Putting a 302 engine in a FJ40

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love2fly

love2fly

Flying the Mountains of the NW
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We are looking at installing a Ford 302 from an older Ford Bronco into a 1980 FJ40 that has no engine.
Question is there a model 302 engine we should be looking for? We have a 1973 302 motor that is being rebuilt. Also what is a good adapter for a 302 to a 4 speed stock FJ40?
Thanks
 
It's been done by a few. I currently have a '93 5.0 from a thunderbird with a np435 and adapter to a stock land cruiser tcase.

Pm me if you're interested in any of those parts as I'm selling that complete setup.

Those are good motors!
 
why not just install a good 2F? I know where there is one.

a guy in Bozeman has one in his 40, he had some bugs to work out.
 
Being that it's not my rig, I am just going to be helping, I think I still would put in a 302. The 2F is a bullet proof engine but he happens to have a 302 in his shop. I have had a few early Broncos with the 302 and they are a very good engine with lots of pep. I believe he will be happy with it. We are not sure if just any 302 will match to use. He found a adapter back east Ford - Toyota that is suppose to marry up to the Toyota 4 speed case. Most everyone puts the Chev 350 in, he just does not want a lot of power put on the FJ40 drive parts.
 
Unless you have low gearing, a 302 won't blow you away with its torque. I owned a '73 Bronco and had to be in low range to do about anything at low speeds. Compared to my '78 FJ40, it's offroad torque profile was tragic.

I like 302s - in a Mustang. I don't think it's a terrible swap, but I see why a lot of Bronco owners install a 351W. I would consider using an EFI 302 from any number of late 80s Broncos or Crown Vics. You'd pick up some horsepower and a more modern engine, and leave the carburetor behind.
 
I had an fj40 with a ford 302 from a late 70s pickup with a Carter carb but I swapped in a Holly pro-jection. It was mated to a ford t-18 trans which has a low first gear similar to a sm420. Transfercase had a plate adapter to a Dana 18. It was done by a PO. I prefer keeping them stock but was tired of looking for a good 40 around $3k when I found it in 1999. Turned out to be a nice setup and ran well.
 
Good information. I believe he is going to up the gears from 4:11 but not sure what he has for that. Also he does have a FI for that 302 but its not complete. 351 would be the best but as said that all hes got so you use what one has.
 
The 302 is a nicer swap in a lot of things than a Chevy because the engine is narrower and lighter and the dist being in the front helps with firewall clearance
And bet it will clear the stock steering box better
 
Put a 97 5 litre (302 with the funky p heads) in my 69 fj40 this winter. used a marks adapter mated to 4 speed toyota tranny. fitment was very good. 1" narrower makes a lot of difference. learned alot about inductance with spark plug wires. if to close to each other will crossfire. 302 is susceptible to this. pia to figure that 1 out. Have it running pretty good now. really like the power in the 40 low end feels real strong but won't know till this summer. also replace water pump while it's on a stand. Not sure I would do it again since I have a strong 327 sitting in the shop, but happy with it now that we spaced the darn plug wires.
 
I've owned 2 FJ40s with 302s. The first had the Toyota 3 speed, the other a toploader in front of the '40 t-case. I have no idea how they adapted the 4 speed, but I know Advanced Adapters makes an adapter plate for the 302/3 speed combo.

The only issue with the 1st 302 - this was early 90s and there weren't any options for passenger-side exhaust manifolds. Now there's countless, but then all of them went straight back and ended about 2" off the firewall. guaranteed exhaust leak... still, it shouldn't be a problem anymore.

What an excellent motor for the rig, low gear plus a high-revving motor is a lot of fun. The only thing to be concerned about is the distributor in front - if you puddle jump, water hits the fan then is driven into the distributor. It has plenty of torque for the application and enough hp to do amazing burnouts (try that with a 2F).
 
Some good information, one was the steering box that was one of his concerns but like anything we can over come some of that.
 
love2fly said:
Some good information, one was the steering box that was one of his concerns but like anything we can over come some of that.
Click to expand...

I used the typical Saginaw box that is commonly used on FJ40s along with a Saginaw PS pump and fabbed a bracket to fit the 302. I might have some pics somewhere.
 
Most P.S. systems operate on approx 800 to 1,000 psi, so could possibly use the Ford pump on the 302 engine with a standard Saginaw conversion on the frame????
 
Easier to use the brackets from a Ford van that uses the canned ham sag pump.

Ferd PS pumps were never that robust.
 
I have an early 302 with C4 in my FJ40. Only issue is that the you need to move the T-case back and perhaps modify driveshaft lengths or the Auto tranny/302 combo is too long and you will have fan clearance problems.
 
Here's a couple of pics
Fortywhiner said:
I have an early 302 with C4 in my FJ40. Only issue is that the you need to move the T-case back and perhaps modify driveshaft lengths or the Auto tranny/302 combo is too long and you will have fan clearance problems.
Click to expand...
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DSCN1273.webp
DSCN1275.webp
 
excellent, what kind of clearance do you have from the radiator to the fan. I like the battery box location also. Any steering clearance problems with that install?
Thanks
 
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