300 I6 or 302 V8?

[cwrisley]

Ive been doing some research and asking around, but I seem to be getting mixed results. I have the 300 inline six in the Bronco now and actually like it. Its a torque monster and from everything Ive heard, pretty much bulletproof. I like the idea of having that much torque at my disposal and since this my Bronco is gonna be a family toy, Im not planning on ripping through the wash at 90mph!! Clifford Performance has some cool upgrades that really could "wake up" this lil motor. Ive also heard pairing this motor with a C6 is an awesome combo.

On the other hand, I have a 302 pretty much complete and ready to drop in (once its pulled out of the donor). More top end power, parts are cheaper and more readily available. And its a V8, is there really any substitute?!

Im really torn as to which direction to head. So Im looking for a lil GFB advice! 300 or 302?

[hobbyturnedobsession]

Is it carberated? If its efi do you have all the parts? Honestly, there really isn't anything wrong with the I6 but like you said the parts are more expensive. Price out whatever you feel you'd need for the I6 to be where you want it in comparison what it will take for that 302 to be dropped in. If it were me I'd go with the 302 but then again I've never driven the I6. Do you have a good trans to mate to the 302? How good is the motor out of the donor?

[cwrisley]

Is it carberated? If its efi do you have all the parts? Honestly, there really isn't anything wrong with the I6 but like you said the parts are more expensive. Price out whatever you feel you'd need for the I6 to be where you want it in comparison what it will take for that 302 to be dropped in. If it were me I'd go with the 302 but then again I've never driven the I6. Do you have a good trans to mate to the 302? How good is the motor out of the donor?

The I6 is carb'd and its smog exempt (even here in CA!) so no worries there. Intake manifold for a 4bbl carb and long tube headers for the 6 will run me around $700 new. I will have a C6 soon thats entended for the 302. The donor 302 is out of a '93 F150, runs great no problems. I will need a complete ECU setup as it has alreasy been stripped off the donor.

[hobbyturnedobsession]

Thats some work. Look at what you do the most with it. If your haulin the mail than the v8 is always there. If your going slower and can keep it in the torque range than there is no point. You really wouldn't gain anything.

[ChaseTruck754]

This is a tough call as I am always one that goes for the "more motor" - even when it is often un-needed. If the 300 will serve your purposes (which it seems it might) then why waste all the time $ and effort on a 302??? Oh yeah - the v8 thing - hahaha.

[300]

I think it sounds like you need two trucks! For what it costs to get a complete V8 Bronco these days, why even go to the trouble to do a swap? Just buy the combo you want. I have heard that the I6 with the manual trans is great for everything except exactly as you say the banzai trips through the sand washes, etc.

I had to lease new trucks for guys working for me in 96, and one of the trucks had the I6 and the manual trans, and they hated it. They had to get on and off the highway a lot, and preferred the 98 with the 4.6 and auto that replaced it a couple years later, where they just mashed the gas and didn't have to shift. Go figure.

[SteveG]

As I understand it, the six is capable of decent fuel economy which is something to consider.

[CBDuner]

I liked the 300 for everday driving, hauling and towing but the 351 for playing. Haven't had a 302 in a Bronco, just in a Bronco II. I've also heard the 300 and C6 are pretty good together. I had a 4 speed with the granny low.

IMO, I'd stick with the 300, open up the intake and slap on a header and put a C6 behind it. You'll get better fuel economy with the 300 too.

[damon1272]

From my experience with a customers' F-150 I would move up to the V8. The customer has a Spirit kit on it, 4:56 gears on 33's and a five speed. It is a F-150 4x short bed. I replaced the engine with a rebuild and a header by clifford performance (injected engine). While the truck is good around town it is a PITA to shift all the time. Works great as a creeper off road but just does not have enough umooph at highway speeds. The thing is a dog on the freeway and has trouble pushing that much tire and air. 5th gear is for flat land not over 65 mph but has trouble pulling up hills. The truck runs good but do not expect too much.

The 302 can be underpowered too but has much more room for improvement. I know clifford advertises how great the I6 is but I disagree.

[92Custom]

The 300 is a great work horse, almost like a diesel in how it pulls.

The 302 is a play engine. I have one in my truck with the 5 speed, and once I'm moving I can have it in most any gear where it's above 1500rpm and it will pull with ease. I can then back down two gears, sort of double clutch it to help the synchros do their job easier, and wind it out. It's amazing how hard it pulls my 5000lb truck down the road with only 185 horsepower factory rated, maybe hopefully luckily around that much at the wheels now with the little things I've done to it.

[philofab]

My complaint is that the I6 has such a low rev limit. That's what makes it a pain to shift all the time. My 302 easily revs to 6K all day long and has enough power for me to pull silt beds in 2nd at 50mph, and I can skip gears on the street.

[92Custom]

If you have a tranny with a wide gear spread and you work on taking advantage of that fat torque curve, a 300 is a great motor. But a 302 will always be more tossable.