302 horsepower question
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Independence, MO
well your choice isnt nesicerialy a bad one, but for a heavy vehicle such as a truck or bronco, a slightly smaller cam would have giving you just a few less ponies but a little more tork, which is what you need to move that heavy weight, and then you have to factor in where in the RPM rang you want to make that power, one of the biggest misconseption there is to picking a cam is people think the bigger the better and that just simply isnt right, its all relative to how you use the vehicle and the components to go with it. SHARPSHOOTER: what do you have this motor in? DW
Postmaster
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From: iowa
i diagree with 270 hp. the stock 302 had a 140 hp (2bbl). I would think 220-230 max right now. Put that on the a real dyno. That c6 eats up serious power. A c4 is much more efficient.
here how i see it
overbore 5hp
280 cam 20 hp
intake 10 hp
flat top 5-10 hp
carb over 2bbl 35 hp
headers 15 with mufflers 10hp
carb spacer 5hp if lucky
total 85 hp extra
stock 140+85=225hp!
here how i see it
overbore 5hp
280 cam 20 hp
intake 10 hp
flat top 5-10 hp
carb over 2bbl 35 hp
headers 15 with mufflers 10hp
carb spacer 5hp if lucky
total 85 hp extra
stock 140+85=225hp!
Last edited by fordeverpower; Mar 30, 2004 at 09:26 PM.
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Senior User
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From: Chalmette, LA
I have this 302 in a 1979 F-100 short wheel base and I am going to start rebuilding my '84 302 for my 1984 F-150 regular cab & 8' bed also with a c-6 tranny. Both are work trucks so I use my 2001 F-150 XLT for my weekend driving. These vehicles are strictly for having fun and working. What cam do you suggest for my '84 302 if I buy those GT-40 heads?
FORDEVERPOWER: you have 15 next to headers and 10 by the muffler so are you saying 25 extra horsepower for the entire exhaust system? If so then you are talking over 100 extra horsepower total. Are you sure the stock HP for the '79 is not higher than 140? I could have sworn it was close to 180-185 HP. Do suggest I switch to a c-4 tranny and why? How exactly would it help?
FORDEVERPOWER: you have 15 next to headers and 10 by the muffler so are you saying 25 extra horsepower for the entire exhaust system? If so then you are talking over 100 extra horsepower total. Are you sure the stock HP for the '79 is not higher than 140? I could have sworn it was close to 180-185 HP. Do suggest I switch to a c-4 tranny and why? How exactly would it help?
Postmaster
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From: iowa
i meant 15hp for the headers then after mufflers only 10hp. The mufflers cost you 5 hp imo. I don't recommend changing trannys but was stating that the c6 greatly increases drivetrain loss. I read some where about 20hp over a c4, don't know how true that is though. The c6 is worth the power loss though. They are tough. I have one behind my 390 and the way i beat everything anything else would be toast.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: South Dakota
A healthy cam, good heads , and good compresion will still get you at least one horse per cube.
Stock horse power for 1979 2 bbl 302, is 134@3400 tourqe250@1600, these are SAE specs measured at the end of the tranny with all accessories running.
Intakes, heads, and cams have come along way and it would make more power spun up to a higher RPM than 3400.
Stock horse power for 1979 2 bbl 302, is 134@3400 tourqe250@1600, these are SAE specs measured at the end of the tranny with all accessories running.
Intakes, heads, and cams have come along way and it would make more power spun up to a higher RPM than 3400.
Posting Guru
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From: Independence, MO
the desk top dyno is very fairly acurate if you plug in the correct numbers, and it can get real specific like down to the flow of the heads the size of the valves, and comes with alot of comp cams actual grind numbers built in. bak to SHARSHOOTERS question, i would go with the 270H in the next one IF i dont forget i'll try some diferent profiles in the next day or so, but as far as the one with the 280H if you decide to go back in the front for some reason, pull the timming cover and buy a timming set with a multi index crank sprocket and put it in with the marks on the 4 degr. advance mark, this will advance your cam 4 dgre, it has nothing to do with your ignition timming, what it will do is pull your tork curve down in the rpm band a little lower and you should notice more bottom end grunt. DW
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Chalmette, LA
DW: sounds like a winner with the 270H. What do you think of other cams such as Edelbrock, Trick Flow, etc.?
FORDEVERPOWER: That's why I went with the c-6. My dad had one in his '78 F-150 and I then they were tough. Plus I have always heard that the c-6 is the way to go for longevity.
Truthfully I would like to go with a 351w but I have another 302 available to me so why spend the extra money. My 302 serves me well now but what I would really like from you guys, if you do not mind, is give me a run down of what parts you would go with to built one hell of a 302. Thanks for all your help.
FORDEVERPOWER: That's why I went with the c-6. My dad had one in his '78 F-150 and I then they were tough. Plus I have always heard that the c-6 is the way to go for longevity.
Truthfully I would like to go with a 351w but I have another 302 available to me so why spend the extra money. My 302 serves me well now but what I would really like from you guys, if you do not mind, is give me a run down of what parts you would go with to built one hell of a 302. Thanks for all your help.
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From: iowa
gross, net, brake horsepower are all measured the crank/flywheel. I don't want to argue about either but would research the topic more. Some people believe its measured at the end of the tranny because gross numbers were so high and they had to come up with idea where all the power went. I am not sure about the other automakers but i am sure Ford never measured anything at end of a tranny.