302 w/ 2 or 4 bolt main?

faultlessfocus · Jun 30, 2005

How much horsepower can you safely push in a 302 with just the 2 bolt main? If I were thinking of building a motor to drop in a classic mustang, what would you all recommend (302, 460, 289 etc)? I plan on getting mine pretty soon, and the first thing I want to do is get the motor and tranny figured out. I see tons of different setups...anything normal with great reliability? I don't want to pump 800HP or anything like that, but maybe 400-500HP...

grego37 · Jun 30, 2005

400-500HP with a 302 isnt impossible however, You really couldnt drive it on the street, not too practicle. Too much stress on everything. 300-375HP more realistic.

If you do want 400-500HP reliable/streetable, your best bet is a stroker Windsor. 2 bolt mains ok , but may consider main stud girdle.

Lots of companies selling :
kits
short blocks
long blocks
or complete engines

faultlessfocus · Jun 30, 2005

Okay, great. Considering a girdle is only $100 or so, that isn't a problem to slap on the Windsor. Thanks for the input. Perhaps I can decide on the more readily available 302 and just aim a little lower to the 375 or so...

allcarfan · Jun 30, 2005

400-500hp on a SBF isnt tooo difficult and it can easily be streetable. It doesnt even have to be a windsor. It can be done NA with a 331 or 347 stroker. I wouldnt opt for the 4 bolt main. Thats a cool $1800 for the block, plus a good deal of machine work. Those $100 girdles are ok, but if you want good reliability, a DSS girdle with windage tray is the only way to go with a two bolt main.

500hp with a DSS main stud girdle is about all the stress I would put on a stock block. The next thing you would worry about are the internals.

What year classic stang are you looking for? That may dictate what engine combination you are looking for. The cheap way to do it is with a 393w.

faultlessfocus · Jun 30, 2005

Right now, Looking For: 64 1/2 Coupe & 67/68 FB. I am TRYING to figure out how much I aim to spend on this car. I would prefer the 67/68FB with 400-500HP (streetable). This will not be a dragcar, so it needs to be streetable and able to handle an hour or 2 cruise here and there. My grandfather had a 64 1/2 in his garage that was perfect, so I want to work on one now. Anyway, sorry to get off subject..I am trying to make a list of the things I'll need for it to run. I am trying to figure out the best tranny, motor, etc to run on this badboy. I am really open to any suggestions you all may have.

Bullitt · Jun 30, 2005

i run my 400 HP NA 302 all day long with no problems, just this last weekend did a 200 mile (round trip) road trip and the only problems i ran into were overheating in a terrible traffic jam (the stupid black magic fan i have on the car is not adequate for the motor).

400 shouldn't be a problem while remaining streetable, even with a 302.

faultlessfocus · Jun 30, 2005

Bullitt said:
i run my 400 HP NA 302 all day long with no problems, just this last weekend did a 200 mile (round trip) road trip and the only problems i ran into were overheating in a terrible traffic jam (the stupid black magic fan i have on the car is not adequate for the motor).

400 shouldn't be a problem while remaining streetable, even with a 302.

Hey, if you have a mod list of that sucker, PM me if you would please!!

SitDown · Jun 30, 2005

i have several friends with very streetable 500+rwhp cars.

If all your looking to make is 4-500 to the flywheel then id just go wiht a stock block. But you can usually find a decent deal on a used ford A4 or R block. The dart sportsman is another potent budget option sporting 4 bolt centers and 2 bolt ends.

most of those cheap girdles u see wont do much more than keep your internals in place upon split

SoCalCruising · Jun 30, 2005

Yes, the year will make a big difference. I would not want to work on a 351-based motor in a 65-66. In a 67-up, fine. A Dart-based 302 block with 4.125" bores and can be stroked to the 347-363 in. range and make the power you are looking for. Dougan's in Riverside, CA built one last year (363 in) that made 550fwhp on the dyno. It ain't cheap, though. Like said above, cheap power = 351/393W.

faultlessfocus · Jul 1, 2005

Thanks for all the input everyone!!

SadbutTrue · Jul 1, 2005

bah, working on a 351w in a 65/66 isn't that bad....

dennis112 · Jul 1, 2005

SadbutTrue said:
bah, working on a 351w in a 65/66 isn't that bad....

Nope, not bad at all.

70vert · Jul 1, 2005

393w cheap - where? (slightly OT)

Hey socal, allcarfan, etc.,

Where would you suggest getting a 393w crate motor for cheap? That's eventually what I want in my '70, a 393 or 408. My goal is 500hp NA with a low compression so I can supercharge it later if I ever want to go totally over the top. I had kind of assumed I would have to go direct to DSS - they have a reputation for building 500hp 351 strokers on low compression. Oh yeah, I'd like to have it be fuel injected too, for mileage, streetability, etc.

thanks for any input,
Joe

ddonaca351 · Jul 1, 2005

faultlessfocus said:
How much horsepower can you safely push in a 302 with just the 2 bolt main? If I were thinking of building a motor to drop in a classic mustang, what would you all recommend (302, 460, 289 etc)? I plan on getting mine pretty soon, and the first thing I want to do is get the motor and tranny figured out. I see tons of different setups...anything normal with great reliability? I don't want to pump 800HP or anything like that, but maybe 400-500HP...

