Keep the I-6 300 carbed or swap to 302 EFI?

My mileage figures kinda suck compared to owners of 302-351W EFI Broncos, mine is a 300 cid carbed I-6. Would an engine swap be in order to either V-8 (EFI both) obviously given that the 302 might be cheaper for me to do ?, thanks...[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img][img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

a 302 would be cheaper and it will make more power
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Mmmhhh.. thanks, but they say the 302 ain't a truck engine thus torque suffers?. However, mine (Bronco, A/T) is a 2WD truck used for mostly city driving...... others want to contribute?[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]

302-cheaper to build up, will make more HP & torque when built right, and gets better fuel economy, for the most part.

4.9-awesome engine. Great torque right off of idle, but falls off after 3000 RPM. Runs forever and a day with very few problems. Has a 302 beat in everything except economy in a truck application (unless you want a lack of low end torque and 300 HP at 5000-5200 RPM....which might mean using a higher stall converter or waiting for the power to start coming on).

I bought a '95 F150 that has a 5.0L/5 speed. Hate the motor, other than it gets 18 mpg usually. Love the truck, though. I also used to have a '95 with a 4.9/5 speed. It would out pull, out tow the one I have now by FAR. Bad part was, it was no hot rod and it got 14-16 mpg ON A GOOD DAY driving like I had an egg under my foot (not often!) Also had a '83 F100 that I got with a 300 six. I tried for over a year to hurt that thing and couldn't do it. That included running the freeway in 2nd gear until the motor would not rev any further....and just holding it there (3 speed standard shift). 4500 RPM all day long. Ran it once like that for about 20 minutes. Engine was so hot that the temp gauge was totally pegged and the paint was burning off of the block....and the dirt that was built up on the engine was nearly on fire. Didn't hurt the motor internally. Oil came out black and like tar but it never missed a lick. Swapped it for a 466/C6 later on.....talk about torque/HP. the big block was the best of both worlds. Would pass everything...except a gas station.

In case you haven't figured it out, my vote is for the 300 six!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: mavman on 10/19/04 10:51am ]</font>

[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img] Well... and how about a 351W?. What improvement in mileage (all else being equal...) could I expect from my stock 300 carbed to a 302EFI? Here an EFI V-8 costs 50% more than a carbed one, but putting EFI on my current rig would cost about as much as a whole V-8 EFI engine!

[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_tup.gif[/img]Uhh and thanks, of course...

I had a 300 that would run with most small blocks (in a like truck).

I just stuck a header, 4 bbl intake with a 450 holley, a MSD 6A sparkbox, and it was like night and day. I could FRY the tires going into second gear, and get a good long chirp going into third (3 speed, but with a Hurst on the floor). Fun truck to drive. Was equal to a stock 305 Chevy/302 Ford.

This was with a stock engine with the bolt ons listed. With a little better cam and compression, I've sure it would have ran WAY better.

BTW, I get even better results with a 250 Chevy that was built to run, so I'm sure the 300 would be the same or better.
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[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_tup.gif[/img]OK, I will do similar mods to my 300 which is actually my december project (headers, carb, gears, tune up, etc). Thanks...

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On 2004-10-24 13:51, calazo wrote:
[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_tup.gif[/img]OK, I will do similar mods to my 300 which is actually my december project (headers, carb, gears, tune up, etc). Thanks...
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I missed the Bronco part. The 300 WILL run, but the milage is still gonna suck with a heavy 4x4 Bronco. My truck was a stripped down (no options of any type) 70s shortbed Ford F100. It's pretty light as far as fullsized pickups go. I forgot the actual milage, but I ran the hell out of it and still got (if I remember right) somewhere in the 15mpg range, average.

I'd try to go with a 351 with a small 4bbl, headers, a mild RV type cam, ect... and I think you'd get about the same milage and more power.

Don't get me wrong, the 300 (and 302) are good engines, but when you get into something heavy, you'll need something bigger.
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[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]Thanks Uriah, my Bronco is a 2WD (stock from Venezuela) so I figure w/o the 4x4 hardware it'd be a little lighter. The thing is that I am looking for an option that gives me better mileage yet with similar or even superior performance. I've heard lots of good things about the 351W but not necessarily in terms of mileage. I am considering, however, to install compressed natural gas equipment (rather popular down here) using my current 300cid which would give me fuel savings in excess of 50%, what'd ya'all think!?. Just for your reference, such conversion costs about as much as installing an EFI rebuilt 351W.