this or that engine

[JesseFixesCATs]

I just recently bought a 1988 ford bronco with the 5.0 302. I love the bronco!!fords have been in my family for a long time and this is my first one.I am beyond excited to build this bronco into an off road machine. I am currently going to school for CAT to be a mechanic so I do know all the technical engine terms and so on. Dont get me wrong I love this 302 but I don't think its powerful enough for what I want. What other ford engines will be good for off road. I'm really not into "mudding" I just like going through trails.

Thanks

 

[Seabronc]

Welcome to the Zone >< <'> .  I have never owned one, but from what I hear, a strait 6 with a manual trany is a great off road engine.  Lots of torque and only 2 cubes shy of a 302.  Post some pictures when you get a chance.

Good luck,

>-

 

[JesseFixesCATs]

Thanks bud ill look into that although I'm nervous to leave an 8 cylinder.

Ill post pictures of it soon

 

[broncodriver33]

strait 6 is probably one of if not the most reliable engine ford has made in my opinion i have owned a few of the over the years and they take a beating. the have plenty of torque for off roading.  I would look more into changing the gearing if you plan on doing trail rides and rock crawling. My brother has an early bronc with a beefed up 302 and that does fine for off roading and he runs a 4:56 gear and has no problems even before he beefed up the 302. now his buddy on the other hand has one with a small block 351 and 3:55 gears he relies on the horse power to get him through instead of the torque and it is alot harder on the rig. So i say keep the 302 invest in a lower gear ratio and beefing up the drive train to handle the abuse.

 

[JesseFixesCATs]

strait 6 is probably one of if not the most reliable engine ford has made in my opinion i have owned a few of the over the years and they take a beating. the have plenty of torque for off roading.  I would look more into changing the gearing if you plan on doing trail rides and rock crawling. My brother has an early bronc with a beefed up 302 and that does fine for off roading and he runs a 4:56 gear and has no problems even before he beefed up the 302. now his buddy on the other hand has one with a small block 351 and 3:55 gears he relies on the horse power to get him through instead of the torque and it is alot harder on the rig. So i say keep the 302 invest in a lower gear ratio and beefing up the drive train to handle the abuse.

thanks for that. i have never really thought about beefing up the 302. what did he do to beef up the 302?  would you think it would be a good idea to rebuild the 302 will all new and beefed up parts like pistons, bearings, rebuilt heads, all new gaskets and seals and really clean it up good?

 

[broncodriver33]

I'm not sure what all he had done. I know it was rebuilt and built to produce more torque spent around 6k. Only thing I know for sure he did was he put edlebrok heads and intake on.

 

[JesseFixesCATs]

Very cool ill look into that