Hey everbody...... Im a 17 year old kid rebuilding a 1968 Cougar........ it has the original 302 in it and has never been rebuilt....... im wondering can i get this motor to around the 350 horsepower range? And if so..... what can i do? i have got about 1500 bucks to spend on the motor so let me know what ya think! thanks alot!

jayjay

 

Nope, $1500 probably won't do it. Here's a link on how to get 300 hp for about $1500.

http://www.mustangsandmore.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/005310.html

 

$1500.00 is still a big chunk of cash to have for rebuilding. The thing you may want to concider is looking for a good machine shop and asking what ways you can get 350 hp out of your 302. Have them explain what it is they would have to do. Also ask if you did any of the strip down and rebuild how much it would reduce the cost. You can sometimes save 25% in total cost by doing the removal of most of the external parts. ie... heads, oil pan, oil pump, intake, freeze plugs, head disassembly, painting, thread cleaning using a tap. There are so many ways to help reduce costs. Looking on E-bay for instance you can find a set of brand new headers cheap. Or better yet the stroker kits for the 302 to make a 347. New cams and so on. Look around and gather more info. Just keep on asking questions every where. I hope this helps.

 

Stroker kits can get pretty pricey. Summit sells them for something like 1500 I think. If they give you 1 hp per cube, then that would be 45 hp for 1500 dollars, or $33 dollars per hp. (I'm sure they can be found for less elsewhere, but the cost effectiveness will still be low) Of course, the kit does include some parts that you won't have to replace after buying the kit.

Are you only interested in naturally aspirated?

What I am going to do is run a twin "junkyard turbo". Requires some degree of d-i-y fabrication, but can be very cost effective. I've not priced them personally, but I've heard turbos can cost about 75 bucks each. If you go with 2, plus 2 new wastegates at roughly 150 each, and let's say 150 for tubeing and a carb bonnet... totals out to about 600 greenbacks, plus optional intercooler. These turbos should be capable of at least 15 psi.

Let's say you run 10 to 12 psi. With a very modest rebuild you should be able to easily get over 250 hp for very cheap. Add another 50% hp from the turbo and you come up with 175 (turbo) + 250 (engine) = 425 horsepower. Forged pistons and rods would be good. (Under $400 from P.A.W.) But you could stick with stock heads as flow is no longer crucial(at least on the intake side).

Overview: Gaskets & bearings(115), nice carb(210), cheap cam kit(100 from PAW), modest comp. cast pistons(120), better ignition(140). Total = 685 + 600(turbo)= 1285. That would leave 215 for misc. and very minor engine machining. No garauntees, but should yeild approx. 375 plus hp for reasonable price. My opinion of course. If you want to stick to n/a engine, disregard the last x number of paragraphs.

-Turbo66 out... P.S.- Prices and figures are estimates and are not intended to be exact.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 17-Jan-02 AT 03:51 PM (EST)]To all you haters out there:

Some might argue that I've left out some key factors such as an improved fuel delivery system and new timing compoonents, and they'd probably be right (add 75 dollars) As for what else, I'm not sure, but my basic contention holds true I believe.

Turbo66 out...

A pox on your house...
2 pox on your house...

(2pac's on your house)...


Oh never mind!!!

 

Don't consider me a hater, just some more things to think about. If you run over 5 psi boost, you should run forged pistons and they will have to have a deep dish in them to lower the compression ratio. Also, you do need to modify the fuel system, but you might have to get creative. If your stock pump puts out about 5 to 6 psi, then when under boost, no fuel will get to the carb because it's under 5 psi boost from the turbo. So you have to get a regulator, fuel pump or something, that will raise the fuel pressure depending on the amount of boost. I see Summit sells a regulator now, and it's about $135.00. Also, if you run alot of boost, you have to start retarding the timing as boost increases. MSD sells the boost timing master but it's not cheap either. Turbos and superchargers can give lots of power, but there is so many little details that have to be worked out. One of the main reasons turbos and superchargers have become more popular on later engines, is the computer control can be modifed to suit the installation, making it much easier than a carb installation. I've got a good book on turbo charging, and it explains alot of this little stuff. Good luck.

 

from what i've hear turbos and carbs don't mix well which is one reason for them not being popular in the 60, as blowers were