85 E-150 302 to 351 engine swap?

[Clayt]

I've got a question..... I've got an '85 E-150 that I've had for 14 years, it's got a 302 w/aod trans. I want to swap the motor out with a 351 from a '88 Crown Victoria (police package) to get more trailer pulling power.

Is this a swap that's going to fit and work? What will I need to make this work?

Any insight is appericiated!
~Clayt

[Clayt]

Helllloooooo.....is there anybody out there?????

[Fritz The Cat]

First, I don't think the AOD will bolt up to the 351, so you'll need to use the tranny that came with the 351. This will require custom work on the drive shaft and the tranny crossmember.
Second, I think you will have some problems will the oil pan of the 351 fitting in the van, take a look at the two different oil pans and you'll see what I mean. They are shaped differently, probably requireing custom cutting and welding to match the top of 351 pan to bottom of 302 pan. This of course will require a special oil pickup tube. All possible but very expensive.
I ran into all this when I considered stuffing a 400M into my 85 clubwagon.

[clint D]

The engine it the crown vic would be a 351w which is basically the same as a 302, it will bolt up to you’re aod trans. you might have to change the oil pan and pickup tube but the one from the 302 will fit, the reason you will have to change it is because the one for the crown vic is a dual sump. Other then that everything else should be the same. Good luck

[speedfreak]

Your van is carbureted, right? The swap shoulbd be fairly direct. The 351W is like a 302 with taller cylinders, at least externally. The bellhousing pattern is the same as a 221-255-289-302, so the trans will bolt up fine, but be sure to use the flexplate off the Crown Vic because the 302's probably has a different imbalance. The 351 is a little taller than a 302 so you'll have to modify the exhaust and as was already mentioned, you'll need the oil pan/pickup/dipstick from a 351 van or possibly truck.

[89/429CJ Tbird]

If you're towing you want more low end torque. The 300 CID in line 6 would be a better engine. The police package will deliver high end torque, good for pulling at 80 MPH, no pulling up the mountains with the 351. The 300 is got to be Fords best engine for pulling

[speedfreak]

In '88 I doubt the 351W police engine had anything better than E7TE cylinder heads, just as the 5.0 Mustangs did from '87-95. They are decent sized for a 302, but on a 351 they run out of breath around 4500-4800rpm. Combined with the extra cubic inches, they make a low-revving torque monster engine. Dont get me wrong, the 300ci six is a great engine, but I dont think it would be actually better than a 351. Get yourself a decent dual plane intake, 600cfm Holley with vacuum secondaries and an RV cam and you're in business.

[89/429CJ Tbird]

Now if you could find a 351M you'd be in business. Thats a REAL truck motor!