Is it possible to run low 12s with machined junkyard parts?

[oxemoron]

Im currently working on a website for a junkyard and the owner offered atleast 2 engines of my choice and whatever bolt ons i might find. The engine I will be building is a 351 Windsor. This project won't be started until the winter though. So is there any bolt ons that I might find at a junkyard for my stock 302 that could get me into the low 12s? My dad is a president of a machine shop and i can do any of the head or intake work there so that is not a problem. Any suggestions on heads and intake manifold that I could machine and get me running those times? I currently have full exhaust and will be getting gears soon. Are there any parts that would be both good on the 302 and then on the 351 later on? Thank you for the help, I appreciate it.

 

[25thmustang]

You could do it with a 302. Get some explorer heads, intake, stock cam, build the suspension and port everything. Might need better valve train some rockers and such, but can run low 12s if done right. Not sure what 351 parts are out there from stockers, and how well they work.

 

[Tonys96Cobra]

The best parts your likely to find are p heads, exploreer intake, but youd have to use a 5.8 lower for that to work. Maybe youll get lucky and find a 93-95 lightning!

 

[90lxfoxbody]

i agree with 25th and tony. depends on what you get lucky and find and most importantly how you apply it. it can be done, though. that's why junkyards are always stripped of all the really good parts.

 

[86bluecobra]

getting low 12's with stock parts is usally done with massive suspension work or nitrous. I see those stock 5.0L class running those times but they are stripped out of all excessive wieght and run insane gear. were not talking 4.56's more like 5.88's.

 

[tmoss]

It can be done, yes........

 

[oxemoron]

Thanks I appreciate it. Even mid 12s ill be happy, just need to keep up or beat my friends fbodies, one of them has a trans am and the other a camaro. I planned on picking up a GT40 302 complete engine and also a 351 Windsor. I wanted to machine all the parts off the 302 and bolt them on mine for now, then rebuild either the 302 or 351 in the winter and put the parts on the rebuilt engine. Just wondering if the GT40P parts will also be good on the 351 later on? Also at the junkyard i noticed an older carburated 302 that has valve covers that say cobra on them, What is this? There are alot of good things there because this is a private junkyard and most of what they have is never seen. I could even take a LS1 or LS2 for free, but swap kits for the mustangs end up costing $3k in the end, so im forgetting that idea. I'm also considering a turbo setup later this winter. For now though I really need a good junkyard bolt on solution to give me some power for the summer

 

[352Ford2]

yes, talk to john (stock50LX) he has two cars one with a mostly junkyard 302 that runs mid 12's and mild 351 that runs high 11's.

 

[86bluecobra]

yes, talk to john (stock50LX) he has two cars one with a mostly junkyard 302 that runs mid 12's and mild 351 that runs high 11's.

Grrrrrrr hate it when guys say they have mild engines running 11's. Thats what i want N/A but i can only seem to get high 12's.

 

[25thmustang]

getting low 12's with stock parts is usally done with massive suspension work or nitrous. I see those stock 5.0L class running those times but they are stripped out of all excessive wieght and run insane gear. were not talking 4.56's more like 5.88's.

I assume your talking NHRA...

Because, in NMRA most dont run over 4.30 gears, they arent allowed coil overs, or anything custom, run on drag radials, have to weigh a minimum weight and retain a full interior (also need to have power steering) and the fastest guys are running mid 11s. We built a low budget NMRA style car, that had 4.10s, stock tranny, full interior, all the ameneties and could be driven every day that went a best of 12.1 @ 110. The car has since been turned into a more dedicated car, but at the time was nothing special.

 

[dragnazz5.0]

do more research. if the parts are available you could build a really nasty motor. just figure out what works, like rods from this car, a crank from that car, block from this other car, set of heads from another car. if you have any guys in your town that run in a hobby stock or late model stock dirt track racing class go talk to them. some of those guys can build nasty little motors out of nothing but factory ford parts they pulled from different motors

 

[86bluecobra]

I assume your talking NHRA...

Because, in NMRA most dont run over 4.30 gears, they arent allowed coil overs, or anything custom, run on drag radials, have to weigh a minimum weight and retain a full interior (also need to have power steering) and the fastest guys are running mid 11s. We built a low budget NMRA style car, that had 4.10s, stock tranny, full interior, all the ameneties and could be driven every day that went a best of 12.1 @ 110. The car has since been turned into a more dedicated car, but at the time was nothing special.

yes there is a local car a notch set up for that racing. he has to have factory everything pretty much but tranny LT headers meeting a decibal limit and a factory lift cam with any amount of duration. I believe the cam rule may have changed. His car is crazy quick for a stock(ish) 302.

 

[hdawg06]

i would personally take a ls2 engine. I'm sure you could sell that for quite a bit, then just buy a good block for your fox.

 

[oxemoron]

i think i very well might get the ls2 and just sell it immediately. Haven't checked how much they go for, but then maybe i could pick up aftermarket bolt ons instead of junkyard parts. AFR 165 Heads, and whatever else i might need. Plus ill get an extra block that I can build either a 347 or 351 with in the winter. I could even pick up a GT40P engine and also the LS2 so I have bolt ons and have all the extra cash from the ls2 for other mods. Any ideas? If anyone can help list some combos i could go with and what cars i can find each part out of it I would greatly appreciate it. I really wish there was a direct swap engine I could find at the junkyard with 300+ HP. I guess theres no simple way of installing the ls2 is there? I have no brand loyalty i just like putting the best of different worlds together to form something amazing.