Well, first of all i was 75% joking. Secondly, his motor choice for the project, at this point, is the variable. The thread became much less about handling (we all decided on MM max grip stuff, as did the OP) and more about meeting his 400 hp n/a goal. On his budget, on this planet, a 400 hp n/a 302 doesn't exist. If he can score a cheap roller, or even one that needs fenders or a front clip or is missing an interior (since he's going to strip it anyway) he can probably pull it off with a different powerplant. An Ls1, for his power goal would be perfect. I thought someone like you, who preaches the wonders of newer engine tech would back it up wholeheartedly.
Let the record show that I HATE bastardized foxes, but just trying to be practical and help someone make their project budget.
Okay, let's just say this. HP is not my main goal. Infact the engine is the last thing I am going to work on. I was just wanting to know if 400hp is possible with NA. I would settle for 300-350 since the car is so light. My current car (a sentra spec V) with 175hp does 0-60 in 6.9 seconds and feels fast and it still weighs 3700lbs. Add 125hp and rear wheel drive and take away 700lbs and you get a car that is a lot faster. All that to say...I really just want a good running, good handling reasonably quick car.
no, its not ford DOHC tech so it didnt enter his mind. an LS1 would be perfect for that set up. its weight is about the same as a 302 and with a simple cam/head and carb conversion it will lay down well over 400 N/A, but it would blow the budget out of the water. the swap alone would cost about 4-5k even if he bought used parts.
That is a little bit more to my liking and I might just stay under budget. If I want something more powerful later on I would build it. I kinda wanted to stay with a 302 to keep from changing to a carb or changing electronics.
There are guys all over LS1 forums and other Chebby forums doing 5.3L swaps and making really good power for the price of a jukyard run.
An SE-R V-Spec only weighs 3080 wet.
Another option would be a Teksid 4.6 DOHC. You can find a 93-98 Mark in a yard for under 1000 bucks and with a good exhaust and mabey some cams and the engine will make over 350 hp if you are not spinning smog and A/C components. The upside is it will rev to the moon making it easier to drive on a road course cause cause you dont have to shift as much. Then down the road you can do a rebuild on the engine and bump it to a 5.0 and up the compression. They are making 450-480 HP like that and you can fit in the classes that have the 5.0 size limitations. In that class you would have over 100 horses over the competition.
Another option would be a Teksid 4.6 DOHC. You can find a 93-98 Mark in a yard for under 1000 bucks and with a good exhaust and mabey some cams and the engine will make over 350 hp if you are not spinning smog and A/C components. The upside is it will rev to the moon making it easier to drive on a road course cause cause you dont have to shift as much. Then down the road you can do a rebuild on the engine and bump it to a 5.0 and up the compression. They are making 450-480 HP like that and you can fit in the classes that have the 5.0 size limitations. In that class you would have over 100 horses over the competition.
Yep, you are right. I misread my info on my doorsil. As far as the 4.6 how much weight would it save and I have to have A/C...I live in florida...It is 97 degrees today.
BTW...I checked kbb and they list the stats as 2950 but my sill tag from Nissan lists it at 3750lbs. What gives?
2950 is what a no option SE-R (non-v) weighs. 3750 is your cars maximum weight with 4 passengers and as much cargo as it can hold.
Griggs is great but you dont want to use it on the street regularly. MM is as good as it gets for street/strip usage on a Fox body... or SRA SN95