View Poll Results: Which engine will be the best one for the build up!
Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll
302 or 351W
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: Campton
302 or 351W
I am taking a chance and asking if you was building a truck that would be built for reliability, longevity and power. Which one of these two popular engines would be the best one. The project that i would be placing it in already has a 302 that is on its last legs i will be replacing alot stuff to fix it the way i want it and i wanna have a engine that will have the horsepower and torque. I would really like for the truck to get 13-15 MPG on the hwy but i am not pressed as long as it doesn't get 10-12. so if you guys could give your opinion i would appreciate it. I love the way a V8 Ford sounds with a flow master. some additional info is that the truck is a 1979 Ford F150 and its 2 wheel drive.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 1
From: Mass.
351 all the way man! you shouldnt have much problems getting 13-15 mpgs at all. 351 is a much more torquey motor which is more appropriate for trucks. im sure some other guys will chime in, but the 351 has all kinds of advantages over the 302.
Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 548
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From: Sparks, NV
300 six! torquey, work ALL day and get some dang good mileage toting around a full size pickup of the 1979 year 
. the 351W is gonna give you the best bang for your buck. an rv cam, exhaust and a properly tuned carb will make the 302 envious it can do that. also the 302 will need some RPM to make the same amount of power the 351W can make 2000 rpm (exaggeration) lower, saving on longevity and fuel mileage. slap a ZF5 or an np435 with highway gears and your set!
. the 351W is gonna give you the best bang for your buck. an rv cam, exhaust and a properly tuned carb will make the 302 envious it can do that. also the 302 will need some RPM to make the same amount of power the 351W can make 2000 rpm (exaggeration) lower, saving on longevity and fuel mileage. slap a ZF5 or an np435 with highway gears and your set!
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Slimeattle, Weakynton
I have a E150 4X4 van, with a 351w and 3.55 gears, and get an average of 16mpg on the hwy. The worse I've got on the hwy was 14 mpg, and that is with front hubs locked. There is no reason why you couldn't do better with that lighter 2wd truck.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Yeah.. both motors can be good, in a light truck the 302 can perform well with sufficient gearing and it will deliver better city milage than the 351. But if you want more muscle go with the 5.8, it has a broader powerband and it can also get high teens hwy milage as long as you have an OD tranny.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 2
From: BC Canada
Both engines are good and reliable.
But since you mentioned wanting lots of torque, I voted 351.
But since you mentioned wanting lots of torque, I voted 351.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Surrey, B.C.
I'm pretty much in the same situation. I have 1980 F-100 2WD with a bagged 302. I bought another 302 to rebuild, but after reading alot about SBF's I realized that a 351W is the way to go.
Last night I picked up two rebuildable 351W's on craigslist for $200. Can't wait to dig into them.
Last night I picked up two rebuildable 351W's on craigslist for $200. Can't wait to dig into them.
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 672
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From: Campton
i have got lots of stuff going on i just got done tearing out the original floor mat and i thought by the looks that my trucks floors pans were going to be rust HOWEVER much to my surprise its only surface rust from the insolation no hole but a couple that was drilled by the last owner. so i am starting on it today and have decided on the 351W. its going to be a long process but after all the work is said and done i will have my dream truck.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 672
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From: Campton
Here is the two post that shows my progress and what i started with. basically i am taking a 79 F150 shortening the frame to make it a short bed then replacing the bed with a short bed next ill move onto the engine where of course a 351W is going in place of the 302 my only problem is i am not sure which transmisson to use can you guys offer a suggestion so that i can have a overdrive. i definatly need to stay automatic after sustaining a back injury pressing in a clutch can **** my back off.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...f-a-dream.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/850954-lb-to-sb.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...am-update.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...f-a-dream.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/850954-lb-to-sb.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...am-update.html
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: Campton
Thanks i am looking forward to all the work right now i am putting the money back for the biggest part of it. I probably wont get it done in a year but still its my project goals that matter. and i will accomplish them one by one.
