anguswilly
+1y
Well, the thing about swaps is - everyone has their own favorite for whatever reason.
Now if I were you I would listen to those who have done the swap they like (or are at least familiar with the motor), because if not - then you are not really hearing the real deal.
My opinion on the swaps you listed:
- 302, only good if you get the HO like the 89 mustang - I built a few in these trucks and I think I sold my last 5.0 truck because it was a gas guzzler and became less than practical anymore. It wasn't even really fast stock (the truck weighs about the same or a little more than a 5L) so my last one I had to supercharge it to get it to go fast, I spent obscene amounts to get the power I was making (390whp) I loved it, but it had to go. Plan to spend $5K plus if paying a shop - that is what it cost the last guy who I built one for.
-305 / 350, just forget it - these are antiquated and while super popular, they are a hassle to swap in these trucks and for what you spend, it'll most likely still be slow. Plan to spend $2500-5000 depending on carb or EFI.
- SR20DET, you can read my comments below.
Swaps I considered for my new truck: (you can see what I chose too)
SR20DET - you are talking minimum $5000, probably way more if paying a shop
Pros:
- Factory turbocharged
- Makes around 200+hp stock
- "Cool factor"
-Can get 6spd tranny (but$$$$$$)
Cons:
- Doesn't bolt right in (either does a V8)
- Has power limitations unless you build it (then why the heck not just build up the F2???)
- Hard to get certain parts
- Expensive parts, like if you blow a turbo (which happens)
"KIA" motor, aka FE3: (you can read up on all the history of these)
Pros:
- Makes 130-ish HP stock
- Bolt straight in
- Fairly cheap to buy (maybe $500-$800)
- Uses stock tranny (maybe not-so-good, since the trannys are weak)
- Easy to turbocharge
- Can get Kia parts easy
- Twincam motor "cool factor"
Cons:
- Will take lots $$$ to make it "fast"
- Stuck with weak B2200 tranny (so if you turbo it, the motor can make 300+hp easy, but you'll be buying trannys every week)
- Wiring is still a pain
- If going turbo, you'll need aftermarket ECU like a megasquirt, so you'll need dyno tuning too - ok, ok, lots of people "street tune" them too.
Stock F2 motor, mildly built for turbo: (*** THIS IS WHAT I CHOSE)
Pros:
- Stock motor so no messing around swapping, money and time can be spent fortifying the motor (not really much is needed, since these motors are tough) and turbocharging it - remember, these motors came turbocharged and diesel using the exact same blocks.
- Less money spent
- No "hacking" etc.
- Your truck will not be heavier, or have worse handling (like with a V8)
- Stock motor with a few mods can do 300hp easy - I only added a new cyl. head and ARP head studs to my stock bottom end that I rebuilt
- If the truck is injected, turbocharging is super simple and can be cheap (even if not, you can get the EFI from the wrecking yard)
- Decent fuel milage if you keep your foot out of it most of the time
Cons:
- No "cool" twin cam head
- Tranny is still weak (I'm happy with what I have, 6-7psi and maybe 160-170hp) so If I go higher boost / hp, then I will have issues - BUT the trannys are cheap and super easy to swap.
- If you don't buy one of these new head castings that are cast thicker and not 20+ year old aluminum, you'll most likely have issues.
In the end you need to decide what you want, if the sound of a V8 coming out of a mini truck turns you on - and for me, I love the 5.0 SOUND - then go for it, just know what you are getting into.