what is real MPG diff between 360 and 302 w/ overdrive

[dablack00]

I trying to decide on a drivetrain for my 70 crewcab. It has a 360/C6 combo in it right now. I'm never going to tow anything and I really want to use it for family trips.

What I really need to know is what is the MPG difference between a tuned up 360/C6 combo w/ 3.00 rear gears and a 302/AOD combo w/ 3.25 rear gears.

I'm thinking w/ a crewcab short bed the 360/C6 combo is going to give a best of 10 MPG while the 302/AOD might give 15. Am I right? Does anyone dissagree?

thanks
Austin

[averagef250]

Depends alot on driving conditions, but your guess is as good as mine. Is the 302 carbed or injected?

[69rangerman]

I only have a lwb, but before the rebuild on a gunked up stock original 302/2bbl with torched bearings and/3spd auto/3.25 gears I was able to get 15 before 3 of those bearings went to the oil pan. I switched to a 4bbl on the rebuild and some say I can do even better now with headers etc.

Will start driving it next week but don't expect to have it tuned for a while.

Crew cab's probably heavier though - might have better luck with 3.50 or 3.73 for efficiency as engine won't lug as much trying to get the rig rolling.

Might look at a late model roller 302 for even more efficiency if that's the way you decide to go.

[cathynkeith]

It will take along time to overcome the cost between leaving it and the better fuel milage.
ford has never been strong on fuell milage, my 2001 v-6/auto overdrive gets 12 while my 89 chevy 350/auto overdrive gets 18. my 86 efi 5.0 auto overdrive only got 12. my gruman body 18ft step van gets 11 with cheby 350/auto overdrive.


find a throttle body injected 350 with 700r4 and you should get 16-17 in a crew cab

[dablack00]

I would sooner put in a squirl cage and some little rodents than put a Chebby motor in a ford and that is why the Lord loves me!



I would really like the over drive to bring down the RPMs on the highway, and to put overdrive on a FE is like wiping before you poo, it just doesn't make since.

I'm really leaning toward a 300 straight six. Easy to find w/ an AOD already attached. Rebuild it and the AOD, put some 3.0 gears in the back and cruise, cruise, cruise. Won't have to mess with it the motor for another 200K miles. Most likely more. I like that. Even if it only gets 14 MPG, my explorer only gets 17 on the highway. Its not that much worse. Plus, I have a place for the 360/C6 in a 68 shortbed I'm building to sell.

thanks
Austin

[ICEMAN6166]

my personal opinion would be that if i was taking out the 360 for those reasons i would go with the 300-6.
nothing against the 302 but given the choice between the 2 i would take the 6 any time.

[69rangerman]

Me to. I have a 302 and it suits my needs but when it dies I'll probably go the 300 route. Best of both worlds.

Good luck!

[two-bit]

I have to agree with the afore mentioned.
Go with the 300 I6, not the 302. I've driven the 5.8L in a couple of early 90's crew cabs that had 5 spds. Those motors were way underpowered and couldn't pull a fart up a hill. They only got about 12 mpg anyway.
I would think, even with an overdrive, that little short stroke 302 would be over the curve by the time you got to 65-70 mph.
Those 300 I6 are great motors, treat 'em right and they will run forever.
Lots of torque for running those higher rear-end gears.
Good luck w/ it. Just my
Two-bit

[flyboy2610]

find a throttle body injected 350 with 700r4 and you should get 16-17 in a crew cab

Someone get a rope.

[spartman]

OH boy here we go........

[kknip]

find a throttle body injected 350 with 700r4 and you should get 16-17 in a crew cab

Someone get a rope.

And find a tall tree!

cathynkeith,We hearby summon you to eat a bar of soap!

[occupant]

For gas mileage...

EFI > carb
AOD > 1:1
3.00 > 3.25

BUT...you are pulling around a crew cab which is probably weighing a lot more than 4000-5000lbs...so a larger engine, shorter gear, and overdrive automatic would probably be a good choice.

Personally, instead of choosing between a carbureted 360 and a carbureted 302, I would try and find a fuel-injected 351W from a 90s model F-250 or F-350. It'll have a tough transmission behind it, it's fuel-injected, and it's big enough and torquey enough to move a crew cab.

I wouldn't even consider a 302 in a double cab truck unless it's well built with a good cam and puts out at least 350-400lbs of torque.