302 vs 351M
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 1
My opinion on these 2 engines are... And I have owned both. Give me the 302.
The 351m was a detuned/destroked 400. It was the result of the oil ebargo, on an effort to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. It acheived neither. Like the Lean burn system on a Moppar of the same time period. The 351 is agas pig, and doesnt produce HP and Torque to justify its consumption.
The 302 is a great engine. while small disp it has a big heart. She pulls and Pulls, very very reliable. and a tuned one will get great MPG 18 to 20+. The 302 engine was used in many E150 vans, and F150 pickups along with Crownvics, and Police packages. It will do what ever you need it to. Just gear it right. It is often refferred to in the same sentences as the 300-6 another small but durable engine. I hated to see it be replaced when the 4.6 came out. The 4.6 had some big shoes to fill in many peoples eyes.
The 351m was a detuned/destroked 400. It was the result of the oil ebargo, on an effort to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. It acheived neither. Like the Lean burn system on a Moppar of the same time period. The 351 is agas pig, and doesnt produce HP and Torque to justify its consumption.
The 302 is a great engine. while small disp it has a big heart. She pulls and Pulls, very very reliable. and a tuned one will get great MPG 18 to 20+. The 302 engine was used in many E150 vans, and F150 pickups along with Crownvics, and Police packages. It will do what ever you need it to. Just gear it right. It is often refferred to in the same sentences as the 300-6 another small but durable engine. I hated to see it be replaced when the 4.6 came out. The 4.6 had some big shoes to fill in many peoples eyes.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 373
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From: Ohio
I've got a 302 2wd 3.55 open diff bone stock and I gotta admit it's fun unloaded but it seems like once the weight gets added it starts becomin a bit of a dog. I'm sure if I had an M5OD or a ZF I'd like it more though. Buddy of mine has a stick 302 with 33s and he hasnt regeared it yet, but claims that theres more than enough power 
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
I have pulled several different kinds of trailers and my biggest problem isn't take off, but braking!
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,191
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I would like to add that I towed a 27 foot Airstream, and had a family of 6 in my Crown Vic 302-AOD-3:08 gears. I had no problem at all.
I towed a 19 foot welcraft, and family to and from boat ramps. No problem.
I towed a 24 foot searay to and from Boat ramps No problem. All with a 302-AOD-3:08 gears.
Yes I launched them, and pulled them out of the water to.
Give me the 302 anyday. It doesnt rev high, it pulls hard. It will rev high f you dont shift it though LOL
I had a 302 in an 82 Mustang... 351 fireing order T-5 and 3:73s great street car.
I towed a 19 foot welcraft, and family to and from boat ramps. No problem.
I towed a 24 foot searay to and from Boat ramps No problem. All with a 302-AOD-3:08 gears.
Yes I launched them, and pulled them out of the water to.
Give me the 302 anyday. It doesnt rev high, it pulls hard. It will rev high f you dont shift it though LOL
I had a 302 in an 82 Mustang... 351 fireing order T-5 and 3:73s great street car.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 1
Why... There are people in the club that have towed for 25 years with Crown vic, Grand marquis, and even a Town Car.
Never thought anything about it. V8 power full frame??? What more did I need. I put a big tranny coller on it. I ran the car forever. The Odometer said 365000 miles, and it broke... I drove it for another year to year and a half and donated it. I still see it around. 302
AOD
Never thought anything about it. V8 power full frame??? What more did I need. I put a big tranny coller on it. I ran the car forever. The Odometer said 365000 miles, and it broke... I drove it for another year to year and a half and donated it. I still see it around. 302
AOD
Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: Skyway, WA
Modern 5.0L roller lifter cams allowed for more radical cam profiles that still could idle. A reason that Ford put so many 302's into 90's era trucks. Remember that in 79, the 302 wasn't a stock offering in a 4x4. I know that in a 4x2, the 302 engine sits on the same engine perch as the 351m and 400. But motor mounts and engine towers in the 4x4 (4x4 uses different engine tower mount)? You'd need to get a rear sump oil pan for the 302. What tranny do you have? If automatic, you'd have to change because of bellhousing pattern differences. Will the smallblock automatic you get bolt to your transfer case? If you go 302 and change manual tranny bellhousing, will everthing still locate precisely? I'd suggest upgrading the 351M to 400 if you are rebuilding, and making the standard upgrades that 335 family engines respond to.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: Skyway, WA
Why... There are people in the club that have towed for 25 years with Crown vic, Grand marquis, and even a Town Car.
Never thought anything about it. V8 power full frame??? What more did I need. I put a big tranny coller on it. I ran the car forever. The Odometer said 365000 miles, and it broke... I drove it for another year to year and a half and donated it. I still see it around. 302 AOD
Never thought anything about it. V8 power full frame??? What more did I need. I put a big tranny coller on it. I ran the car forever. The Odometer said 365000 miles, and it broke... I drove it for another year to year and a half and donated it. I still see it around. 302
AOD
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 0
From: Schweinfurt Germany
have to find it but it is a great picture that my sisters boyfriend took in qatar o a little toyato truck with a camel that hasto weigh almost as much as the truck in the bed tied down its so funny ill get back to you if i can find it
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 2
The nice thing about the 302 is that they respond so well to upgrades especialy the newer mass air motors where you can run an aggressive cam . Open up the heads & exhaust , nice cam & gears , the 302s like this & do very well in a light truck ... Lew
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
Years ago it was very common to pull boats, trailers and whatever with full size sedans and wagons. Trucks were regarded as "For farmers". 4wd trucks were not common either. Completely different than it is today.