Hi my name is Tyler I'm from Spokane, been searching on here for awhile to find out exactly what can be done to these engines as far as performance options. I don't want a monster hp engine or anything like that. I want a good engine that can handle hauling a trailer up a hill, as of right now my truck gets bogged down feeling going up long hills and starts to lose speed and power fast. It's got a 3" lift and 4.10 gears along with 33x12.5 tires my truck just can't handle hills. So if I throw a trailer on ill be screwed up hills.

My budget is around 2500$

So I have looked on here and HAVE used the search button but I seem to be more confused now then in the beginning,and have not really found anything tha hits my problem 100%. I've done a tune up, new plugs,wires, timing to 15, plugs gapped. Really just need to know what can be done to the engine(heads,intake,cam, ect...) without changing to MAF to give me more towing power. Don't have time to do MAF so ill stay with what I got. Towing power is really what I want I don't care about 0-60 or top speed, this truck does 75 easy with the 4.10 gears and with low rpm now I just need to be able to haul things and now be worried about power.Also I have looked into a 351 swap or doing a 331 stroker(don't know what computer challenges occur with this), had a line on a 1993 351 from bronco but it fell through. Sorry if I'm unclear at all. Let me know if I need to add more info. Thanks

 

A 351 swap will help with towing more than anything you can do to a 302.

 

Ok so if I go for a 351 swap can I use any year 351 or just a 92,93? I don't know where to even look now, the major junk yards around here didn't have any. I've done the least research on the 351 swap so ill start looking on here

 

For 2500 you can get yourself a nice beater with a mo bigga motor for when towing.

Adrianspeeder

 

It's funny that you say that cus I'm buying my dads 1993 ford econoline conversion van, it's got a 5.8 and tows a 26 ft travel trailer no problem so my 18ft will be nothing.

So now I just want to get my truck to where its not dragging up hills, so does anyone have any suggestions about that? I'm losing the 33x12.5x15s and getting narrower tires and 16in wheels.. Should I use the extra money I saved on the van to hop up my truck still??

 

Thanks for the replies too!

 

I'd do a swap if you if you really want to use this truck. Without converting to maf you're pretty much stuck where you're at. I'd do a 351w swap, and possibly convert it to maf while you're at it. You'll have more pulling power to begin with, and future mods if need be won't be nearly as bad to do with maf. The speed density set-up pretty much screwed me out of doing anything I had planned on this year. It just doesn't make the adjustments the maf set-up can, you can't run heads or cam and notice any real gains either.

 

Ok well that blows! If you put in a 331 stroker would the speed density screw up all those gains too? It's what I was afraid of. I guess I'll keep my eye out for a 351. Does it have to be a 92,93 351 if I want to keep my harness? Or can I just get a 351 block of any year and swap my stuff from my 302? Idk if that works though cus of the block lengths and what not.

 

I have a nice 1992 F150 4X4 with a 5.8 and i looking to sell it.
This truck pulls better than my buddies 2006 Chevy Silverado JUNK.
Lots of new parts that i did not have to replace. Never modified.
Sell some of your projects and with your $2500 i think we may make a deal
The truck in Oklahoma. NO RUST, NO RIPS, NO BS.
installing new water pump and power steering pump today.
New A/C system last summer, ICE COLD.
I could list more, but its not for sale yet.
I dont sell anything that aint right FIRST.
Does not need much after that.

 

There is no bolt on that's going to give you huge gains but there are a few that will each give you small gains and may meet your needs.

1) Axle ratio. You need at least a 3.55 and with a 302, a 3.73 or 4.11 would be even better

2) 1.7:1 roller rockers. This will increase your valve lift from .419/.445 to .449/.476 without changing duration. That should give you a bit more torque throughout all of your present RPM range.

3) A larger diameter freer flowing exhaust. With a stock or near stock engine don't go real big but an increase of one size will help a little

4) Underdrive pulleys free up a little bit of parasitic power losses from the accessory drive

5) If you're feeling real ambitious find a set of the old GT-40 "3-line" heads. They're expensive but they'll make a big difference

 

I agree with gears, 4.56's might help. Or an engine swap but that may be more work then your looking for. You could just buy a truck with a 351 and sell yours?

O and as for the 331 stroker I was thining about it a while back, at the end of the day its still just smaller then a 351 and that money being put into a 351 or 460 would be better off imo.