I need some advice...

I am starting to look at what i want long term out of my stang. I wont have money for a dss 302 block or something good like that for a long time.

SO, i was thinking about buying a 351w from a junkyard and building that up this summer. The 351w can handle upwards of 500-600hp right? So that would solve my block issues. But right now i just want 350rwhp at MAX. So if i did get a 94+ 351w, and i added like a cobra intake and a mild cam what kind of numbers would i be looking at? What about if i did a lil port job on the stock heads?

I know most of you will say just do a h/c/i on my current 302 but im thinking of starting a good base now....not necessarily the most efficient or power making engine right now. If i did the 351w now, i could get a nice jump in power and i would be setting that good base to build up from. In another year or so i could throw on some AFR 185's or something to up the power and then maybe a blower.

I just dont want to spend money on h/c/i now because if i do start making a lot of power i dont want to have to worry about the 302 cracking.....

OK sorry for the long rant, what do u guys think though? Will a intake, p&p stock heads, and a mild cam get the 351 into the 300+ hp level? Most of all...after getting it tuned will it run like its almost stock?


let me know your thoughts and opinions....

thats the whole point... i never said that that the 350rwhp will satisfy me...i can tell you it wont. But my wallet is just about all it can do. My whole point is why put all that money into a 302 now, just to have to buy another block or something later. I dont plan on exceeding 500hp so the 351 will work fine.

$8,000 for a 351 setup? What junkyard are u buying the engine from? They can be had for a couple hundred bucks. I would just copy the cobra r set up so gt-40 heads and a cobra intake for a low budget 351 build.

You have to remember that im not aiming for max. output right now just a solid foundation. Also, i dont want to tear down my engine, i would rather just build up another on the side and swap them when finished. I would think that a low budget 351 build would have more potential then a h/c/i 302

Keep your thoughts rollin...

yea i been doin research for a long time....a 351 is obvisouly not a drop in. I have the hood already....

Joe, wouldnt that require more money ? I just want something to do me for about 2 years until i graduate from college and get a hold on some real money. At that point i can get a bullet proof block whatever and all the goodies....

Thanks for the input guys, im acutally leaning towards just doing a h/c/i now and waiting until i have money later on to do it right like you said earlier. I can also keep my nitrous kit i just bought and run a 125hp shot when I upgrade the fuel system with the h/c/i.
Sounds like i need about $2000 for a top knotch h/c/i ?