Crate Engines?! help!

[BroncoG5]

I have recently pulled the old and tired 302 from my bronco. i was originally planning on useing a used low milage motor, however now it seems wizer to go with a crate engine. i need help figuring out wich motors work and wich dont as far as fitting in the engine bay. im looking to go EFI for the obvious crawling reasons. however im a bit clueless as to where to look and what to look 4 other than the eye poping hp and tourque. pleas if anyone as further experience or knowlege they could give me i would be much abliged.

Thank you, Kevin

ps; im having a bronco mechanic in my area do the instalation so a turn key engine is what im looking for, keeping cost down and using the right engine is what i need.

 

[SteveL]

If the 302 hasn't been rebuilt yet I would find a good shop to rebuild it. As far as the efi goes you can do pretty good with a q-jet or holley if you know somebody to make it work right. I run a q-jet I grabbed from the boneyard and it hasn't missed a beat at any angles. As far as a crate motor they're good if you spend the money for a motorsport or factory motor. The cheap crate motors you get from the local AP stores are usually junk.

 

[la77]

If I Was Getting Another Motor It Would Be A Junkyard 351w Buy Stoker Setup For 600-$900 Have That Setup Put Together By Good Engine Builder And Have A Low End Torque Monster With Great Hp Too. All That Is Around The Same Price As A Brand New 302 Stock Crate Motor. Run A Q Jet ,bc Broncos Can Set You One Up For You Motor And Will Be Very Close To Perfect From What I Hear, Or Truck Avenger And Be Done With It Unless Doing Serious Crazy Angles Rock Crawling Trail Rig Then Do Efi Or Propane.
I Have A Efi 302 Did It Myself And It Runs Like A Champ Fuel Effecient When Driven Like A Maw Maw. But I Keep The Skinny Pedal To The Floor Unless The Big Fat Pedal Is Pushed To The Floor So Fuel Economy Is Out.
If You Want A New Motor, Super Easy Choice And Fairly Complete, Get One From Ford Racing They Are New Blocks And Cranks And Stuff. But For The Same Money You Can Get More By Getting A Reputable Shop To Rebuild (302) 347 Stroker Or 351 Or 393,408,427 Whatever 351w Stroker Combo Motor Which You Will Probably Later Wish You Had Done In The First Place. You Can Make All Kinds Of Crazy Top End Horsepower With A 302 And Big Open Heads And Crazy Cam But Worthless In A 4x4 Unless You Are Sand Or Mud Drag Racing.
Whatever You Run Get Something With A New Crank. If Not You Will Be On Here Later Asking Why Does My New Motor Have Such A Bad Leak On My Rear Main Seal And How Do I Change It. Then I Changed It And It Still Leaks!!!! If You Have The Money Get What You Want. If Not Save Your Money And Get What You Want. Doing Things Cheap Twice Usually Cost Alot More Than Doing Things Right The First Time. Sorry I Might Have Typed Alot And Not Even Come Close To Answering Your Question. Time On My Hands Right Now. Good Luck
If Forgot About The Explorer Motors. For A While People Were Selling Brand New Ford Explorer Crate Motors And That Would Be A Decent 302.. But I Would Probably Still Go With A 351w Block From A Junk Yard Core And Stoke It Or Throw In New Crank And Keep Ci At 351 If Had My Choice.

 

[Recko555]

Find a complete mustange motor that you put in. Then you can have EFI too. I have been in wheeling for only a year and have wheeled with a carb and it stinks. I have seen people with the Q-jet set up from BC and I still say get EFI, I am switching to it this winter.

 

[cgbexec]

I purchased a Tuff Dawg engine. They sell their engines on E-bay. I found them to be quite reasonable with decent HP. I am sure there are plenty of Fuel Injected 351s and 302's out there that can be had for cheap. The hardest thing there is getting all of the wiring and computer working properly. I stayed with a carburator as Florida is flat, so we really don't have any rock climbing off camber situations. It is mostly dirt trail, mud & sand.

The 302 or 5.0 will bolt in a 71 Bronco that was set up for the V-8. A 351 or 5.8 engine will bolt in, but requires some modifications and adapters for alternator brackets, power steering brackets, radiator location and a few other things.

