The vans:

(1) 1989 E-150, 302 injected/AOD

(2) 1984 E-150, 351W H.O. carbed/C-6

Okay, the injected 302 in my 89 E-150 has just about had it. I am also tired of screwing around with fuel injection. I need to replace the valve cover gaskets anyway, and if I am going to go that deep into this engine I am just going to pull it.

I have a rebuilt 351W in my 84 E-150 that gets better gas mileage than my injected 302 (and with a C-6 instead of an AOD to boot). I am going to swap the 351 into the 89 and swap the 302 into the 84.

I am thereforee going to do two swaps: the 1984 carbed 351 into the 1989 injected van, and the 89 injected 302 into the 84 carbed van. I will be switching the 89 from injected to carbed and I will be switching the 302 from injected to carbed.

I think i have all the necessary concerns sorted, but i would appreciate any comments or suggestions from people more familiar with this stuff than I am:

351W to 302 swap: Motor van 2 to van body 1

(1) The 351W should bolt right up to the 89 AOD so long as I use the flex plate that is currently bolted to the 351. The 89 AOD is not ocmputer controlled so I should be fine

(2) I will need to get a fuel pressure regulator to reduce the fuel pressure from the electric pump from 40 PSI to 7 PSI. like this one The 89 should already have a fuel return line so I should be set.

(3) I will need to put together a non-computerized ignition system (no problem. I have most of it in spare parts for my 84 anyway...)

(4) I will need to modify the exhaust to deal with the difference in the width of the motors (351 is 1 inch wider than the 302) I might tackle this by just swapping the y-pipes between the vans

(5) I will need to adapt the 351 carbed emissions to the 89 van. Shouldn't be a problem, all i have is PCV and AIR injection and a catalytic.

(6) I will need to use a Lokar style kickdown inkage for the transmission. But I already have one on the 351 anyway.

(7) All the accessories (P/S, A/C, alternator) and the serpentine belt system should bolt right on to the 351 from the 302, right?


302 injected to carbed: Motor van 1 to van body 2

(1) The big one, I will need to replace the induction system and the cam. Aftermarket carb intake manifold (I am leaning toward edelbrock performer or Offy dual port, I already have a couple carbs to play with) RV style cam for the 302. I have read that vans got the high output 302s, will that make a difference? Do i have a roller cam? Would it be cheapest to get another roller cam (no need to purchase new pushrods)? If I don't have a roller cam would it be cheaper to get another non-roller cam?

(2) mechanical fuel pump (might require replacement of the timing chain cover. I need to replace the chain anyway.) This should swap over from the 351.

(3) same exhaust and emissions issues discussed above.

(4) the 302 should bolt right up to the C-6

(5) the 351 pulley system should bolt right up to the 302, right?

(6) Distributor? Anybody out there have a distributor from a 302 van or truck? I want it curved as close to a van spec as possible. I don't want some aftermarket hi-po mustang dist. curve.


Am I missing anything? I should have 95% of all the hardware I need to do this swap since I have two complete and running vans sitting side by side.

The next motor swap I am going to do will be in my 84 again, in which I will swap from the 302/C-6 to an electric motor and four speed overdrive manual tranny!

With the 351 into the '89:
The fuel pressure reg valve should be the bypass type to return the excess pressure to the tank and you'll need to do some minor rewiring at the fuel pump relay when you yank the ECM.
With 302 into the '84:
Call the cam manufacturers tech line, tell them what you're up to and they can lead you right on the cam/lifter/push rod decision.
With both:
You'll need to replace water pumps as the serp drive pump and the V-belt pump turn in opposite directions.
One more thing:(And I can be wrong) Have the AOD checked out first. I would suspect that the AOD's lockup converter band is bad or going bad. Or you could have an actuator that sticking/leaking. If it were only locking up, say, 70% to 80% or worse it would feel like it's doing something but would still slip. That would explain the sh**y gas mileage.

Thanks Catfish! I will take the AOD out and have a look-see while I am in there. If it wasn't an overdrive I would just swap it for the rebuilt C-6 in the 84, but with gas prices these days I need all the help I can get.

It seems to be working good and the gas mileage isn't too shitty, just not as good as I would like. I still get mid to high teens, but my 351 gets better. The 302 used to get great gas mileage (low to mid 20s) until I *fixed* it with a new MAP sensor, O2 sensor, and coolant temp sensor. Now the van doesn't stall at stoplights or on acceleration, but it does surge and stall when I put it in park (WTF?) Anyway, the tranny seems to be okay, but I will look into it anyway (might as well while I am in there...) If anything, it locks up too much and lugs the motor!