Anyone running a 302 and comfortably making 400hp and 400torque? I'm toying with either rebuilding the original 302 in my 88, or going with a 331 stroker kit to increase cubes. Who's had this delima before and which route did you take?

 

Can't say that I have a 302 built to that power level, but, IMO it will be easier for the engine to meet your 400hp/400tq goal with more displacement.
It may even be worth your while to investigate a 5.0 DOHC conversion if the cost for the rebuild and associated performance parts for the OHV 302 end up being close.

 

Either way can handle that power. Just takes money. Forged bottom end. Trick flow top end.

 

Thanks for the input. I was considering a nice Coyote motor from FoMoCo SVT, but that will be some serious dough. Think I will go the stroked 331 route and just start with the current small block 302 I took out of the car. Shouldn't cost me more than $2000 for the machine work, and a family friend can help me get it put together and running correctly.

 

Heads and intake will set you back $2-3k also. And is probably the most important purchase you will make to the motor.

 

And then there's a custom cam (highly recommended), upgraded valvetrain parts, fuel pump, pressure regulator, injectors, mass air conversion or standalone ECM, exhaust, and drivetrain upgrades that will be needed so the engine can make that amount of power reliably.

Have you considered the possibility of going with forced induction?

 

I have considered forced induction for sure. But if I can make, say 450hp, on pump gas, then I'd rather go naturally aspirated to save money.

 

This is how "easy" it is to make big power with a turbo kit. IIRC, this car's engine was mostly stock and has a HP turbo kit. Should upgrade the heads along with using head studs in FI applications because this car used to lift the stock heads under boost.
http://www.hawaiiperformancemustangs...html#msg553527

 

400 to the wheels will not happen N/A with a 302 you can get really close with a 347 and a really good selection of parts and tune but it still takes boost ( 347 n/a will take you to 400 to the crank ). if you want big power N/A a 351 or stroked 351 will do it w/o a problem. the lower end of our 302 will handle the power but the stock block is limited to about 500-520 to the crank. spend the xtra money ( which isn't ) much to go 347 or now they are 363. Ford racing has a crate 363 with a boss block that can take the boost.

 

Thanks Skunk, that's dome solid advice. I'll look into that approach.

 

Instead of going back with a Windsor, I'm contemplating a 2003 Terminator Cobra 4.6 swap, complete with a T56. I know I've read somewhere that they make great kits for the entire drivetrain to simply bolt in. Anyone have issues with this swap before? Is it a very pricey option to make 400 at the wheels?

 

yes. '03-'04 Cobra motors don't come cheap. you need to change over to hydroboost for the brakes, the stock booster/master set up will not clear. There are a few other things to swap.

your stock motor with a healthy bottom end, good heads, intake a good cam selection with vortech or even a decent turbo set up right and tune will get you close w/o pushing the block with the boost set up right. a 347 boss/dart block with boost will get you north of there w/o a problem all day. A well built 347 N/A can get you some decent power, I have seen some with nice numbers vs others, but depends so much on head selection or head work and cam profile.

Guys like Rick at RNH make very nice motors I have seen some nice numbers from his stuff , and even ford strokers has a good rep.

http://www.rnhperformance.com/index.htm

http://www.fordstrokers.com/

 

Thanks again, Skunk

 

I went the 347 route and have the block at our local race/machine shop getting it cleaned up and notched. They are expecting the fully forged rotating assembly this week so they can balance and then assemble it. Looking forward to having it up and running this year! I also am going the forced induction route and plan on using a Kenne Bell twisted roots type blower.

 

Stock block or aftermarket? Just remember the hp limits of the stock block and you will be all set with the boost

 

I went with a completely forged 347 stoker kit with Eagle and Mahle coated pistons. Should make 500hp with 8lbs of boost from a Kenne Bell. Block is the tanked, notched, and prepped stock block from the car. The engine builder said that it was seasoned and better than a new block. Plus, it had no stress cracks and the piston cylinders looked great prior to boring out. Added pics to album.

 

sounds pretty decent. keep the boost under control and a good tune. Block still is going to be a weak spot.

number one reason the stock block breaks

have fun with the build

 

Yeah I am running a complete 347 Stroker set up and have pretty much exhausted everything I can do and have maxed out at 450 to the crank :-( For now I am just enjoying the ride while I rebuild the interior. Once that is done I will begin thinking about what to do next inside that engine bay lol

Sounds like you went the right direction though and I hope you enjoy it man! Want to see pics when your all done and cleaned up!

 

Got the 347 back 4 years later. As many of you know, time and money are hard to come by on a side project (especially when you're married and have kids). I posted some pics to my project album, and a few technical questions about intake, TB , and injectors on another thread. Hope to have it sitting in the car in a month and running in two months. We shall see!