• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

need suggestions for a 331 stroker build

  • Thread starter Thread starter njmaier
  • Start date Start date May 25, 2011

njmaier

New Member
May 22, 2011
14
0
0
May 25, 2011
#1
  • May 25, 2011
  • #1
I have a Keith Craft 331 stroker short block that I am going to have freshened up. I'm looking for suggestions on what to go with for a top end setup.

This is purely a street car. It might make a pass or two at the drag strip, but that's going to be a rare occurrence. It's not a daily driver, but I do want to own the street when I'm out in it . It must use pump gas, and 91 octane is as good as I can get around here.

The bottom end is fully forged. The current pistons in it are JE 9:1...not sure what the dish is. I think I may be able to reuse them, but if I need to use something else then that's what I'll do.

I don't plan on boosting it down the road. I think I want all motor. That being said...how high of a compression ratio can I run and still be able to run a small amount of boost later?

Give me some ideas for heads, cam, and intake please. Budget isn't a concern...if I can't afford it all I'll save money until I can.

Thanks in advance!
 

tannerc91gt

This last 25% is foreign territory at this point
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
4,392
2,967
234
Indiana
May 25, 2011
#2
  • May 25, 2011
  • #2
You're trying to go too many ways at once here.

If you're trying to get all you can out of it on pump gas N/A I'd up the compression. Obviously your pistons aren't the sole factor in compression so your head choice and HG will be a concern. For an NA build (EFI I'm assuming) I'd go
AFR 185s
Trick flow R (not box)
Custom cam


You'll be able to do plenty with that combo and if you ever DO decide to boost it (assuming you keep the
Pistons you have) you won't be in bad shape.

If you could find out the CC of the dish and the deck height, I'd be more than happy to figure up an estimated comp ratio for the different heads. There's a lot more to consider though
 

njmaier

New Member
May 22, 2011
14
0
0
May 25, 2011
#3
  • May 25, 2011
  • #3
Yeah...sorry about that. My mind tends to have a million things running through it at once.

Let's just think about all motor then.

The pistons are JE p/n 168764. I haven't been able to find more info on them...I haven't called JE yet though.

I'm not looking for the definitive setup here. I'm just looking for some suggestions so I can have an idea of what I'm looking for when I go to the machine shop. Just wanting some unbiased info...don't want to buy the wrong parts for the shop to assemble.

Thanks.
 

tannerc91gt

This last 25% is foreign territory at this point
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
4,392
2,967
234
Indiana
May 25, 2011
#4
  • May 25, 2011
  • #4
Nothing comes up for that part number but if the shortblock is older than it probably has been replaced by a new PN.

Basically, if you're sticking NA and to the street, I'd personally want something with a power band that will be fun out in town. No sense to me building something that spins to 7500 if you're just going stop light to stop light
 

tannerc91gt

This last 25% is foreign territory at this point
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
4,392
2,967
234
Indiana
May 25, 2011
#5
  • May 25, 2011
  • #5
Can't edit my posts in mobile, but considering you're just looking for a Reasonable street combo, what i suggested may not be the best bet. Also, I'm assuming it's a factory block?
 

njmaier

New Member
May 22, 2011
14
0
0
May 26, 2011
#6
  • May 26, 2011
  • #6
Yes...it is production block that was prepped, machined, and clearanced by Keith Craft back in 2001. I have the original build sheet for it from back then.
 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 10, 2002
9,457
1,377
234
Ontario, Canada
May 26, 2011
#7
  • May 26, 2011
  • #7
The Trick Flow Track Heat Top end kit would be about cat's ass on a 331ci street engine. Keep the compression in the 9:0-9:5 to 1 range and you'll make 350-370fwhp all day long. High flow heads are great for making power, but staying conservative with your selection will insure a nice, broad torque curve at all RPM. The 170cfm castings with the Trick Flow kit will provide plenty of flow and velicity for your needs. With a 6-8psi centrifugal later on down the road, you'll knock out a very pump gas friendly 425-450hp and still retain excellent street manners.

This will probably be the direction I take me coupe in the next year or so.

You also mentioned in an earlier post running it with 24lb/hr fuel injectors and 73mm MAF meter. Those are going to be running on the ragged edge in N/A format with any healthy top end on that engine....never mind with a little added boost. I'd upgrade to at least a set of 30lb/hr squirters N/A and 42lb/hr injectors with forced induction. You're going to want to step up the MAF meter and throttle body size too.

No sense building an engine to make a boat load of power, just to choke it off at the inlet.
 

njmaier

New Member
May 22, 2011
14
0
0
May 26, 2011
#8
  • May 26, 2011
  • #8
Gearbanger 101 said:
The Trick Flow Track Heat Top end kit would be about cat's ass on a 331ci street engine. Keep the compression in the 9:0-9:5 to 1 range and you'll make 350-370fwhp all day long. High flow heads are great for making power, but staying conservative with your selection will insure a nice, broad torque curve at all RPM. The 170cfm castings with the Trick Flow kit will provide plenty of flow and velicity for your needs. With a 6-8psi centrifugal later on down the road, you'll knock out a very pump gas friendly 425-450hp and still retain excellent street manners.

This will probably be the direction I take me coupe in the next year or so.

You also mentioned in an earlier post running it with 24lb/hr fuel injectors and 73mm MAF meter. Those are going to be running on the ragged edge in N/A format with any healthy top end on that engine....never mind with a little added boost. I'd upgrade to at least a set of 30lb/hr squirters N/A and 42lb/hr injectors with forced induction. You're going to want to step up the MAF meter and throttle body size too.

No sense building an engine to make a boat load of power, just to choke it off at the inlet.
Click to expand...

Is a 70mm TB sufficient generally? Or do I need to go bigger than that?
 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 10, 2002
9,457
1,377
234
Ontario, Canada
May 26, 2011
#9
  • May 26, 2011
  • #9
njmaier said:
Is a 70mm TB sufficient generally? Or do I need to go bigger than that?
Click to expand...

As far as throttle bodies go....this is actually one area where bigger is almost always better. The Trick Flow intakes are designed to accommodate up to a 75mm unit.

That being said, you're not going to leave a whole lot on the table with the 70mm unit. Swapping it out for a larger 75mm unit won't be worth more than a few single digit horsepower and even then likely only at the top end of the tach. If you were starting from scratch, I'd say opt for a 75mm throttle body, but at this point IMO, it's not worth changing out.....stick with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Engine Suggestions on an engine rebuild. Stock cam/GT40Ps or aftermarket on both for a fun weekend driver?
  • MadSquirrelTech
  • Apr 28, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
23
Views
614
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 7, 2026
MadSquirrelTech
H
Forced Induction On3 Turbo Kit- Parts list NEEDED - 302 Stock Motor
  • Hirothecool1
  • Feb 27, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
21
Views
884
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Mar 7, 2026
slow84lx
S
Progress Thread Progress Thread- From6to8's 95 GT/Saleen Supercharged 331 install
  • from6to8
  • Mar 22, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
24
Views
735
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 6, 2026
from6to8
9
Engine Donor '00 Mountaineer meet '91 Fox
  • 91firecracker
  • May 11, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2 3
Replies
41
Views
671
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 28, 2026
91firecracker
9
Engine on3 Conversion to draw through MAF?
  • sav22rem22
  • Oct 11, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
251
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Oct 11, 2025
sav22rem22
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?