Help me decide... 302 or 351c

ratio411 · Mar 4, 2004

I have a 302 and alot of misc performance parts for it.
I have a 351c... few parts, but I wouldn't have to buy heads.
I want to put an engine back in my Maverick. For discussion sake, consider it a 65-66 Stang. Size, wieght, and engine compartment size are all about the same.

I love the 302, It is so small, simple, and light.
I have misc. parts for it that I would have to buy for a C. Such as headers, Moroso pan, etc...
The most expensive thing I'd have to buy for the SBF is a set of heads.
The scenario would be something like this:
3" stroke, 5.4" rods, .040" over
Mild solid roller cam
Moderate aluminum heads
Torker 289 w/750 vacuum Holley
LT headers, 3" turbo mufflers after H-pipe
10" TCI converter/C4
4.11 9" rear

The C is a 70 closed chamber 4V in stock form.
I have ported/polished the exhaust. Raised the ports slightly.
3.5" stroke, 6" rods, std bore
Mild solid roller
High end valves (undercut, tulip, stainless)
Torker w/750 DP Holley
Very expensive LT headers
10" converter/C4
4.11 9" rear

The Ford swap meet is coming in a week or 2. Which engine do you think I should shop for?

Thanks for your input.
Dave

ratio411 · Mar 4, 2004

Sorry, I forgot to put some pros and cons:

302:
Pros...
Light, cheap, fits car well, have some parts handy besides engine itself.
Cons...
Not as much power, no "wow" factor, aftermarket heads a must.

351c:
Pros...
Eye candy, no need for heads, POWER, fewer aftermarket parts as a whole.
Cons...
Tight fit, heavier over front wheels, aftermarket parts higher.

The thing that will most likely keep me from doing the C is the fact that engine is so tight in my car. It's been in there before.

3spd on floor · Mar 4, 2004

i say go with the C. do something different, besides, cleveland heads look so sexy

lgil351 · Mar 4, 2004

put the c heads on the 302

D.Hearne · Mar 4, 2004

Go with the Cleveland

bnickel · Mar 4, 2004

ratio, wht are you even asking we know how much you love that cleve, but if you really want to know what i'd do, put the cleve heads on the 302 and tell everyone you have a boss 302 mav

19sixtynine · Mar 5, 2004

Power! I hate to see someone regret not putting in more power when they had the chance ~ definatley the Cleveland. If it were me, I would be alot happier

Opentracker · Mar 5, 2004

We do road racing with ours. The weight of the motor is not a big issue. There are alum. heads on the market for C's. The motors bolt right in, no cutting or welding. The headers are from www.fordpowertrain.com

This is a '65 coup.

John

ratio411 · Mar 8, 2004

Yeah, I had one in the car already.

I checked those headers you used... They look pretty good, but I wasn't too hype on the primary size or collector style. The set I had were from Tubular Exhaust and, though more complex, seemed much more suited to flowing like the Cleveland should.

How are spark plug changes in your car?
Mine was unbelievably tight, but I think the Maverick has 1 or 2 inches less clearance between the towers.

Thanks,
Dave

ratio411 · Mar 8, 2004

Maybe I should post another thread... or better yet do a search

But, how well do rack & pinion conversions go over on our old Fords? Seems like that would be the best way to gain gobs of engine space.

To be honest though, if I went through the trouble to do that, I would be looking at a 460 swap...
There would be all kinds of room with the towers gone.
Dave

dodgestang · Mar 8, 2004

ratio411 said:
How are spark plug changes in your car?
Mine was unbelievably tight, but I think the Maverick has 1 or 2 inches less clearance between the towers.

Thanks,
Dave

Its tight on the spark plugs...my 351c is installed the same way as opentrackers...fordpowertrainheaders, early 65 mounts, bolted in. To change the plugs I have to pull the valve covers, aside from that its a peice of cake...3/8 spark socket, swivel adapter, long extension and then the rachet, no bruised knuckles

ratio411 · Mar 8, 2004

408?

What crank/rod/piston combo does that use?

I have always wanted to do a 383 Cleveland. I want to keep up a high rod ratio, so more stroke is probably out for me.

dodgestang · Mar 8, 2004

ratio411 said:
408?

What crank/rod/piston combo does that use?

I have always wanted to do a 383 Cleveland. I want to keep up a high rod ratio, so more stroke is probably out for me.

You found me out....I bought a kit and don't actually know all the particulars...its a Scat Crank custom ground for the 4 inch stroke....Ross Racing Custom pistons to get me to 10.6:1 and I have no idea how long the rods are

I got it all from Speedomotive I WILL not recommend them to anyone, not even my enemy. They made my pistons wrong the first time (faxed the wrong head specs to ROSS...I gave the right specs, they have the right specs on the order, but the hand written fax to ROSS to order the pistons had the specs written wrong) and they refused to replace the parts for me..I HAD TO BUY NEW PISTONS BECAUSE OF THEIR SCREW UP. Not too mention I had a major melt down when I just bolted it all together and ran it for 2k miles with 12.5+ compression on 93 octane.

I'm getting mad just thinking about it again...I had to spend over 3k to recover from their mistake.

Opentracker · Mar 8, 2004

I can change the plugs in 28min.

Help me decide... 302 or 351c

ratio411

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lgil351

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