I have a 1988 ranger with a worn out 69 302 out of a mustang and i was wondering what is more worth it and easier to get power from a 302 or a 351 and should i consider stroker kits? i have thought about a 302/347 kit or a 351/408 kit. after the kit on which motor i pick i was thinking of putting a midium sized cam in it. i am kind of wanting good top end and mid range because its so light and dont really need the bottom end tourque as much as i will mid and top end because i will just bake them on the start. i am aiming for around 400-450 horse power and around the same torque any help will be appreciated.

i am really wanting to show those little chevy and dodge boys up

 

Well, you can of course get more power easier out of the 351, but there are a few more clearance issues with the 351 in a Ranger than the 302. You'll probably have to remove some more material from the heater box for one thing. Are you running headers now, or manifolds? If headers, they probably won't still fit in the chassis with the 351 and you'll have to modify or replace them.

Me, I'd build up a 302 for it. Maybe a 331 stroker, aluminum heads, roller everything.

But that's me. I've also heard of putting a 460 in a Ranger, which would really show those bowtie boys your back bumper but it's a major PITA, everything forward of the firewall, and part of the firewall itself has to be cut out and fabricated. A lot less work to go with the 351 in that case.

 

I say for the money, a 302 all the way. The 331 stroker will be a great idea, just make sure you don't get a kit where the oil control ring intersects the wrist pin. You'll need about 10:1 compression to make that kind of power, which basically mandates aluminum heads and 93 octane fuel for street use. I'd recommend AFR 185 heads for the stroker, or 165's for a regular 302. I've seen articles where a simple head swap (to the mighty AFR 165's) in a 302 got them to 400 HP with the stock (hyd. roller) cam and FI. Imagine what you could do with a matched cam and a carb! Alternately, you can use Edelbrock's Performer RPM heads, which will be slightly cheaper and *possibly* more durable at the cost of a very small power advantage. I agree with TigerDan, a full roller valvetrain is nearly mandatory here. Go with a cam customized to match the airflow virtues of the AFR heads, or an off the shelf version with approximately 282 adv. duration and about a 110 LSA. You'll need a 750 cfm carb, minimum. If fuel milage is no issue, then a Holley double pumper will fit the bill. If you want to keep most of your fuel milage and drivability, the new Edelbrock Thunder AVS carbs are the best on earth right now. You'll want to do a full aftermarket ignition, like an MSD or Mallory, MSD preferable. You can build this motor for $4,000 or less, depending on the block you use. I've built a milder version, but still 100% aftermarket components and block for about $3,200. I wouldn't try and use the '69 block again, because doing a roller valvetrain would require expensive machine work, or extremely expensive retrofit roller lifters.

A streetable 450 HP is very possible with some intellegent research and parts-matching out of a 302. 500 HP is possible with the stroker, but again, you'll have to do some very pertinent research. Buy an engine simulation, and play around with different cam profiles, cylinder head airflows, and compression ratios. Your goal of 450-500 HP is not easy, but most definitely possible.

Keep in mind that the 302 only weighs around 450 lbs, and with aluminum heads it is significantly lighter. If you have that much power in a little Ranger, you'll be screaming for sure. You'll need 3.73's in the rear as a numerical minimum for that cam, and about a 2,500-3,000 stall if automatic.