What Engine Should I go with?

[hemihotrod402]

What engine should I go with?
351
460
or just build up the 302
if you havent seen the assault vehicle, click my sig

[hemihotrod402]

and if this isnt the right place, please move it, im apoligizing now if it is

[johnunit]

You're talking an absolute minimum of a grand to drop in a 351W in any sort of a proper way, if you have the skills, and the tools. Thousands for a 460.

I'm only 18, so don't take this the wrong way, but the odds are VERY slim that as a 16 year old you'll be able to afford anything more than doing basic mods (check out the stickys on HO swaps) to your 302.

Realistically, you'll probably top $2,000 to put even a basically stock 351W into that car, again unless you have access to a lot of free skilled labour and tools.


I'm not trying to rain on your parade, I just thought I'd say it before the more senior members come in and say it a bit more harshly.


If you do have that kind of denairo or skill, though, drop in a stroked 351W and I'll apologize for my skepticism.

[hemihotrod402]

no its cool, i asked everyone what they thought, and you gave your answer. Ive done enough research on the 5.0 ford i know what keeps this thing tick. My dad was also a ford technician when they released the 5.0 litre, and hes instructed me on what i cant find out. He suggested the 351, and I was contemplating the 460, i just figured id ask you guys what you would suggest.

EDIT: Im really leaning towards the 302, just because its cheaper and easier for me to squeeze out a lot of power

[andymac0035]

Having been in the exact position you are in now....my advice it keep the 302.

When I was 19 I started saving to put a 351W into the 81' crown vic I had at the time. I was basically frustrated because I was told it had a 302....when in fact it had a 255. Of course that had to go.......
So I debated between 302 and 351......actually the guy that did the swap wanted to do a 460/C6 swap....(he specailized in 460's) looking back I should have done that instead.......
Between paying for the engine swap....and various mods to go with it I ended up spending about $2200....back in 1990.

The car WAS a lot of fun......but if it had had a 302 in it I would have had that spuced up instead....and would have saved a lot of money in the process.

[hemihotrod402]

alright, Im keepin the 302. The main reason I asked this was because I am looking to redo the exhaust, and I was wondering if i should just buy the headers and get the exhaust bent now, or just wait. I'll probably just get the exhaust bent with some super 40s and then start finding ways to hop up the stock engine (already have an idea)

[gadget73]

Easiest, 302. Not horribly difficult but decidedly more expensive due to the fuel system stuff, 351. In the "don't even bother unless you're a trust fund child" category, we have the big block. If you're paying someone to do this, it changes things a whole lot. If you're doing the work yourself, then the cost differences will be far less significant.

Honestly if you can get the stuff hammered out to do the intake and whatnot on the 351, its not that much more expensive to install. There is the 351 specific AC bracket, but thats the only really wierdo part. The intake is where it gets interesting. If you want to stay EFI, you'll have to figure whats gonna fit, and mod the fuel rails accordingly. Theres a whole thread on here somewhere about various intake options and fuel rail mods and the like that were extensively discussed, but I'm not sure if any of it was tested in real life. There is a guy on here with a 351 Lightning motor in his car. I don't know full details of what he did to make that happen, but it has been done. If you want to go with a carb (and I never ever reccomend this, but I have a distaste for carbs), its somewhat easier since all you need is the intake, ignition system from a truck, and a little work on the fuel lines to make that work for you.

[1990LTD]

Build the shit out of your 302. 5.0 HO with twin turbos might be fun

[Smokestacklightnin]

The 302 is a very proven engine. My car has the CFI system. Many people bad mouth CFI, but I have had good luck with it. My engine is bone stock except for a K&N filter and Ford Racing plug wires. I have removed the smog pump and associated plumbing, and the AC compressor, lines, and condenser. AC did not work when i got the car in 2001. Doing that removed almost 100 lbs from the front. Im running stock exhaust manifolds, magnaflow cats, H pipe, glass packs and 2 1/4 pipes. My best time is 16.8@80. Currently a friend and I are coming up with a nitrous set up for my CFI. Nitrous is realitivly cheap for the gains you can achieve. An entry level system is about $400, but we are adapting it for CFI. Probably going to be a 75 shot for starters. Nitrous is very reliable and safe if you know how it works and what you are working with. I dont want to spend lots of money on heads, cams, intake etc. at this time, just want to see what i can do with what is there.

[Archangel]

I'll throw my 2c in this as well - if I had a nice and complete 351, pulled say from a buddy's truck, just sitting on the engine stand in the garage, then yes, I'd probably drop it in my Towncar. Problem with that in any fuel-injected Panther is the fact that intakes will not swap between the 302 and the 351, so you either start looking for the 351-specific GT40 lower manifold (so you can run a 302 upper), or you just live with the regular 351 truck intake and cut up your hood and install a cowl-induction scoop (which is what I'd probably do). With the fuel-injected 460 situation is the same, only now you add the issues of different motor mounts and also you will need a new transmission to mate to this... Then there is the matter that even the 351 in its factory form does not make a whole lot more power than an HO-converted 302, but it does tend to suck down a whole lot more gasoline. I'd suggest you read through Justin's thread in the high-performance sub-forum about reasons to put a Chevy engine in a Ford vehicle, it should be pretty informative as to what you can (not) do to your Ford.

So realistically unless you already have a decent engine to drop in place of your 302, just keep that 302 and upgrade it - HO parts are a good start, then there's lots of aftermarket options as well. And if you really want a big block, try to locate a factory 429 from the early 70s, those can accept the newer 460 fuel-injected parts, but have higher compression and better heads and internals than said 460 engines.

[RunUoveR]

id build the 351 on the side, slowly as you have the money or whatever. no sence in throwing all the same time and effort into a smaller 1980's smog motor

going from a 302 to a 351w is pretty simple, it almost drops right in. just get the intake right and remember that the exhaust manifolds are a bit further apart and it'll go right in

[rellik god]

save your money for your suspension,brakes and then do your tranny and then rear
if you put a powerful engine in with 20+ year car with stock parts youll start breaking
things and then what. safety first just my two cents here

[351m]

As Runuover said, build a 351 on the side. 351 truck fuel rails would make more sense then modding the 302 ones would it not?

[gadget73]

depends where they hook up. I think I recall someone doing a 351 in a 90 Towncar and using the truck rails. I think he said the truck rails had a few feet of stainless braided hose exiting from the back of the rail, and he just modded the stock lines a little to tie into the truck rails. If thats true (I don't know jack about the truck rails), that would be a spectacular option.

[ss_mini14]

i'd stick with the 302 block and build it to 331, i think it would be cheaper than a 351 if you do it yourself. then if you want more go with a positive displacement supercharger. tat's my plan anyway...someday