the great debate, 351 vs 302

[dangerranger83]

Personally, I would do 302. If it can pull a full size truck down the road with no problems then a ranger shouldnt be anything either.

Plan on going carbed or efi if you do want the 302 (or is there no choice but EFI)?

 

[88SXT]

im hoping to go carbed, slightly less of an electrical nightmare, but im unsure yet, i have a while to research and decide since im currently in japan and the truck is sitting in SC

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

im hoping to go carbed, slightly less of an electrical nightmare, but im unsure yet, i have a while to research and decide since im currently in japan and the truck is sitting in SC

Check into EFI, since your truck is already EFI it might be a bigger PITB to convert it to carb than a little wire splicing to make the 302 plug in.

Given the span of the two engines I vote definatly 302, change the cam and hang on

 

[projectnitemare]

A 302 from a 90s anything will be factory fuel injection. Does it come will all the other stuff you need to run it or will it be converted to carb? It would be roller cam also. As for as the 70's 351, very early 70's it should wipe that 302. A few years will make a lot of difference with smog heads and low compression. Also you have to consider low miles or not it's pushing 40 years old so is would be easy to say the seals are rock hard and leak in little time. Do I little research into what engines you have as far as casting numbers and that's where I would start. The one that needs the lesser amount of parts would be the way to go. Also worth mentioning there is a decent price difference between 302 and 351 go fast parts.

Matt

 

[RangerSVT]

Check into EFI, since your truck is already EFI it might be a bigger PITB to convert it to carb than a little wire splicing to make the 302 plug in.

Given the span of the two engines I vote definatly 302, change the cam and hang on

To go EFI, you can use the 2.9L harness, add 2 injector plugs to the harness, and extend 2 or 3 wires, and plug up the V8's EFI computer (for the 302, the 351, you will need to source an EFI intake and ECU)....Its easy to do EFI on those year rangers....even easier if it was 95+
SVT

 

[baddad457]

A lot will depend on the years of engines you have but I will vote a 351. As long as you are willing to deal with the extra problems. The engine fitment isn't too much of an issue, it's everything else. Don't get me wrong you can drop one in and find factory manifolds that will work with no fitment issues at all, I've done it. It turns pretty sour once you actually do some good engine work. Headers are guranteed to be custom (or top dollar from a few companies), no 351 had a factory 5 speed other than the ZF, you can use a T18, T19, or an NP435 but you loose overdrive. I'll leave the top loader out on this being it would need adapted or use a divorced t-case. I'm personally going back to a C6 I'm tired of breaking stuff. Still that stuff is minor compared to all the other crap you will eventually break, driveshafts, axle shafts, u-joints, leaf springs, twist the frame will all happen if you are making good power. That's what 500hp will do to these trucks. It's a snowball effect but worth it. All swaps have their issues. The 302 has good aftermarket support for a swap, the 351 not so much. Either way you do it the truck will be fun.

Matt

The M5ODR2 was used behind the F150 351's if I'm not mistaken. And it comes in a 4WD version. It certainly is no weaker than a T5.

 

[projectnitemare]

I'm pretty certain you can't get the 351 with a M5 nor the AOD/4R70. I have yet to see a that combo in the shop or when doing research building my building truck. I can't say it's impossible to find because either will surely bolt up but I don't believe it was a factory offering. All of the 351 trucks I have worked on had a C6, 4 speed manual, ZF or an E4OD. Amazingly though I have seen quite a few inline 6 trucks sporting ZFs or E4ODs. The M5ODR2 will surely work for a v8 swap if you want to use it, the ranger being lighter would help it last.

Matt

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Sounds like a lotta beef for a measly half ton though...

Wikipedia supports it though...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_M5OD_transmission

 

[Snoranger]

The M5ODR2 was used behind the F150 351's if I'm not mistaken. And it comes in a 4WD version. It certainly is no weaker than a T5.

I worked in one of the largest volume Ford truck dealers on the east coast from 93-96. Every F150 we got in with a 351 was auto. F250-350s were a different story.

 

[Ozwynn]

I worked in one of the largest volume Ford truck dealers on the east coast from 93-96. Every F150 we got in with a 351 was auto. F250-350s were a different story.

Thats my understanding of it when I was looking for a 5spd for my ole 91 big bronco.

If this was my swap I would go 351 and nv4500 or a build the 302 to a mild 347, either way I would go efi. Givin the choice of engines you got, I would use the 302.... Don't expect a roller cam, it wasn't a given until '94.

 

[Snoranger]

Thats my understanding of it when I was looking for a 5spd for my ole 91 big bronco.

If this was my swap I would go 351 and nv4500 or a build the 302 to a mild 347, either way I would go efi. Givin the choice of engines you got, I would use the 302.... Don't expect a roller cam, it wasn't a given until '94.

'92 was the first year a truck was available with a roller cam (F1AE-AA). Not all truck 5.0s had it, some were still flat tappet. '94 was the first year of the "truck" roller cam as its come to be know (F4TE).

The F1AE, IIRC, was almost exactly the same as the non-HO 5.0l roller cam.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I worked in one of the largest volume Ford truck dealers on the east coast from 93-96. Every F150 we got in with a 351 was auto. F250-350s were a different story.

Sounds like the same thing they did with the mod motors, the 5.4 automatic only.

Wasn't some late truck blocks setup for a roller cam although they still ran flat tappet?

 

[Ozwynn]

Wasn't some late truck blocks setup for a roller cam although they still ran flat tappet?

That is mostly correct. All 92+ plus blocks I found were roller ready..... The best 1 if you can find it is a 96-97..... Guarrentied roller cam.

 

[baddad457]

'92 was the first year a truck was available with a roller cam (F1AE-AA). Not all truck 5.0s had it, some were still flat tappet. '94 was the first year of the "truck" roller cam as its come to be know (F4TE).

The F1AE, IIRC, was almost exactly the same as the non-HO 5.0l roller cam.

92-93 trucks and vans got the same cam as the Crown Vic/Towncar/Marquis 5.0's had. This was refered to as the "base" roller cam by Ford. The 94-97's got the better F4TE roller, which was later used in the Explorer/Mountaineer 5.0's. This cam is only slightly less cam than the HO roller and had the same firing order as the HO. The base roller uses the old firing order. All the 5.0 blocks were roller blocks starting in 1986. Some were drilled and tapped for the lifter spyder, some were not. I've had one such that had "half formed" spyder bosses in the valley that weren't large enough to be drilled and tapped, so it was used as a base for a pickup truck flat tappet motor. I had another that was drilled and tapped for the spyder, but had a flat tappet cam. One of these blocks was an 88, the other an 89. The 351 blocks went roller in early 1993 with the change in blocks to the F4TE casting. But again, not all had roller cams.

 

[bobbywalter]

ok before anyone yells about the search bar and questions already being asked,... i searched it and didnt find anything helpful so im asking again

im buying a 302 and a 351w, guy offered me a deal if i get both of them out of his garage and i figure i can sell which ever one i dont use later,...

88 ranger stx, 4x4 single cab, 6in lift 33in tires (not sure how much of that matters to ya'll but i figured it'd help)
both motors are complete (heads and all) and both ran when pulled from their donor vehicles,... transmission is staying manual bc i refuse to drive an automatic, while more convinenent, i still prefer stick.

so, who can help me decide wich block is more worth it?

70's 351 could be ok-good or real good. 4x4 like you have i suggest a 351 these days if you want to use a pushrod ford or minimally a stroker 302.

properly tuned/cam matched, a mild 351 is the best way to go with a lifted 4x4 that gets used.

and i would use a built aod or 4r70w.