When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Cam and associated parts (roller rockers,lifters,lpushrods)!!! But you need to decide if you need torque or hp I always go with the torque because it is the wow power factor off the line that you need in a truck!! And get a geardrive timing assembly they sound awesome!!
how an i get the most power some what cheap out of my 73 302 windsor (stock)
A bigger 2bbl. Find one off a 390 or sport package Mustang. Look for a clock-looking circle cast into the side and look for numbers like "1.08" or 1.23" or similar. The bigger the number, the bigger the venturi. Get the 1.23 if you can find one.
Twice pipes with H pipe cross over. Use a decent steel muffler please...noise pollution sucks.
How much oil is it using? Does it smoke at start up? If it's needing a rebuild, then you can upgrade it as part of the rebuild. Things you'll need would be redone or different heads with decent (vs. crap stock neoprene) valve stem seals, and springs good for 7000 rpm. New slugs at 9.5:1, and redone rods that are shot-peened with upgraded bolts. ARP fasteners in the bottom end would be a good idea. Cam, lifters (rollers if possible) etc.
Then you go on the good intake, a 500 cfm 4bbl and the best headers you can find. (the ones that seal up and don't cook the starter.)
So define cheap and you'll get more info.
This is an easy engine to work on and wake up. Lots of parts. It responds well and you can have a very civilized motor that will pull smooth off idle but rev to 6000 with 250-290 horse pretty easy.
Don't look to find a lot of cheap and easy ifxes with an 8 to 1 compression ratio. A cam change to one that maximizes the dynamic compression ratio would be the first thing you'd want to do. Or if you want to rebuild, go for pistons that are flat tops with a 1.610 pin height are a good start, along with a cam change. Your current pistons have Grand Canyon sized dishes in their tops to lower the ratio to 8 to 1, that's if the motor has never been rebuilt.