I knew a guy who had a clevland in his 72 mustang and was really happy with it. I think it is based on opinion and taste of ones motor. Me I like the FEs 390, and the 351C/M and 400 and the 302 wich isnt that bad of a motor either but I like going for cubes in the end

 

if i remeber correctly this was the thread about deciding between the m block or a 302 for a mustang....if so then the 400 is junk for this application. You dont need a bajillion $ to build a 5L, go yank one from a 87 or older mustang and you have 225hp and 300ft/lbs stock...with forged pistons, options are endless. You could take an eaton m90 supercharger off a t-bird supercoupe, buy an intake, pully the hell outta the s/c, carb the engine and have an easy 300hp

 

also a good cheap budget junkyard stroker for a 5.L can be had by taking the rods out of a 2.3L (twice) and undersize/offset grinding your cranks rod journals. depending on how much you offset it you can gain up to 15cid making it a 317. The rod journal measurements between the 2 engines are near the same, the 2.3L a hair smaller and a bit longer allowing for the undersize/offset grind, but keeping close the the same rod/stroke ratio except with a little more grunt

 

but now that i think about it I vote to go with a windsor, summitracing.com sells cranks that stroke your windsor up to about 370 cid if i remember correctly, they use the stock rods with 5.L pistons, which is great because like i stated before post 87 5Ls came with forged pistons.

 

Just curious, what pistons would you use in that?

 

A 3.85 crank in a windsor with stock rods and 302 pistons is a 393ci motor. The windsors can go up to about 427ci.

A 302 is not a windsor. The most I've even seen a 302 go out to is 355, 370 I've never heard of. Most only take it to 347 as it's the most popular. 370 might be for a non-production 302 block. Like a Dart block that has a 4.125 bore and more stroke possibilities (I think they can have different deck heights).

 

For more 302/351W options check with the 302-351W engine forum. There is a ton of information in there.