92 3.0 to a 302 research

[cliffjumper87]

So I'm looking into swapping my 3.0 for a 302 because I've been told it's pretty much bolt and play. Has anyone else done it? And if so what's a good year/vehicle to get the motor and trans out of?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Its a fairly substantial swap. An xbox controller is plug and play. A V8 swap requires wiring, fuel system modificantions, cooling system modifications, driveshaft(s) etc Not really super hard but far from plug and play.

2wd or 4wd?

What is the end goal for the truck?

@Curious Hound is just starting to V8 swap his '93 3.0 truck HERE

 

[cliffjumper87]

It's the 2WD. The end goal is to (maybe) lower it a little bit. but eventually turn it into a show truck. Nothing too fancy, just put a better engine and trans in it. The 3.0 isn't bad, but I'd like to get a little more vroom out of it one day

 

[Curious Hound]

One thing that helps keep things a little simpler is to get an older engine. In your profile, it says your truck is a 92. Based off that, get an engine, ecu and wiring harness that is the older eec IV wiring architecture. If you get a newer OBD II system, then the instrument cluster won't work right and the wiring hets more involved.

Getting an entire Explorer as a donor vehicle makes the project less expensive. You’ll also need the transmission.

 

[cliffjumper87]

That's pretty much what I figured? Did they do a 92 explorer with the 302 in it?

 

[Curious Hound]

Looks like 5.0 was introduced with the 2nd generation in ‘95.

 

[cliffjumper87]

So I figure it'll be a little different from the 92 then? I know the designs got changed a lot in those three years. I also heard from an older guy at the auto parts store earlier that the 302 kinda sucks because parts for it are more expensive than anything else, and that I'd be better off with a Chevy small block. Any input on that?

 

[Curious Hound]

It depends on a lot of factors. I got a complete running, driving 96 explorer for $1100. That gives me an engine, transmission, wiring harness, ecu, dash, radiator and instrument cluster. And a lot of little detail items along the way. I'm hoping to part out what's left and recoup most of that $1100. I'll probably have another $1500-$2000 in other parts along the way. So, for somewhere between $2000-$3000 or a little more, I should have a complete project. Fingers crossed. Also, mine is a 4x4. That does add to the cost and complexity.

I had a line on a complete 5.3l LS with transmission and transfer case. Asking price was $1100. I would have been using an aftermarket ecu, wiring harness and digital dash, roughly $3,500 minimum for that stuff. There would have been more fabrication getting it to fit and mount up to everything. I was looking at a >$5k project that I didn't want to pay for.

Everybody's project will be different. It depends on what you start out with and what you want to accomplish. Get a lower mileage donor than mine (251,000) and you may not need to freshen up the engine as much. Or have someone hand you a free LS motor complete with transmission, wiring harness and ecu and you can go that route a lot cheaper.

Don't forget whatever extra tools you'll need to buy or rent. I already had most of what I need. I bought a transmission jack, compression test kit with extra adapters, vacuum gauge, borescope and a fancy labelmaker that will print heat shrink wire labels because I'm doing some extensive wiring modificstions marrying the Explorer dash into my 93 Ranger.

 

[scotts90ranger]

A running and driving early '00's Tahoe will have a 5.3L LS that is fairly easy to make standalone, finding a 4x2 4L60 shouldn't be too hard... but getting your speedometer to work might take some work, the plus on the Tahoe is they're usually anywhere from $600-1200, anymore it's harder to find a 5L explorer or like you said 5L parts are harder to find than LS parts... If you want to get fancy the 4.3L V6 in the '14 up Silverado base models is like 300hp bone stock... that's 100hp more than the 5L and almost that much over the early 5.3L...

A similar era Mustang 5L or whatever early port injected 5L you can find that's not from a F150 or Bronco (super tall intake manifold) would likely work too and integrate to the stock dash better than many other things...

 

[bobbywalter]

people fall into the swap trap for sure.

what one is willing to compromise and personal tastes are factors.

no matter what, the 5.0 cost more to make power.

in the sla chassis ranger application, the explorer system is in fact... plug and play in relatives.

this is the one place where it makes first choice sense depending on actual year and gem/dash type.


but.

in a 1992 chassis application, the ls is the smarter way to go. you can easily modify the factory manifolds which ridiculously outflow anything from a factory ford. making the engine mounts isnt hard at all. some things are actually easier...some not. getting 400 crank hp from a 5.3 is literally a cam swap and some time and some pipe into home modified exhaust manifolds. that isnt happening with a windsor 302.


so, really. starting with a typical explorer setup you will probably need at least an oil pan. though not always.

in the stock power application its an apples to apples thing.....save for actual power. if you are content in using the explorer eec5 system then you are content with using the gm factory application. pairing the eec5 or the gm in the obd1 chassis is just a break even. save for the 100 hp.


simply put...you are not matching the ls power dollar for dollar....or a gen 1 chevy 350 for that matter. but for sure, a good mexican block 302 is definitely as reliable as sunrise with moderate care. if 230 hp is good enough then its a great unit.

the ford i would say sounds better as well.... but thats me.


so to be sure, what Eric said is accurate to the fact it may be cheaper to buy a donor explorer IF you would buy aftermarket tuning for an LS or toyota or vk56....hemi....or even a good ol sbc 350 from 1970....

buying an aftermarket controller i would not do for a budget application that i was not intending to run more than an atmosphere of boost through. total waste of money.

the gm processor is stronger and way easier to tune for mods...the explorer eec5 processors are not cheap or easy to tune and are failing at a higher rate due to its particulars.

the gm system is cake to use and very low dollar. you are starting with a 100 more hp.

and you will need tuning in any case if you want it dialed in, whether ford or gm, so investing in hp tuners or the like is equal measure.

its par for me in regards to effort and cost. so i will take the only thing free in the equation....

the 100 horsepower.