Questions about power

[FiveOCapri79]

Though it won't go into a Mustang, it'll still go into a Ford. I've got a 72 Pinto in need of a little extra power so I was thinking about rebuilding a 2.5 on a low budget to help it out. It'll also be N/A and I may just change out the auto tranny in it. So how much power can I expect out of a rebuilt 2.5(maybe some head work too)? Another thing, think it'll have any "balls" being in a 2000lb Pinto? The 4cyl Fords are a whole other story for me so I figured I'd try and ask anyways.

 

[Stinger]

Well, you could expect 100rwhp without too much trouble...should run pretty well in a light weight pinto (like mid 16's or something).

 

[Red_LX]

You're talkin about a carbed engine, right?

You can do some neat stuff with the carbed engines. Besides port work, you could pick up a cam, and maybe an intake and run a 2 barrel carb on it and a header. I bet it'd make some pretty decent power. Racer Walsh and Esslinger both have nice 2 barrel intakes, and there's still a few Offy 4-barrel intakes floating around out there (but you have to run a very small carb with them, like 390 cfm)

 

[FiveOCapri79]

So would it be better just to stick with the 2.5 or go with a 2.3 since they're more common? I probably will just stick with a carb for it's simplicity.