Remember your CV is lighter than a truck will be. I think you can expect a 10%+ drop off your CV with a 302, and another 10% drop off with a 351 on the hyw, with the city MPG's closer to the same. It all depends on your gear ratio, tranny etc. Your CV probably has a higher gear ratio than a truck will, although some trucks do have 3.08 gears. This will make a larger difference on the HYW of course. The problem with a high gear, say a 3.08 instead of a 3.55 is that you will loose towing power. Boy that just opened another can of worms.

The 351 is a 5.8L, with the newer models (97 and up) having a 5.4L as the larger option (compared to a 4.6L v-8 or a 4.2L v-6). You might consider a 97 or 98 with a 5.4L. They do get a little better ride IMO and good fuel economy for the power. My buddie had a '98 that was an extended cab 4x4 and he got 17-18 on the hyw @ 65mph. With a 12' enclosed trailer he got 10-11 from kansas city to Florida, only pulling 2,500# @ 65-70 (thats even down hill) . Of course the 97/98 will be more expensive, which I assume is the reason your looking at the 92-95's.

Like I said before, with any engine, your fuel economy difference between them will be marginal while loaded, so I dont think it will make much of a difference.

 

My Vic weigh in at 4150 with my Class III hitch,,, and has 3.08 rear gears with a limited slip rear.. It just maybe worth my while to wait another year and go for a 97 model with the 5.4 liter. Does anyone know of a web site that talks about these ?? I would very much like to read up on them...
I know the 351 is a gas hog,,, getting only in the single digits for gas mileage around town,,,, around town here is stopping every 3 to 5 blocks for a stop sign or stop light,,,, then right back up to 50mph till the next stop... So that doesn't help mileage. But I do want the comfort, soooo talk on guys,,,, I'm still learning !!! Send me any web sites dealing with the newer 5.4 liter engine,,,, I would like to read them....

Thanks

Dondo

 

Clearwater, Fl, I almost moved there. My 302 is not close to being a gas guzzler. When you want power its there. The new trucks do give a nicer ride, but then you have to deal with piston slpain the new 5.4s, and the 4.6s while they make comperable hp/tq numbers to the 5.0, do it at much higher rpms. The 5.0 is the way to go. I might be bias LOL

 

I had a 1985 F-150 when I moved here,,, the reason I got rid of it was people kept asking me over,,,, and saying,,, Ohhh bring your truck, I need to move something !! Now those people are gone I want a truck back. I was thinking of what could be done to hop up a 5.0 truck,, it would be really no difference then the cars !! I still want to read a little on the newer trucks tho,,, before I make any discision... But being of the old school,,, I too lean towards the old 5.0 for low end torque

 

Not my 351. I have a heavy foot and get 12 on average, combined ctiy/hwy, trailer/not trailer. I dont drive a tank full without a complete combination, so I have no way to say what you would get under seperate conditions. Its a a 4x4 5spd. with 3.55's. I don't know if your '85 was a 351 or not, but remember the '88+ will be fuel injected which will get a little better fuel economy than a 4bbl carbed engine, along with better torque #'s. Also, the older ones usually had a c-6 transmission without overdrive, and the c-6's eat power and fuel economy. I think with a decent OD tranny (it will likely be the E40D with a newer 351) your fuel economy will be respectable, even in the city.

True there have been PS probelms in the 5.4's, and something you might want to read up on. On my buddies truck, it made a noise similar to a hydrolic lifter that wasn't pressurized, only on startup for 10 seconds or so. It never caused any problems to 140k when he sold it, after pulling a trailer 3-5 days a week. There have been no reports of PS actually causing problems by Ford, and the ones that have been repaired are for customer request under warrenty. Again, read up as there are a couple threads on this board about it.

Beastie is right, the 4.6 make their power at higher RPMS due to smaller cubes and the OHV setup. The 5.4 however makes excelent torque and HP below 3,300 RPM's, and would be my only recomendation for a 97+ model.

I could say the same thing about the 351, only having owned the 4.9 and 351 in my truck, my only experience with the 302 is in the mustangs. I would think the torque of the 351 is the real benefit in a truck, as the 302 makes respectable HP #'s but less torque (torque increases significantly with cubes). Remember that the 300 I-6 and the 302 have basically the same torque #'s but significantly different HP #'s.

Dondo, most of the members in here have the 97+ models with the 4.2, 4.6, 5.4L engines, read some threads and you will get some idea of what they think of them. Remember, they are not "old school" engines, and utilize overhead cams, individual coils, etc.

 

Towing a 28-Foot boat! Man, I wouldn't event think about anything less than a 351. MINIMUM!

Really, how much difference in fuel economy can there be with a 302 vs the 351. Do yourself a favor and splurge for the bigger motor.