I just recently bought a 1988 f250 that has the big 460 in it,I also a have a 1994 ford bronco that the body rusted out on and I was wondering if the 302 will fit in the f250 since it has the bigger 460 in it.I am new to this kinda of stuff and just am not sure if it will work or not.

 

i dont see why you couldnt swap if you have a donor vehicle, but you will need everything, wiring, computer, transmission, engine... thats a lot of swapping

 

Why would you put a 302 in there willingly? You will regret it if you ever try to tow something on the highway.

 

Yeah this will be an engine+transmission swap since you're going from a big block to a small block, and the 302 is a 90lb weakling compared to the 460 but if your truck has 4.10 gears the little windsor will push it around respectable well.

 

Man dont do it, I dont care how bad your BB gas mileage is, or what other reason you may have, unless the BB is blown up. I have an 89 F250 with a 302 in it, now granted it does have 38's on it, but I have to bring my wife with me everywhere I go, just so she can get out and help push my damn truck up the hills........ The gas mileage is terrible just because I have it buried all the time so I can get out of the way of people barreling down on me. The little 302 isnt tired either, I did a complete block up rebuild of the engine 8,000 miles ago, I let my dad talk me into doing a stock rebuild, what a dumbA$$ Anyway, if you go ahead and do the swap, can I have the 460 cause I will put it in my turd........

 

Yes... Would also like to hear the reasoning for this odd swap. My 5.0 is a dog in this heat. When it cools off a little it's fine, but otherwise I gotta stand on it to get it to move and get up to speed. It's not the best on the HW either, needs 1/2 throttle to keep moving at 65, and god forbid you slowdown and you need to hurry up and pass. Matting it is frequent on the HW around here.

 

The 5.0 needs lots of gearing to work well in these trucks, 4.10's ain't nearly deep enough for 38's.. it needs 4.10's for 30" tires.

 

I will second (third?) a don't on that swap.

My father had a 1970 F100/kitted C6, I think, 4.10's with a 1/2 ton 8' cabover camper on it. A "Tilitn' Hilton" for those familiar with it.

Albeit a carb'ed 302, he put an Edelbrock manifold, Holley carb, Mallory dizzy, Crane cam, bigger valves/port work and Hooker headers on it to increase the power. Ran like a raped ape empty, had to push it pretty hard to get up hills with the camper onboard. I drove it a few times and unless you kept it wound up, it just didn't have enough torque.

You know, thinking about it, it might have had a C4 to begin with. We did scatter a tranny coming back from Oklahoma one year. Had to be towed about 200 miles to a Ford dealer in Az. to be fixed. Dad paid extra for the tranny that went into it. But I digress.

I'm sure there must be mods to get a 460 to make better mileage. I know I wouldn't do that with my truck, which has a 460 in it.

On the other hand, if I could get a 351C to play fair with the ECM ...

Just my 0.02 USD worth. YMMV.

Ray

 

Keep the 460...........better to have all that untapped potential if you need it.
A 302 trying to haul a F-250 around will be working so hard, it will get about the same mpg as a 460 thats just loafing doing the same job.

 

I agree 100%, the truck was at least able to get up to speed with the stock 4.10 gearing when it had 265's on it. It probably needs some 4.88s but my wallet tells me no...... Id rather have a big block anyway....

 

i got a 302 in my 94 F250 and im getting 12mpg at the moemnt, single cab 8ft box 2x4 id rather have a 460 for pulling wagons its alright pullin emtpys but it sucks pulling a full haywagon
Nick

 

Ok I will chime in here since I have an ailing 460. I've had the truck since March 1st and I have yet to put 100 miles on her. Hydrolocked first day. Replaced bottom end. C6 puked and had it rebuilt. As of Saturday had to have the heads pulled AGAIN, think the heads are cracked, warped or something. What WOULD be a good swap for a 460?
The one and only time I got to use the Ghost as a real truck was a trip to the dump. According to the weigh ticket #6150. Oh and that was empty. The frame and body is in good shape. Seems the power plant and drive trane is going to eat my wallet alive. If I'm gonna sink any more money in this thing, what motor would make a good swap for power for a F250. Since they quit using the 460 in 96 they must have come up with something. Ideas?

 

Well, I can tell you what I would do in your shoes.. It may not be what most of these guys would tell you but I am partial to 6 cylinders in a straight line, accumulating 360 cubic inches and running on diesel. A 12 Valve cummins would be an easy swap, relatively speaking, if you have decent wrenching and fabbing skills. Of course there is the whole switching from a gasser to a diesel, its a little more work than transplanting one diesel for another. I think that my Ford will end up getting one eventually. My Chevy is getting ready to get the cummins swap. Anyway, thats what I would do. If you dont want that route and you hate the 460 idea just put a 351 in it....

 

You had me till you said diesel. LOL I have driven a lot of the I6 gassers that Ford has had over the years and I think they cant be beat. I had 2 V8's and I swear the I6 would have pulled the guts out of em. My last truck had the I6 and would rather drive that rust bucket any day over the truck I sometimes have. I have pulled dumptrucks, forktrucks that were stuck in mud. Even pulled a Kenworth out of an ice patch. That was the best $500 I ever spent. I cant count all the loads of firewood I hauled with it. at least 14-15 LOADED to the top of the cab green hardwood to boot. Did that for at least 5 years in a row. Countless trailer loads of green hardwood and softwood hauled to a local kiln. To bad the midwest salt and sand ate up the frame in the rear. I got between 15-almost 20 MPG on her as well. I thought the Ghost was going to be an upgrade since it was a 250 and had a better frame and body. Like the ole saying, "she aint pretty, she just looks that way." I hate to say it, I have a Suburban with a rotted body but with a 350 with aTBI and a auto overdrive attached. That is in great shape. I might turn into one of those guys with a "built Ford tough with Chevy parts" guy.

 

Sounds like you are reaping the benefits of a past owners neglect and abuse........most on here can tell you, the 460 is one of the BEST motors Ford ever put in a engine bay. Some people can destroy anything, sounds like you are picking up the pieces from one of them. Be a LOT cheaper to buy a good crate motor 460, and drive it into the sunset with no troubles for many years to come.