brianbooth

Hey everybody, I'm Brian and I recently loaned my 88 econoline conversion van (you know, those really awesome ones with the futon in the back and the TV) to a friend who went and blew the headgasket. Anyway, I realize it's not a Mustang but there isn't exactly an econoline enthusiast forum out there and I figured you guys would know quite a bit about the good ole' 302

So I've got to pull the engine to get at it and it's a wicked pain to get it out of a van so I figure I'd may as well do some more work on it while it's out.
The thing has always been pretty gutless with the 302 being a bit small for a 5500 pound van and that horrid 3 speed automatic so I'm thinking maybe a 331 stroker kit would be a nice addition? Or maybe I'd be better off just swapping it out for the 351 and then having a bigger platform for some real guts? Maybe even kick out the 3 speed tranny for a 4 speed while I'm at it? Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

Brian

AdderMk2

the only thing i'd be worried about with a 351 is... will it fit?

dont forget that by pumping up the cubes, you're also going to significantly impact the mpg

It also wouldnt suprise me to see that your 88 isnt a HO..Im not sure if it is or is not.. but its not a big deal. cam swap and wiring harness mod is al it takes to get a few more ponies out

Slo5oh

I doubt with a convo van hes too worried about mpg. If you swap out for an od trans youll make up the loss in mpg for the larger cubes. Idk the dimensions of the different ford trans's but if you do that you may need a different length driveshaft, probably something you can find in the jy.

projectresto83

The driveshaft will be the same length from a c4 to aod but the question is, is it a c4 or a c6???? Bigger vehilce as such usually have a c6 instead. I don't remember if they are the same length as t5/c4/aods

brianbooth

Thanks for the replies everybody!

Addermk2, fitting the 351 shouldn't be a problem. That E150 series had 3 options for engines: the big straight 6, the 302, and the 351W on stock vehicles. And you're definitely right that it's toned down... something like 175 HP stock No doubt I could get some better high end out of some cams, intake, headers, and all that jazz but honestly, the low end is really lacking as well. Then again, that could just be because of that 3 speed transmission having a long 1st gear.

Slow5oh and projectresto83, I don't know a thing about the trannies that they put in these things except that my buddy had a 4 speed auto tranny on his 92 E150 conversion van. Maybe there were some changes done between 88 and 92 that would make them incompatable but maybe not? I seem to remember a section in the shop manual that laid out the different options and I'll check to see if the 4 spd was available in 88 as soon as I get a chance to look it over.

brianbooth

A little bit of googling has me thinking it's got a C6, so the E40D would be the natural upgrade for that. Not quite sure how to go about setting it up for electronic shifting but I'm guessing that pulling the shifter out of a junkyard would do the trick

USMC1775

It would be sweet to see an 88 van cammin' nasty with some LTs lol

q8stang

i see you are from washington which means craigs list is full of 302 engines and 351's and a few 460's

brianbooth

A 460 would be pretty sweet but I'm not so confident it would fit in the E150 without having do some cutting.

!

The beauty of the 351 is that (or so I'm told) it's basically the same block except it's a bit taller. Same heads, water pump, bolt pattern for the tranny, etc. Not sure about the ECU... anybody know about that one?

83gtragtop

You're really going to waste money on the van? Why not donate it and use the money that you were going to spend on cheap fox-body?