stang newb

[ineeda5.oh]

i just acquired an '86 stang with a 302 in it. im sure my questions will all be newb questions, so bare with me. im not new to cars or racing, just stangs. what weak links should i look for on my car. its a carbureted 5.0 with an auto tranny. i plan on it being strictly strip use. im not sure how far im going to go with this car since i havent completely looked it over yet. i got it for free and got it started up today. engine runs and tranny works in 1st and reverse so far. ill probably leave it ho wit is for now and run it down the strip a few times. i have trouble controlling myself when it comes to modding cars. the 302 will probably end up being stroked to a 347 and cammed. i would guess id be better off with a high stall torque convertor also. depending on how fast it gets to, i will probably end up adding a blower at some point. what usually works better on these, a csc or roots blower? i looked around here a little already. from what i gather, the stock block is only good up to 450hp. i just wanted to double check and confirm that. i think thats all my questions for now.

TIA
mike

 

[Thenemesis]

hi, i got a 86 to just EFI instead, any who being a carb'd it wont be hard to get it running fast.. carb'd cars are easier than EFI's in gettin power out of them so do a stroker and i wouldnt really do a blower on a carb'd car, not really many out there and jsut dont show good numbers (from what ive seen).. a carb'd 302 can be alot more radical in cam lift and everything and stick a tunnel ram on it with 2 4's lol and about the block, take a older style 302 block and you'd be good to go.. im talkin like early 70's or get a new DSS.. up to you, hope i can help

 

[shttygtstang]

weak points on the stangs with 302s r the blocks .they crack after 600hp and aod trannys there the biggest peices of **** in the world

 

[ineeda5.oh]

is stroking it a good idea? if i really get into this, im looking for it to be an all out drag car. the body looks like hell, so it will get stripped and primered. i love going fast and racing. the parts for these things are cheap. the last car i modded was a '99 grand prix supercharged. a cam alone for that car costs $300. i got that 1 down to low 12s. not bad for a v6 i guess

 

[shttygtstang]

it all dependeds on how much cash ya got .

but ya stroking it would be good

 

[txstang84]

it all dependeds on how much cash ya got .

but ya stroking it would be good

x2...speed costs money, how fast can you go?

welcome to stangnet-if you're going to make it a dedicated drag car, just be sure to start with a good foundation...

 

[ineeda5.oh]

for the $s i spent on that grand prix, this wont seem bad. these parts are like 1/3-1/4 of the price. i resotred a '72 chevelle a few years ago, so i know how the $s add up. think im best off just getting amiliar with the car for now and save up and get a dart block? anything i can do to the tranny to get it to hold up better? i prefer the auto over manual for racing, so i want to try to keep it

 

[shttygtstang]

for drag racing ide say go with a c4 over the aod
if you sticking witht the aod get a trans go shift kit and be easy with it

 

[ineeda5.oh]

forgive my ignorance of ford products, the c4 is an auto right? any cars i can rob 1 out of?

 

[shttygtstang]

yours might have one im not shure on the years do you have over drive if not you have the c4 ......as far as years just look for ne for with a c4 and sb v8 289/302/351 theyll all fit

 

[ineeda5.oh]

ok. tomorrow, im gonna air up the tires etc and get it on my lift and look around underneath. anything i should look for as far as rust or rot anywhere?

shttystang, what kind of biek is that in your avatar? i have an '02 ninja zx9r

 

[ineeda5.oh]

i forgot to mention a few of the mods currently on the car. it has an edelbrock carb and performer intake manifold. also has an msd 6al ignition box on it. theres an extrernal, electric fuel pump also. it came with a mechanical pump no? it has an adjustable fuel pressure regulator also. im guessing to lower the fuel pressure from the electric pump

 

[txstang84]

yeah, ck all your spot welds, pay special attention to the torq boxes...other than that, you'll be able to tell (more than likely) if anything's awry, since you've restored a car before...don't be too surprised if you see little cracks in the floorpans, or near the driveshaft tunnel...mine's got a couple of them.

and yes, a dart block is a great investment if you plan on making it a dedicated drag car

 

[ineeda5.oh]

cool. i cant wait to look under it. i need to see why the brakes dont work. im guessing a rotted brake line or blown wheel cylinder(s). it had no brake fluid in the reservoir. the tach on the dash doesnt work, but it has an autometer monster tach thats mounted and works

 

[maverick0716]

That's definitly an aftermarket carb conversion. 86's came with EFI.

 

[z9_87]

Yeah get a C4 tranny so you can controll the 2-3 shift.

 

[ineeda5.oh]

when i get this safe enough to drive, ill see if it has any balls. it almost runs like it has a bigger cam in it, but im not sure yet if its just caus the engine hadnt run in a while or if it is a cam. once we got spark, it fired right up. what gears are good for the c4 tranny? im not concerned with streetability, but i want to have some top end at the track too

 

[z9_87]

Being a carb switch over, I wouldn't be surprised if it had a little more done to it also. Oh also, if you're going to order a dart block why not get a 351 and stroke it?

 

[ineeda5.oh]

that might not a bad idea. i didnt think of that. i was thinking of stroking the 302. whats the difference with the 302 and 351? longer stroke and bigger bore? how much can you stroke a 351 to

 

[shttygtstang]

well since its a drag car y not get a 460 and stroke it with two t4 turbos and 110 octane