302 or 351 windsor

[19Bronco90]

I am already 99% sure on what I am going to do, but would like some input from those who have more experience. I have a 1990 Bronco XLT with a 302 (my baby) and a donor 1991 Bronco XLT with a 351 Windsor. Anyway, I will by having a stroker built with one of these two blocks, i am leaning towards the 302. Everyone i have talked to in person says the 302 makes a much better stroker because it offers both low end and high end power, while a 351 is more difficult and expensive to offer both aspects so it will have either low end power or high end power. I am leaning towards stroking my 302 because frankly, i love torque...and i love speed. if anyone has any input on this, please let me know.

along with the stroker i will be putting in a 4.11 locker rear end and a 4.11 open front end so i can keep my transfer case...i was thinking about dropping the transfer case and putting posi on my bronco but i have decided against that, mud is too much damn fun.

also, i will be pushing 500-550 hp out of a 302 stroker, not sure what it would be out of the 351 but i am worried about my transmission, i know c6 transmissions are bulletproof but will i be pushing it over its limits, last thing i want is to dump all this money into my truck and overlook something. most people i have talked to say that the c6 should be able to handle the power no problem, but i am just looking for more input, want to cover all the bases. money isnt really a problem, im pulling 3 jobs at the moment just for my truck so if anyone has any add ons they would recommend please let me know.

thanks.

 

[89Bronco58]

stroking a 302 is going to make it a 347 stroker, which should be fine, since your truck is already a 302 truck id just leave it that way, you are still going to have to change ALOT of things if you plan to keep it fuel injected. as for over 500 hp, a stock c6 will handle that for a little while maybe but eventually it will die. as for the posi up front, you can do that either way with the transfer case that you have, you cant drop a transfer case off your truck without changing the entire transmission. i highly reccomend you upgrade your carrier as well as your axles if you are going to have that much horse power. I have a 306 in my bronco and i have blown 2 rears into pieces, and you will do that same unless you fight against it, good luck

 

[bidibronco]

Well, I'm a 351w kind of a guy. If money wasn't an issue I would do the 351w stroked to a 408. As a matter of fact, when I get to school in 09 I'm hoping I'll be able to do it there. As for the differentials, if you plan on driving it on pavement much I would either put a limited slip or and e-locker/air locker in the rear and a complete locker or spool in the front. Since the front is only engaged when you want it to be the front tires can spin at different speeds on pavement. I've heard of people putting some seriouse hp and tq threw a C6 with no problem but I would recomend a complete rebuild of it with some high performance stuff and a shift kit. Also, what kind of cam do you think you'll be running, remember with an automatic transmission if you put a big cam in there you have to get a stall converter that matches everything. Well, good luck and keep us updated...

 

[89Bronco58]

putting a spool in the front end is the last thing anyone should do, as soon as he turns and gets traction those axles will snap like toothpicks, a stroked 351 is possible but that motor already has a long stroke to it, i just think stroking a 302 would be a better motor in the long run

 

[bidibronco]

How do you figure that putting a spool in the front will snap axels? I understand driving on pavement while in 4wd but in the sloppy @$$ mud and stuff shouldn't be a problem. Also, I don't have a problem with stroking a 302 to a 347 or anything else, I just want to have a 408 stroker. Just me, I know the stroke will be long but the low end torque would be nasty! My thing is, while you're in 2wd, you front driveline ins't attached and your wheels shouldn't be spinning your axels either hence unlocking your hubs so a full locker/spool shouldn't hurt anything unless you're driving on non slick stuff, even rocks generally have a slick surface. Just my $.02

 

[89Bronco58]

yes in mud the axles most likely wouldnt break, but youd also had terrible steering and once your out of the mud, you could possibly catch traction, im just thinking of when im offroad, i go from hole to hole down trails and have sharp turn and if i was in 4wd with a locker they would be nearly im possible, so id have to be getting out and unlocking the hubs every minute lol and even if i disengaged the t-case the axle would still be locked straight as one, id just reccomend a posi unit ot locker, just my opinion

 

[bidibronco]

Got it, I see what you're saying, I wouldn't ever run a full locker in the rear unless it was a trail only vehicle. I can't see spending that much money on tires I would be tearing up if you know what I mean...

 

[BLADE262US]

P.A.W makes a stroker kit for a 351W to make it a 427 . Physically the 351 will have more grunt than a 302 if you dont believe do some research on rotating mass ( inertia ) and then look at the crank from a 302 vs a 351 night and day difference . I personally have no use for a 302 in a truck Ive ran both and will never go back . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[bidibronco]

I didn't know they made a kit for a 351 to be a 427! I think that may be my next project. I wonder if it would lift the front of the truck on hard exceleration?

