302 needs some balls
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Joined: Nov 2004
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302 needs some *****
im rebuilding my 302 out of my 81 f-100 2x4 stepside, im in the process of putting it back together, at first i was going to make it completly stock, but now i want to give it a little more ooomph. i think the stock hp for this motor was about 185. Im looking for something around the 250 hp range. I was thinking a new cam and a set of headers, dual exhaust...Ive just rebuilt my stock heads, so im sticking with those. What could i do to reach my goal for a reasonable price? please reply soon, i need to get it back together as soon as i can thanks.
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It sounds like a good plan you've got going, install a good 4 barrell intake like an Edelbrock performer or a Weiand stealth and a good 4 barrell carburetor and you'll be set. The factory horsepower was about 140 hp on a 1981 302 engine so all of these upgrades will really help out in power.
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im only 17, and i owe a whole lot of money right now so i dont think i'll have enough for a new carb. Would my stock carb work well with a bigger cam? Any ideas on what kind of cam to choose, and headers would be great, or anything else that would help me reach my goal
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grab your p.a.w. catalog and order the factory replacement shorty hedman headers....their about 200 bucks if im not mistaken for the black painted ones and its a direct swap....theyll bolt right up to your stock exhaust...ive gotem on my 87 302 and it sounds just like a wicked 5 liter mustang....more power too....they will have a mild torque cam for you too.......later
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From: Fleming Ga
If you must stick with the stock heads then you need to do some exhaust porting on those heads to get the hp you want. The stock 302 heads just don't have enough exhaust flow to make much hp.
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would headers even make much of a difference if I still have the stock 302 heads? becasuse they still have the smog knobby guy in the exhaust ports.
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Do you think a hotter cam and a set of headers would get me to my goal? i was also thinking about getting a set of roller rockers...anything you can tell me about them would be great eg. hp gains, cost, any other changes needed to install them?
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From: Fleming Ga
For roller rockers get a set of pedistal mount rollers from Crane. About $195. They are 1:7 rockers and will increase the effective cam lift somewhat. If you go to stud mount rockers then you are talking about installing guide plates, studs, and hardened pushrods and adjusting the valves. With pedistal type, they are a dirrect replacement for the rockers you have now and all you do is torque them down.