Pros and cons 302/351

Im looking to buy a ford truck 1994-1997 4x4. Im not sure if i want to get the 302 or 351 motor. Im gonna pull a boat and a lawn trailer. Imput would be great. Thanks

 

From my boat pulling experience, bigger is always better.

 

Like Dave said, bigger is always better for something you intend to primarily pull with. That said, my dad had a '94 flareside for a while with the 5.0, and it had no problem pulling a loaded car trailer all day long at 80 mph with the A/C blasting. A 3.73 gear had been put in it, though.

 

Well im gonna use it as a daily driver also. Ive got a 97 explorer 5.0 awd right now and the gas milage is terrible. Ive alway drove a truck but for the last 5 yrs ive drove the ex. Its time to get a truck.

 

How big is the boat, 300-6 heck of a engine! not sure on the last year

 

Right now 16.5 thundercraft ski boat with a inboard motor. But im gonna sell it and get at least a 18.5 fishing boat. Lawn trailer is 6.5x12 foot long. You can deffinitally feel both of these behind the explorer.

 

In 1997

302 hp=205
351 hp=210



The 302 will probably do the job just fine. The 351 is going to have more torque but Im not sure how much torque over the 302 it has. I would see if you can find the torque listings between the 302 and 351 before making your decision.

 

A 302 will work fine for what you are wanting to pull.Wife has a 2000 Ford Exploder,and you can feel EVERYTHING being pulled behind it.Quad and trailer,wave runner and trailer.They suck for a tow vehicle.

 

302 will be fine for the load you are pulling. Plus get better mileage when your not towing which is most of the time.

 

You got that right they suck to pull with.

 

I have a 2002 Explorer 2WD V8, 239 hp (178 kW) and 282 lb·ft (382 N·m). I pull my boat, probably 2000 lbs rig, with it and it does just fine. But I don't usually tow over 65 MPH and I'll take it out of OD on hills. Not sure how it would do with heavier loads at highway speeds. Think its rated at around 7000 lbs towing but no way I'd do that at speed. Guess it just depends on how much weight you need to tow.

 

Id go with the 351 if it was me...

302's just dont have the bottom end torque like the 351w does

 

Me too. 302 would be adequate for my purposes but LOVE the idea of a roller tappet 351. Would make a great donor for the Mav some day.

 

There will be very little difference in fuel consumption between the 302 and 351w when properly tuned. There will be a big difference in the way the 351w pulls a load. There is the higher hp which depending on the build can be a little or a lot and then there is the torque - The 351 will have a lot more torque than the 302. That is what you need when you are towing anything.

 

When your trying to pull that trailer up a boat ramp...torque is king.