 

[89Bronco58]

the front of my truck lifts a bit when i get on it, lol its sweet and i have a really stiff suspension , esp in the rear. but as for what blade said about never going back to 302's i only prefer them because i would rather have a 302 ( in my case a 306 ** ) and just put gears in the rears, i run 456 gears on my 306 and have plenty of torque and power and im sure having the 302 saves me on gas, which is everyonbes main goal these days lol

 

[Burns]

P.A.W makes a stroker kit for a 351W to make it a 427 . Physically the 351 will have more grunt than a 302 if you dont believe do some research on rotating mass ( inertia ) and then look at the crank from a 302 vs a 351 night and day difference . I personally have no use for a 302 in a truck Ive ran both and will never go back . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

All this talk about just working a 302 to make a better than 351, when I just got my 351w block, had me a little down, thinking I *maybe* made the wrong choice. But low and behold, a light has shown me the way. I planned on going stroker, and after mulling on the thought a bit, I know I made the right choice. I bought it to have some fun. I agree wholeheartedly with whoever said, "No replacement for displacement."

 

[89Bronco58]

in the world of heavy broncos, the replacement for displacement would be gears!

 

[BLADE262US]

in the world of heavy broncos, the replacement for displacement would be gears!

All depends on how big of tires you have put on it 4:56 required just to get 35'S back to stock power ratio . Hmmmmm whats the lowest gears you can go in an 8.8 /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> I will try to get pics of those cranks then everyone can see what I mean about the rotating mass the 302 since somewhere around 78 has a very very light crank in it not much more than the bearing throws great for a little light high reving car but not enough ass for a 6000 lb truck . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[rednck7736]

I have both 351 and 302.I have had 400hp 302 in a ranger.But i did not build it.THere is no substition for displacement.You strock a 351W.It will give everyting you need.I me ford put to much into the 302 instead of the 351w like they should have.I am running a 351w in my 85 which that is what it came with.I rebuilt it an dput a small cam in it with a stock bottomend,I have git to have something ok on gas cause my 4x4xf-150 is running a 425 hp 460.Then I top the 351w off wit Ford SVO alum. heads ans weind intake with a 750 carb.I will turn it 5500 rpms and am not scared to blow it.If it was not for me driving 30 miles one way to work everydya in it i would stroke to a 396 or 408.A 351W is a better all around mottor that a 302 302 are good but there are not up to par with the 351W.

 

[89Bronco58]

in the world of heavy broncos, the replacement for displacement would be gears!

i know you can fit up to 513 in an 8.8,idk about past that, never looked into it, if anyone ever had to go more than that, they should be changing rears anyway, 456 and 38 inch tires works well for me, it burns em /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Iamnottelling]

---Restarting thread, I was going to take my stock 93 with the E40D trans and stroke out the 302 to the 347. The engine needs a rebuild so I figure I might as well upgrade.

I have 3.55 gears and a ARB Limited slip rear end - open front. I wanted to keep the fuel injection and wondered if the computer would pick up on the change. It seams to have delt with the headers and open flow muffler.

I think I need. Crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons and new heads rings - anything else. I will take it in for the boring.

 

[BLADE262US]

Well you have a speed ensity system more than likely so all it knows is that it has to supply fuel for a volume of air drawn in to a 4 inch bore and a 3 inch stroke . And it knows that at X amount of duration the valeves are going to be open X amount of time and X amount of duration . ANYTHING you do to change the volume of air in the cylinder ( Strokeing ) or changing the timing events ( changing the cam ) will require computer modifications will it run probably will it run good no will you be messing with it more than driving it definately . To save the aggrevation you must either convert to mass air which can handle those mods or just build a 351 . Everyone keeps saying stroke a 302 there the ultimate motor makes absolutely no sence to me being that it all comes down to math a 302 has a 4 inch bore and a 3 inch stroke , a 351 has a 4 inch bore and a 3.5 inch stroke and the heads interchange so why pay upwards of $1000 to do something the factory already did . And there no way you can say its gas milage because once you increase that volume of air it doesnt magically make more horsepower on its own it needs fuel and probably more than a stock 351 if modded so I just dont buy into all that . Now making a 351 into a 427 that has my interest because if your modding your motor in that way you obviously are not concerned with fuel milage . Thats my 2 cents take it or leave it but look at the numbers play with a calculator and you should easily see what Im talking about . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Justshootme84]

I debated this topic for years, and ultimately decided on a 460. The stock SD system will not be able to handle stroking a 302/351W as Blade said. You might be able to get 400 HP (not rear wheel Hp) out of a stroked 302 crate motor from Ford, but the C6 auto can handle up to 700 HP. It's the stock Dana TTB 44 and Ford 8.8" that will not be able to handle it. I've seen the axle tubes twist right out of the 8.8" with far less RWHP. Do alot of research, get several opinions and talk to a few engine builders. I went with the 460 mostly due to getting tired of blowing up 351W's. My $0.02, JSM84

 

[Iamnottelling]

So what I am hearing is that I will have to change a lot of the drive line to allow for the added horse power. I think I will have to look into a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. It will be better for towing anyway. Thanks