The 351M was introduced in 1975, used in passenger cars only until 1977.

 

I've had 302 & 351Ms...302s belong in Mustangs. No ifs and buts. If you were asking about the 351W, then it's an entirely different subject.

I'd either build up a 351M/400 or throw a 429/460 in it.

BTW: No 302s came in 4x4 trucks in 1973/79.

 

With all the railing against the 302 in a pickup I have to speak up. Through the time I've had my F150 with a 302 I've never thought I was lacking power and has great mpg. Granted I tow nothing but anything I have had in the pickup bed it has never hesitated to haul it.

I think in the end it completely depends on how you use your truck. Me? The 302 is an awesome motor for me.

 

That is great news to hear.......The previous owner pulled the C6 and the 205 transfer case out of a 79 Bronco and he used the CV joint and lengthened the rear drive shaft.


I had it rebuilt and balanced but i'm still having issues. My mechanic friend wants to cut the CV joint out and see if this will fix it.

 

if you go from the 351m to a 302 I believe you are going to have to change the transmission as well. The bellhousings are different between the 2 engines.

Mark

 

This is an interesting post. I have a 79 F-150 4x4 with a 289 bored 30. The truck was originally a 300-6, and I bought it while I was in high school way back in 1985 and the guy had put the 289 in that he found at a junk yard. That engine gave out and a friend had another one that we put in. I have spent a good bit of time over the years restoring the truck and have had to replace a good many parts. The current 289 has given me tuning troubles ever since it went in. I think I am getting it worked out but I have comtemplated changing to some else like a 351W or newer model small block with fuel injection.
My truck has 38" tires and 4.11 gear. The engine is 30 over, 460 lift cam with 280 duration, edlebrock performer intake, and 600 Holley. It runs good down the road but is a bit of a dog getting up to speed. Any suggestions here?? Anyone ever put in an 80's or 90's fuel injection in your trucks??
Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post.

 

Those 38's with the 4.11's is probably whats holding you back. While the 289 isn't that much of a torquer, the tuning troubles,gears and tires are probably all adding up to your sluggish performance.

 

I would take a early 70's late 60's 302 over any M engine any day. In my opinion 351m and 400's are gutless smog engines and have no business in anything, plus the pre 1978 351m block cracking issue. The ideal engine for a truck in my opinion is a 390 or 460. But you really can't beat the 351 Cleveland either, with 2v heads and some mods it has gobs of torque and can get up and run. But whatever you do get that 351m out of the truck for a real engine.

 

Al little late on my reply but, the CV's I found out use a different U-joint, the cup ends are a little bit bigger in diameter. I'd pull the shafts and look it all over for any looseness or slop that may exist. Also, do you have a carrier bearing?

 

I think we can all agree that a 302/5.0 is a great motor. In a 2wd your likely fine. I went through this quandary myself. I had a build 5.0 from my retired 92 GT. Greatly considered putting it in my 4x4, but, a T18, np205 and 9" are far, far less efficient than a t5 and 8.8 in a Mustang. By the time you get a 302 to make enough power, you will have shifted the power curves up to the 6-7000 rpm range. It all comes down to application, is it a daily driver, mud racer, off roader, Tow rig...... All these can change what you build and how you build it.

 

I agree, I think your choice of sprucing up your 351Measly will yeild the best results for towing.

 

or just do the 300 or a 351w. If he's selling the 302 he can pick up one of those easily. Both of those motors are amazing at towing as well and the 351w hauls *** too. I like my 302 though unless it's loaded down going up hills, because you either go very slowly or scream your way up the hill

 

The 351m has peak torque at around 1800 rpm. The 302 makes peak torque at around 2600 rpm. The hp and tq are nearly identical, the 351m just does it at lower rpm. My preferred engines are: 90's 351w Efi, or a 360/390. The 302 is good because they're everywhere, and yours being rebuilt, it will certainly out-do a worn 351m. You won't have any problems towing a Cherokee with it. I and my brother currently have 302 2wd trucks, no complaints. I'm in the process of acquiring a 390, and I have a 360 in need of a rebuild.

 

I've pulled a 3klb boat a couple times to the river with my 74' F-100 4spd 2wd 302 stock w/ long tubes. Truck did very good but I have a manual so that helps. I was doing a lot of highway driving and there is no way I'd take a 300 over the 302 for that especially with no OD.

A Jeep and trailer will be working the 302 pretty good especially in stock form. Hopefully you don't have big tires and highway gears. Probably best to get ahold of a 351W.

You can't just throw big 38" tires on a truck and not correct the gearing unless you want really poor performance.

The Econolines get detuned motors where as the F-series gets more power and in most cases newer technology. Compare the current F series to the E-series and you will see.

 

i've never had a 351 but i have a 302 in my 79 and an I6 300 in my 85. the 85 has the 3 spd manual with a compound and i've out pulled my dad in his 75 3/4 ton chevy 350. on the hwy i felt like i was going to blow it up when i'd get up to 70 though. the 79 has a c6 behind it but the 79 302 SUCKED. i know the stock motorcraft 2 bbl carb was in awful shape but that motor just never seemed like it was right. no matter the fiddling i cldn't get it right. when it started ticking like a time bomb i ran across a 83 302 forged internals bored 30 with a luke warm cam, edelbrock performer 289 intake & put a 600 edelbrock carb on it. just that much of a mild build up did WONDERS. that and getting the carb calibration kit and leaning it out quite a bit. i don't know what rear end is in it but i've towed cars and trucks, pulled several different kinds of trailers and my biggest problem isn't take off, but braking! i mean when you've got a 16 ft stock trailer and 2 tons of horse plus nearly 500 lbs in feed you're going to feel like you've got something behind you and you're not going to be running any kinda race but she'll getcha there. i'm running an aux tranny cooler and i've never had a heating problem with it either. whatever the rear end gear is, it gives her some legs though. i can comfortably, w/o sounding like i'm revving to high, take 1st to 55 or 60 *speedo's off cuz the tire size* and 2nd up to around 80 before letting her hit 3rd and then she'll wrap the speedo *it's a stock 85 mph speedo* i admit i don't have much for comparison experience but what experience i do have, i wldn't hesitate to work up a 302 for a truck again. she'll get the job done and like someone else said, thanks to the 5.0's popularity parts are still readily available and purchased in enough qty to make it relatively affordable.

just wanted to give ya some perspective from someone who uses a 302 to tow with.