Dec 31, 2003 at 3:07 PM
Hey dudes:
I have a stock 93 (Speed density) Bronco with 150k miles, stock E40D trans and 3:55 gears. The engine has held up well through normal daily driving and occassional hunting and trekking. 2 Years ago, I blew a head gasket and glazed #8 cylinder and cracked all the rings. It was the classic white smoke in the exhaust, oh shit she's gonna blow scenario. The bearings were then still in their original coat, engine more or less good and for money's sake, I rebuilt that piston, resurfaced that head and went on about business. Normal HP and torque for 2 years.
Now, I have another leak, although it is intermittent and might be a cracked block or head. (???) I am losing coolant slowly, coolant is backing up into the air box and oil pan shows some peanut buttering of the oil. It won't hold a normal idle and has an occasional miss but it is not smoking white or otherwise.
QUESTION: I know I need a rebuild, but I always wanted to get more torque and HP from a 351W. According to the posts here, swapping in a 351 sounds like a pain in the ass. Also, trying to beef up a SD302 might screw with the computer settings. Please give any and all input on what I should try. (1) Stock 302 (2) Beefed 302 with comp cam, edelbrock or similiar heads and intake, or (3) Dive off into 351 ville. I'm new to Baton Rouge and the local "experts" are a combination of "Hey ya'll watch this" and "cha-ching" so I'll be doing most of the work myself. Thanks.
I have a stock 93 (Speed density) Bronco with 150k miles, stock E40D trans and 3:55 gears. The engine has held up well through normal daily driving and occassional hunting and trekking. 2 Years ago, I blew a head gasket and glazed #8 cylinder and cracked all the rings. It was the classic white smoke in the exhaust, oh shit she's gonna blow scenario. The bearings were then still in their original coat, engine more or less good and for money's sake, I rebuilt that piston, resurfaced that head and went on about business. Normal HP and torque for 2 years.
Now, I have another leak, although it is intermittent and might be a cracked block or head. (???) I am losing coolant slowly, coolant is backing up into the air box and oil pan shows some peanut buttering of the oil. It won't hold a normal idle and has an occasional miss but it is not smoking white or otherwise.
QUESTION: I know I need a rebuild, but I always wanted to get more torque and HP from a 351W. According to the posts here, swapping in a 351 sounds like a pain in the ass. Also, trying to beef up a SD302 might screw with the computer settings. Please give any and all input on what I should try. (1) Stock 302 (2) Beefed 302 with comp cam, edelbrock or similiar heads and intake, or (3) Dive off into 351 ville. I'm new to Baton Rouge and the local "experts" are a combination of "Hey ya'll watch this" and "cha-ching" so I'll be doing most of the work myself. Thanks.
