Do you need a Bronco for drag racing? 
Get a good used EFI engine and swap THAT in. 
Drive it a while and THEN decide if you need to go over the top. 
New 302
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 80
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From: Puerto Rico
New 302
hello guys....i've an old Bronco with the 302 V-8 5.0L engine. due to the fact that she has about 150k I can't do much more to gain Hp that what I've already done. So I bought the Ford catalog where I found a 302 engine rated at 345Hp which would be a clean swap, plus it's ready for GT-40 intake manifolds. In top of that i was thinking of getting a Kenne Bell or Powerdyne SC kit after about 5k in the engine... My Q. is that if you think that $3K is too much for the new engine. My guess is that when I'm finish (just engine and SC plus what I already have) my baby should be around the 420-450Hp at the crank. If I could get the SC kit with intercooler or nitrous for it, then it would be around +500Hp. What u guys think?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 388
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New 302
Sounds like alot of power. You will grenade your rearend, or blow ujoints etc, so I would think about beefing up your drivetrain. I am not sure what year bronco you have but my guess is that you have the 8.8 rearend. It will not handle that kind of horsepower. Look in to getting a ford sterling 1 ton rearend or a dana 60. Ford 9 inch rearends can be beefed up to handle that amount of horsepower also.
Senior User
Joined: May 2001
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New 302
Yeah, I'd agree with Steve on this. You don't need THAT much power in a Bronco. It'd be more of a novelty really. Broncos aren't ment for dragging, heh. I'd be scared to do more than 85 in mine. Too much risk of rolling. Get a bigger engine for cheaper. Like a crate 460, those push about 400HP already, but has tons more torque. Torque is really what you need. I want so much torque in my Bronco that I could pull a grocery store off it's foundation w/o thinking about it 
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
New 302
Sounds like a sweet motor, for a mustang. It will build power in the higher rpms, which is not good for a rig that weighs so much. you want low end grunt. The 8.8 will handle that kinda power but you would need to upgrade the axles at least. Mustangs use the same 8.8 and pushing that kinda power with out problems. I think you should do a little more research on what would benefit your bronco the most. strokers are nice, but nothing above 331 from a 302 block if you want reliable power . not sure about the 351 strokers , Im unsure what they can handle.
have fun
later
have fun
later
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,205
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver WA
New 302
Mustangs are lighter, so they are not going to put as much stress on the rear axle as a full size truck/Bronco. The same rear end should be able to handle slightly more HP/torque from the engine in a Mustang because it requires less from the rest of the drivetrain to get them moving.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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New 302
MY point exactly mr wizard. In my previous post I said the 8.8 will not handle that amount of horsepower . In a mustang you are not offroading and running in the sand dunes or etc. I garauntee you put that much horsepower in a heavy bronco with stock drive train you will break something! Maybe if you just put around town it will last but if you offroad at all good bye drivetrain. Plus you have to factor in tire size. A mustang runs smaller tires then what you would run on a bronco meaning less axle stress then the bronco.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
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From: Bend,OR
New 302
i agree with your last post, but if your draging your car and running slicks thats just as much stress. ive seen trannys fail before the rear end on the strip. but with a good set of axles and gears you will be fine. the u joints will go before the rear end will.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,205
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver WA
New 302
U-joints don't always go before the rear end. I have a pile of parts in my garage that used to be a third member until it totally exploded, embedding pieces of gear into the inside of the carrier. The u-joints were still fine.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 388
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New 302
I have read articles and have seen pictures of drivelines twisting or breaking and the ujoint not breaking, so the ujoint does not always go first. Dont anyone get me wrong lots of horsepower sounds like fun but Build your truck to withstand the new power.Not to bring up chevys
but my brother put a bulit 396 in his chevy 4x4 truck but left the 10 bolt rearend. He blew two rearends before he put in the 14 bolt corporate.
but my brother put a bulit 396 in his chevy 4x4 truck but left the 10 bolt rearend. He blew two rearends before he put in the 14 bolt corporate.
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Puerto Rico
New 302
I knew I had to do some work on my drivetrain, as the extra Hp could kill my tranny and all, so don't worry that's going to be in the works too. The fact that where I live there's not much ground for off-roading keeps me on the pavement more than what I really wish. As for the one who posted that 85mph is to much for him, I'm sorry, cause my B goes 130mph. I know Broncos aren't for racing or drag strips, but once you start messing with Hp you want all you can get. And that's where I stand. I'm upgrading suspension, drivetrain radio, paint job and wheels (in that order) after I'm done with the engine tunning. My way of thinking is: how cool is it to beat a new F150 supercharged Lightning with an 88 FS Bronco 
So, until my wishes come true I'll be working and posting on my project Bronco!!
So, until my wishes come true I'll be working and posting on my project Bronco!!
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 40
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From: Greenville USA
New 302
This is America, boys and girls. The more power the better!! (As long as it comes with plenty of torque!!) I want to be able to pull a house off of it's foundation without ever looking back. (Or the body off a ricer)
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