97 302 or 86-93 302?

[Unit 5302]

If you don't plan on making any modifications, go with the 87-92 engine.

Don't get the 86 with flat top pistons, weak intake, weak throttle body, and weak heads.

The Explorer engine needs a cam, badly, and it needs pistons. The pistons are cast dished style for lowered compression. The intake and the heads are very much superior on the Explorer. If you want to do a cam change and swap pistons, go Explorer all the way. With a mild cam, like a Steeda #18, and a little more compression, you could see 320hp. You'll need to change throttle bodies, and headers to run the Explorer engine too though. You could also get an 87-92 5.0HO, get the 97 Explorer engine, then sell the Explorer short block and have a nice set of $400 heads and a $200 intake that can boost your power above 280 pretty quick. There are just too many options to explore them all like this.