Ok, now Im not flaming, just asking.... have you ever riden in a 4-500hp car? I dont mean something that joe blow *said* made 500, I mean something that was dyno'd at 4-500.... Youre talking a ride that will fog the tires at near highway speed on dry pavement.

For sake of perspective, a stock 5.0 which by most accounts is a fun car to ride in / drive is like 170-180 at the wheels... if you double it, youre still only 350 or so.

If you really are going to drive the car, ya know driiiive it. 300 at the wheels is a fun ride. (mine) 400 is GREAT (new cobras,vettes w/ mods) , 500 is freakin white-knuckle ride....

Anyhow, with a stud girdle (main girdle) a two bolt 302 block can hold 400hp reliably. Probably 500... but I wouldnt want to bet my pay-check on it.

But as stated above with a decent build, and about 6-8-10 lbs of boost a 302 can make WELLLLL into the 400 range.
Some stock 5.0s with HP or PTK turbo kits make over 400 at the wheels (450-500 at the crank). And those are stock bottom end... now who knows how long they live, but with a good bottom end and good heads they would not only make MORE power, but live to tell about it.

It can be done, and its not even that hard.

Dave-

ddonaca351 · Jul 1, 2005

Bullitt said:
i run my 400 HP NA 302 all day long with no problems, just this last weekend did a 200 mile (round trip) road trip and the only problems i ran into were overheating in a terrible traffic jam (the stupid black magic fan i have on the car is not adequate for the motor).

400 shouldn't be a problem while remaining streetable, even with a 302.

throw the black-trajic in the garbage and go with dual 12" S blade fans... (I run a 14 and an 11 myself) one on a temp sensor the second on a man o/r switch for t-jams and 100 degree days.

.02 from the cheap seats.
Dave-

faultlessfocus · Jul 2, 2005

ddonaca351 said:
Ok, now Im not flaming, just asking.... have you ever riden in a 4-500hp car? I dont mean something that joe blow *said* made 500, I mean something that was dyno'd at 4-500.... Youre talking a ride that will fog the tires at near highway speed on dry pavement.

For sake of perspective, a stock 5.0 which by most accounts is a fun car to ride in / drive is like 170-180 at the wheels... if you double it, youre still only 350 or so.

If you really are going to drive the car, ya know driiiive it. 300 at the wheels is a fun ride. (mine) 400 is GREAT (new cobras,vettes w/ mods) , 500 is freakin white-knuckle ride....

Anyhow, with a stud girdle (main girdle) a two bolt 302 block can hold 400hp reliably. Probably 500... but I wouldnt want to bet my pay-check on it.

But as stated above with a decent build, and about 6-8-10 lbs of boost a 302 can make WELLLLL into the 400 range.
Some stock 5.0s with HP or PTK turbo kits make over 400 at the wheels (450-500 at the crank). And those are stock bottom end... now who knows how long they live, but with a good bottom end and good heads they would not only make MORE power, but live to tell about it.

It can be done, and its not even that hard.

Dave-

Yeah, my friend has a 88GT with 500 or so at the fly, so I know how fun it can be! He lets me drive it from time to time, but I'm afraid I will do something, so I want something of my own, but in a classic body! Thanks for the info. I have only been on this site for about a week or so, and I must say, you all seem to actually know what you are talking about. I'm 21, so I'm not too familiar with the older cars and am trying to learn. A LOT different than the turners I am used to (my focus for example). Thanks again everyone for educating me

SoCalCruising · Jul 5, 2005

A cheap 393 is one you build yourself. If want to buy a short- or longblock, try Speed-o-motive.

cougar_68 · Jul 5, 2005

faultlessfocus said:
Right now, Looking For: 64 1/2 Coupe & 67/68 FB. I am TRYING to figure out how much I aim to spend on this car. I would prefer the 67/68FB with 400-500HP (streetable). This will not be a dragcar, so it needs to be streetable and able to handle an hour or 2 cruise here and there. My grandfather had a 64 1/2 in his garage that was perfect, so I want to work on one now. Anyway, sorry to get off subject..I am trying to make a list of the things I'll need for it to run. I am trying to figure out the best tranny, motor, etc to run on this badboy. I am really open to any suggestions you all may have.

Another thing worth mentioning...the 64.5's look almost identical to 65 & 66's.

302 w/ 2 or 4 bolt main?

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