.
ill bring our dodge dart, that way you can get beat by a ford and a dodge product simultaneously, or i could use my only gm powered car.....oh wait the engine in that blew up.. i think lew52's f150 will walk all over that el camino, theres no question in my mind the dart will also.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 1
From: Mass.
no lol, my ford is nothing special at the moment. im getting rid of my current truck, then ill get the ford truck i really want. the dart however is setup for the strip solely. mild 360/4 speed/4.11 gears. runs low 13s but im wanting to add a small shot of nos to it to dip into the 12s but i think the reworked rear end, suspension and tires might get me there. on perfect conditions the best it ran was a 12.98. i just dont like chevy, but i can still respect a nice machine which it sounds like you got
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 4
From: Almost Heaven
Mine isn't either. I still love it tho.
Sounds like our Elky. 350 / 4 spd / 4.11, The tranny is an automatic but it's supposed to be bullet proof.
It's not. It's been a lemon from day one and a sorce of grief, blood sweat and money. That's why it has a new drive train; the two hot rod 305's we had puked, so in went a 350 ho Crate. Next came the tranny. Next came the gears and locker (not because something broke, for once). The Elky is faster than lightning for sure but it's still a Peice. My dad loves it tho. I wish he would sell it and just buy a baseline truck like mine for realiability.
Sounds like our Elky. 350 / 4 spd / 4.11, The tranny is an automatic but it's supposed to be bullet proof.
My dad loves it tho. I wish he would sell it and just buy a baseline truck like mine for realiability.