I need you guys to help me make up my mind. I just picked up a 69 base Fairlane with 302 F-code. Definately wanting more oomph. Down the road i would really like to see a coyote in there. So for now the goal is to get in the low 13s range more or less as cheap as possible.

So the questions. Is the 302 anything special? Desirable as a restoration piece, or just a plane jane early smallblock?
Somewhat pertaining to the above, im stuck. Toss a cheap bumpstick http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-k30092 in the 302 with some gt40p heads. OR, now im thinking of finding a 94+ 5.8 toss on the gt40s and maybe some 1.7 rockers and see what happens.

Like i said the goal is 13.0s (just need to beat the gfs Duster which runs 13.30s ) For the car, looking at touched up AOD with 2k or 2500 lockup converter, 4.11 or 4.56s, detroit or similar in the 9" Will be street driven, not a DD but probably see 2-3k miles a year.

I like the gt40p from what im reading, good intake, easy to make big gains on the exhaust side even with the small valve, lots of velocity. Also i can get a pair for $64. Ive heard the stock truck cam is pretty decent, especially with a 1.7 rocker, but im not against re-camming, especially when a cam is around the same price as a set of 1.7 rockers. Wieand stealth dual plane intake with a 650 holley or demon. Up in the air on headers, not sure what fits, will cross that bridge when i get to it.

Please let me know what you guys think. Im not looking for 400hp under $500 or anything, but dont want to drop any more money into it than necessary to get me where i want.

 

Kinda thought that's what you got here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ode-302-a.html

 

Yea i had a thread in the small block forum, been doing more thinking and research, having second thoughts and all that. Thought it might get some more / different opinions here.

 

Old motor, old articles:

Engine Build Combos - Car Craft Magazine

The 289/302 is a fairly simple, easy to work on motor. There is factory and aftermarket performance stuff littering garage sales, flea markets, the interweb etc. Most of it works great. I think you have to put some effort into making a bad running 289/302.

As for running 13s, gears, tires, hook up and transmission will be concerns along with the motor.

As to the 302 being special, no. Only the Boss 302s, or a tunnel port 302, or anything Gurney Weslake would be of real value. I think there was a hi po 302 in 1968, but those are pretty rare and I think they were in Shelby Mustangs only.

ARP bolts, lumpy cam, 700CFM 4bbl, headers, hold to 7000 rpms, see what happens.