302 or 351?
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New User
Joined: Jan 2010
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302 or 351?
I'll try to make this short. The intake cracked on the 302 in my 96 f-150. Well me being the procrastinator I am I didn't find the leak just kept adding water. Cold front comes through block busts! (Dumba$$) Now i need a new engine. The mechanic thats working on my truck has a 302 out of a late 80's early 90's Thunderbird for $250. But of course the intake is different. So far i can't find a high perfomance intake (summit & jeggs website) I called the local junk yards I didn't ask about an intake but I did ask about a 351. I can get a complete 351 intake and all for $550. So my question finally is what should I do? How much more performance will I get from the 351? Will the older 302 even work? Sorry for the book but thanks for reading! All help will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks JH
Thanks JH
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 759
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From: Humble,Tx
Hands Down go with the 351W it has quite abit more power and is more suited to a truck application than a high revving 302. Plus if you run it with Mass air flow you can get some retarded power out of a 351W can we say 408-427 Stroker 
atleast I think the stock block can be bored and stroked to 427 in either case most definitely get the 351 you will be quite happy you did I've driven both and the 302 was nutless compared to the 351W I had
atleast I think the stock block can be bored and stroked to 427 in either case most definitely get the 351 you will be quite happy you did I've driven both and the 302 was nutless compared to the 351W I had
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,558
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Your 96 is a roller motor , so if you use an other 302 , make sure its a roller , or roller ready block so you can keep the roller cam . Your going to need a new intake either way , the stock 302 intake is much better than the 351 intake . Edelbrock makes intakes for the 302 & 351 ....Lew
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,091
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From: Suffolk, VA USA
The 351 is going to require a different Y pipe as well. The 351 will tow better, but is less economical. The 302 is fine for a daily driver. 302s were far more common in the trucks, so you should be able to find a boneyard intake pretty easily....I know of at least 30 of them within 10 miles of here. It all depends on what you use the truck for.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
For the easiest and most compatable swap you want a '94+ 5.0 truck motor, you could use any 5.0 truck motor built after 1987 but you will want to swap in the cam from your '96. All the 5.0 truck intakes are the same so as already stated it should be no problem at all finding a replacement part for yours. You will also have to swap the timing cover and balancer onto the donor because of the crank sensor and the oilpan and pickup too if the motor comes from a car.
The 5.8 is a more powerful motor but you will need a complete '96 truck 5.8 because none of the 5.0 parts will fit and because your '96 truck has some extra sensors the earlier motors didn't.
The 5.8 is a more powerful motor but you will need a complete '96 truck 5.8 because none of the 5.0 parts will fit and because your '96 truck has some extra sensors the earlier motors didn't.
