393W or Nice 302 for a 66

[chris txstang]

Some of you may remember when I totaled my 66 coupe with a brand new 393W in it. After too much money at a frame shop and still poor results I had decided to store the car for a while and buy a roller with good paint to transplant my drivetrain into.

Here's the dilema: I found and bought a nice coupe local for a great price with an advertised 5.0 motor. I thought great, I'll just yank that sucker out and slap in my 393W. It turns out it has a GT40 crate motor with the aluminum heads, vic jr. intake, speed demon 650 and hooker comps. This is hooked to a fresh C4 with a 3,000 RPM converter.

What I have in my garage is a 393W with cast crank, truck rods, KB ~ 10:1 pistons, RPM heads, headman swap headers, RPM intake, scorpion roller rockers, and a street avenger 670. It is hooked to a 4 speed toploader (wide ratio).

Which one would you suggest for a mean street car? I can't really swap transmissions because of the 28/50 oz dilema. The 302 probably has more on the top end, but the 393W is a torque monster. The rest of the car is setup w/ subframes, TCP tower brace, SSBC discs, 620's, KYB's etc. I know this is a horrible problem to have, but it is refreshing after having my stang torn to pieces in my garage for 3 years. I will probably sell the left over engine locally or on eBay.

TIA,
Chris

 

[Luminox]

The decision to me would require some other determining factors...like:

1) Is this a daily driver?
2) Will the car see a bunch of track time?
3) What kind of performance am I looking for?

As you said the stroker would have a pretty serious bottom end and the 302 would have a decent top end. It would come down to how much you are going to drive it and what you want out of the car. I built a roller 302 for my 66 and would love to be in your shoes . My car is still in the bodyshop but the motor runs great on the engine dyno and sounds even better.

If it were me and I didn't need the money I'd stick with the 302, drive it for awhile and if I needed the extra punch do the swap and sell it.

 

[Dark Knight]

393 would be a tight fit.. why not sell the 393 short block, use the heads on a 347 stroker, use the intake you have and then sell the GT-40 engine.. then your headers etc will still work too

 

[chris txstang]

Thanks for the replies so far. To answer some questions, this will be my daily driver, my wife will be getting my supercrew to haul my 14 month old + 1 more in January around. I drive about 3-4 miles to work everyday and 15 to school twice a week. The car will probably never see a track. I have hopes to take it to a few HPDEs at TWS etc, or maybe some auto-x, but the reality is I will probably never have the time with two babys, job, master's night school, etc...

The 393W was great in my old 66. Fit like a glove. I definately do not want to swap parts around (besides the carb) or build a new motor. I haven't been able to drive my mustang for 3 years, I couldn't stand to have a car down longer than a weekend to do the swap.

I am leaning toward the 393W the more I think about it. The low end torque and the manual transmission would be fun for the blast to work. Also I think I could get more for the GT40 crate because it is factory with known components and build quality. Most people wouldn't take a strangers word for the build qualty of a custom engine, ie my 393W.

Another thought is to go buy a 250 shot and have fun with the GT40 until there is no more fun to be had, then swap in the 393W and sell the 302 heads and induction

Thanks for helping me think this one through y'all

 

[rbohm]

if you are going to use this car as a daily driver, or even just for street use, i say swap in the 393. as for the balance issue, that is only with the flexplate/flywheel. if you want to use the C4 just get the right flexplate from a place like summit racing for the 393, just remember to get the tooth count right also as well as the balance factor. as for the other mustang in the garage, now you have a chance to build a toy or racecar. use the 302 in that and have fun with two mustangs

 

[krash kendall]

... this will be my daily driver, my wife will be getting my supercrew to haul my 14 month old + 1 more in January around. I drive about 3-4 miles to work everyday

I am in almost the same boat. Same car, same distance to work, wife has my Ford supercab with one kid. The car is my primary vehicle. The three of us use it on weekends and after work to save fuel or when driving a long box four wheel drive supercab is unpractical (that truck is such a pig!). The 302/C4 has hi-comp pistons, a mild cam, headers, and an Edelbrock intake and 600cfm carb. I've been driving it everyday for about a year now without a single problem (other than flooding it once last week). It's quick enough for a reliable daily driver and has great passing lane capabilities (don't speed - speeding is bad). It also passes emissions testing.

It's the reliability and the abiltiy to enjoy actually driving it that's important to me rather than trying to keep a thumping HP monster in tune so it won't stall at every second light and frustrate me on sundays trying to make sure it will get me to work the next five days without incident.


EDIT: I think I might be repeating something another member said in another post without giving credit.

 

[chris txstang]

I think I'll swap the 393W/toploader when I get over the rush of driving a new toy. The GT40 motor should fetch me some decent change for a R&P or something else necessary.

I told my wife that I would part out and get rid of the other mustang and left over parts. It was my first car and now needs passenger and driver side front frame rails, inner fenders, core suport, cross member etc. Maybe she will forget about my little promise and I can build a full tube frame ala Preston over at CornerCarvers.com. (fingers crossed). Besides, I want to be that 60 year old who still has his first car in the garage.

Anyone need a complete drivetrain? GT40 crate, vic jr., demon, comp headers, 3K converter, fresh C4, driveshaft, 8" rear, new front suspension, granada setup, repop hood, valance and fenders, good doors, trunk lid, glass, blah blah blah... you would be my wife's hero.

 

[Shocwave04]

I don't know about the other stuff but how much were you lookin at sellin the GT40 engine carb to pan?

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Hmmmmm... What is the length on the driveshaft and is it aluminum?

 

[chris txstang]

Shocwave - I was thinking somewhere in the $2,800.00 to $3,200.00 (obo) range, plus $400.00 for the converter and C4. Not real cheap, but it has less than 2,000 miles on it. I also have a set of try-y's if you want to save some $ on the hookers. I might want to swap the 650 demon for my 670 street avenger, but not sure yet. If you want, send me an email at [email protected] to keep the selling stuff out of the thread.
I live in Houston now, and could even deliver.

Edit: not sure on the drive shaft, I pick up the car tomorrow afternoon, I'll let you know.

 

[BullittStangV8]

I need a new motor...my 289 pooped out its rods/pistons..
Only Ill be going with a 393..not a 302!
Sounds like you have a dilema, but a good one.
Mike

 

[chuy]

i need engine 302
call me 832-338-0422

 

[SadbutTrue]

lol, the vultures are out...