Can anyone help me tell the visual difference between a for 302 and 351? I am looking at a 1988 Bronco for sale and he does not know if it is a 302 or 351. Is there a tell-tale visual way of telling? Is there anything in the VIN that would tell?

Thanks,

Brad

 

The 8th character in the vin is for engine type E, F, N, M, & P, are for 5.0 (302) and W, H, & G are for the 5.8 (351). I’d guess it more likely to be an F for 302 or W for the 351.
All cars and light trucks built after 1981 have unique 17-character "vin numbers" that contains valuable information about that vehicle's history. These numbers are called vehicle identification numbers (VIN #).
Tips to understanding your vehicles serial (VIN) number
They are as follows:
• 1st character- Identifies the country in which the vehicle was manufactured.
For example: U.S.A.(1or4), Canada(2), Mexico(3), Japan(J), Korea(K), England(S), Germany(W), Italy(Z)
• 2nd character- Identifies the manufacturer. For example; Audi(A),
BMW(B), Buick(4), Cadillac(6), Chevrolet(1), Chrysler(C), Dodge(B),
Ford(F), GM Canada(7), General Motors(G), Honda(H), Jaquar(A), Lincoln(L), Mercedes Benz(D), Mercury(M), Nissan(N), Oldsmobile(3), Pontiac(2or5), Plymouth(P), Saturn(8), Toyota(T), VW(V), Volvo(V).
• 3rd character- Identifies vehicle type or manufacturing division.
• 4th to 8th characters- Identifies vehicle features such as body style, engine type, model, series, etc.
• 9th character- Identifies VIN accuracy as check digit.
• 10th character- Identifies the model year. For example: 1988(J), 1989(K), 1990(L), 1991(M), 1992(N), 1993(P), 1994(R), 1995(S), 1996(T),
1997(V), 1998(W), 1999(X), 2000(Y)------2001(1), 2002(2), 2003(3)
• 11th character- Identifies the assembly plant for the vehicle.
• 12th to 17th characters- Identifies the sequence of the vehicle for production
as it rolled of the manufacturers assembly line.

 

cool post...i knew what certain digits meant, but not all of them

 

I have found the quick, way of telling is the firing order , The 302 is , 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8, while the 351 is, 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8, an belive me u cant get one to fire the other way ,

 

Um......if its EFI it will say "5.0L" on the upper plenium.....if its a 351 it will say "5.8L" on the upper plenium.

Also, a 351's intake manifold is wider then a 302's.

later,
Dustin

 

Ram, some do if it has a different cam.

 

find a casting # on block or cyl. head, look at the sticker on the raidiator support, should tell from that.