Also keep in mind that if you are running a manual transmission, purchase an engine that was set up for a manual trans. There is a threaded area on the block for the clutch linkage. You can buy or make adapters if the block does not have this, but it is easier if the block is set up for it. I don't think this applies to newer blocks as newer vehicles are going to have hydraulic clutches.

Chris B.

 

[ShortBus]

I just had my motor and heads rebuilt for $700 bucks. Blaines Motor Supply in Dallas, TX. This is a normal Motor supply place. It fit my budget. The crate motors were all "racing" or "high performance". I just wanted some reliability. I put an RV Cam in it for a little more power. Keep it simple!
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[Recko555]

From this:

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[/QUOTE]

Can't see your pictures.

 

[Baja71]

I just had my motor and heads rebuilt for $700 bucks. Blaines Motor Supply in Dallas, TX. This is a normal Motor supply place. It fit my budget. The crate motors were all "racing" or "high performance". I just wanted some reliability. I put an RV Cam in it for a little more power. Keep it simple!
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PICS??? ;D I searched around and they seem to have a really good rep. Nice find and thanks for posting. NOW POST YOUR PICS!!

 

[68ford]

i agree with finding a good engine builder, i cant believe what crate engines cost.
if im correct, you can buy about 450hp long block stroker from coast for what a pretty much stock 5.0 crate engine is from ford, i do realize you get more parts with the crate engine, but who wants a stock water pump and stock valve covers anyways?

 

[ShortBus]

You guys assume that I have made more progress on this. I am waiting for my Tranny deal to come through. I have been doing more little detail stuff then building. If anyone gets a chance, Can they take a picture (like I should have) of the front of the motor so that I can see how to bolt on the alternator brackets, water pump, and timing chain cover? I had no idea how vague the haynes manual was going to be.

 

[fordguy]

crate motors are awesome, but if you can find a good engine builder the 351 stroker is a pretty good deal the good thing about ford racing crates are they have all new parts and the design and testing has been done so that means the motor breaks in right blah blah blah It all depends on your finances. But like was said earlier do it right the first time. I have a built 302 that cost me 2000.00 dollars in parts and labor (and the labor was not that much). I had a brand new block and ported heads (we freshened them up). It is a full roller with a torque cam and balanced. So for me a crate motor would not have been that bad of a deal. Next motor will be a 393 stroker because i traded for a marine block in excellent shape and you know you just cant let these things sit around

 

[ZookBronc]

I have found a few websites on crates motors....here you go:
http://secure.netsolhost.com/254199...?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SRP&Category_Code=CE1

http://www.blueprintengines.com/popular_configurations/index.html?topic=options&pcsci=7
http://www.tandlengines.com/347_stroker.html

 

[Broncobowsher]

Most of the crate engine I see are very impressive with large numbers, often at high RPM.
In the Ford motorsports catalog there are a couple of 351 engines in there. Basicly production engines that are nothing fancy. That would be a good reliable, economical engine to run. And fits your crate engine requirement.

 

[Baja71]

You guys assume that I have made more progress on this. I am waiting for my Tranny deal to come through. I have been doing more little detail stuff then building. If anyone gets a chance, Can they take a picture (like I should have) of the front of the motor so that I can see how to bolt on the alternator brackets, water pump, and timing chain cover? I had no idea how vague the haynes manual was going to be.

I just wanna see some pics of the new motor!

 

[00gyrhed]

I think eventually we all end up with more or at least want more cubes.

Is only money, do what fits your budget and just be happy with it. You will be better in the long run.

 

[ShortBus]

I just wanna see some pics of the new motor!

Finished putting the motor together this weekend. I will post some pictures tonight. I went with a holley truck avenger 670 carb and a RV cam by Comp. Im worried that the motor won't fit back into the Bronco because of the hedman headers, carb hieght, and new dipstick location.

 

[ShortBus]

Added the picture from my cell phone.;D

 

[ShortBus]

I think that I have Hi-Jacked this Thread- sorry.

 

[ShortBus]

Started a new thread.