jeffnoel said:
I found a stroker kit (called the 302 Long Arm) that keeps the stock stroke but uses a longer rod and which gives it a 1.85 rod ratio while keeping the stock displacement. How would the power of the Long Arm kit compare to a similiarly built 332 (same cam, intake, carb, exhaust)?
302 Long Arm Stroker Kit
In race trim, the 332 would defeat it. 30 cubic inches means a lot of power, and the extra stroke gives torque. There's a point where higher r/s ratio doesnt yield as big an improvement. (diminishing returns)
In terms of fuel mileage, and hp per cubic inch however, that 302 kit would be the winner.
Ever heard people say that the old 289 motors "ran better" than the 302s? Even though everything is pretty much identical between the 289 and 302 except for stroke and rod length.
The 289 had the same length rods as a BOSS 302,(5.155") but with a shorter stroke, so it's r/s ratio was better than a 302, and the displacement difference wasnt enough to make up for that.
A 5.69" is the longest rod possible to squeeze into a 289 with the its 2.87" stroke. With a 4.030" bore, that's 293 cubes, and a r/s ratio of 1.98:1.
A setup like that would be incredibly efficient. If you were to use high swirl/high velocity iron heads, roller cam, ultra light pistons, free floating wrist pins, heat-reflective coating on the chambers and piston tops, performer intake, holley 490cfm double pumper, tuned 1 1/2" full length headers, and 9.75:1 compression, you would get phenomenally high fuel mileage and the torque would kick ass. You wouldnt need to rev the motor beyond 5000, and the short stroke and long rods would greatly reduce stresses. (reduce stresses doesnt just mean more durability, it also means more power and efficiency)
Drop that 293" into a Stang with a 5-speed, and 3.55:1 gears, and you have a great street cruiser. At least 25-28 mpg? Yes. Faster than a stock fox gt? Yes.