Well, I blew the head gasket on my truck the other day. It's got nearly 135,000 miles on it and leaks oil from the main seal, the oil pan gasket and who knows where else. So, I'm going to pull the engine and figure as long as it's out, I may as well just tear it down and make sure everything's good to go and reliable.

The truck is a 1994 F150 4X4 with the 302. I'm a pastor in a rural area and my truck will get a big mix of both driving on pavement and beating down the gravel roads. When it snows, the gravel roads can become a slushy, muddy mess, thus the reason I got the four-wheel-drive.

I'm thinking of doing some minor engine mods to give it a little more power and grunt but still need reliablity. I'm probably going to be looking at a budget of around $1000-$1500. What suggestions would you guys have for power upgrades? Or, do you think I'm better just leaving it stock?

Thanks for the input.

- Revs

 

good plugs, wires, high output coil, bbk throttle body, add an msd box, shortie headers and a high flow muffler to start.

cost you around 300-400 before the exhaust stuff

 

What exactly does the msd box do...? I dont think I fully understand it

 

It gives multiple sparks for better combustion.

 

You can accomplish the same end result (effective fuel ignition) by increasing the size of your plug gap that the higher output coil will allow. It does it by increasing your spark kernel size & exposure.

As apposed modifying spark duration, which is what a MSD 6AL does.

Stretching your gap by 25% is free. I think the 6AL is about 2 C-notes.

You'll need a brass cap & rotor & superior quality wires to go w/ the high output coil (Coil should be rated .45 ohm or less) . Wire's w/ low ohm/ft. resistance rating. Like Taylor Thunderbolts (50 Ohm/ft.). See ignition upgrade/ Timing Bump Link:
http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/show...ht=timing+bump

 

If its out, a few hundred will get a good rebuild kit. Save money and reuse your crank and maybe connecting rods. The kit will have bearings, rings, pistons, gaskets. replace the oil pump while in there. A good RV cam kit will cost a few hundred and come with cam, lifters and springs. I would ask around local shops to ask about having the heads freshened up. Go with true Dual exhaust, you can go with headers but I don't think you'll see enough gains on a mild rebuild to justify the money. Of course replace plugs, wires, distributor, coil, all the filters and the rest of the little stuff. Good Luck, remember its a daily driver not a dragster

 

Thanks for the replies and suggestions.

What size cam would you recommend? Does anyone know what the duration and lift are on the stock cam in a 1994 302?

- Revs

 

on a 94 with a Speed density system you are stuck with the stock cam unless you perform custom ECM mods...

with a MAF (Sequential) system you are more free for upgrades....you can always advance the stock cam +4 degrees as the valve will open earlier in the cycle thuis allowing more air into the chamber...you'll really see some low to midrange improvement

 

I'm quite certain my truck has mass air. How do I know for sure?

- Revs

 

Between the air filter box & the air intake: http://www.fordfuelinjection.com/?p=26