302 or 351 - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Beaphy · 02-18-2004, 03:28

Guys...

I've currenty got a stock 302 running everything standard bar the carbie (thermoquad) and have the 4bbl manifold with extractors. I'm looking at spending about $2200 to do the heads (polished and worked to 4v), cam, lifters etc.

It's a daily driver so i don't want anything really requiring a torque converter because again it would be a waist. I'm just wondering what parts people have to recommend. Currently got a C4 with a Borg diff 2.75:1 or there abouts.

I'm stuck on the idea that a stall converter is bad for daily driving, am i wrong? I want it to be relatively ecconomical but also be able to roar in the right situations. What's best for this application. I do alot of 80-100km/h tarvelling.

Ideally i would like to get 240-300hp mark. Is this too much to expect from a 302 on this type of budget? What should I expect?

There's also another option of doing a 351 convertion for somewhere about the $3600 mark, worked to about 300hp - quoted from my mechanic. Again without the stall converter and using the current carbie and manifild with the extractors. Is this too much? I've been through some magazine adverts and it seems relative.

Last of all, what rpm do people cruize on at 120km/h using the c4 and borgy? I seem to be doing 4000rpm at 120 (just under) - bit worried this is too high, any suggestions on a better ratio if this is unusual? I've looked through some threads but nothing overall has helped mainly because i'm not to sure what i should be looking for when it comes to this application...

I'm still got a bit to learn, as some of you could tell.

Recommendations please!

Beaphy · 02-18-2004, 03:32

It's a cleveland too, forgot to mention that. so would be the 351

EBXR · 02-18-2004, 03:50

120 @ 4000 with a 2.75 diff??? That doesn't sound right to me. Does the auto go into third??

Beaphy · 02-18-2004, 03:56

Yeah it does, I'm not 100% sure it is 2.75:1

clevo · 02-18-2004, 03:58

If your doing 4grand at 120 you aint got a 2.75 diff ratio, I'm assuming your auto is in top gear! Check your diff ratio first then find a cam to suit. A 2.75 would do around 2200rpm at 100 You might have at least 3.55 in that diff

300hp is easy to get. a mild cam with at least .5 in lift and a little more on the exhaust will give you a good power band and mid range torque. If your spending 2grand on the heads, keep the std valves and have them ported a little. (should be no more then $800. Spend the rest on a complete balance.

If you can go the 351 more torque and better for the street. For $3600 300hp is easy to achieve ask the mechanic what parts are in the engine and the specs of the cam, will soon be able to tell you.

Beaphy · 02-18-2004, 04:04

would it be best to stay with the 302 then for the price differneces to power?

If i can get the same power out of the 302 as the 351 with a smaller amount of money then the results speak for themselves.

What should i be looking to spend on processes and parts to get 300-350 out of the 302?

clevo · 02-18-2004, 04:27

Depends what you want to spend. HP=$$$ The more you spend the more you get. How much are you spending? 2grand or $3600? $2000 is barely enough for a decent rebuild. You'll still get 300hp from a 302 fairly easily. You'll just have to go a little bigger on the cam, but again with a mild port job on the heads and a balance.

A complete cam change would be around $600, You'll need cam, lifters, valve springs to suit cam, manifold gasket, new timing chain, timing chain gasket, water pump gasket and head gaskets as the heads will be taken off for the P&P

What about the bottom end? new pistons, bearing, balancing? You'll soon be over 2grand

Beaphy · 02-18-2004, 05:25

I'd probably leave the bottom end at this stage... wise or not?

clevo · 02-19-2004, 03:26

Get it checked out, any knocking or slapping sounds? Do a compression test, then a wet one to see how well the bottom is. If its OK leave it until you can afford to pull it down for a performace rebuild. Your 2grand will be used up on the P&P and the cam change.

Should be around $1500 depends on how much labour. A cam change isn't that hard either is pulling the heads off to give to a machine shop, can you do this? Got a manual? or somone to help?