(Post Master Supreme)

02/15/12 07:39 PM

Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

Let's say I grab an Explorer 5L and convert to carburated.

a) What would an intake manifold, cam and headers get me to the wheels?

2) Same question but add heads. Assuming I keep stock internals... I would also most likely be staying autotragic for this build. What cheap heads are recommended? GT40?

thanks

(Post Master Supreme)

02/15/12 08:08 PM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

Explorer 302 have gt40p heads and a similar intake manifold. Both considered decent and above the Mustangs. There has to be a budget recipe out there for those parts. I know trophy stock guys used to use those parts.

(Post Master Sr)

02/15/12 08:36 PM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

I'd think a stockish short-block and a typical 268 cam with decent intake/carb and headers should get you anywhere as low as 230 to as much as 260 to the wheels. It's hard to make a call when you're talking some of these older ford automatics as they do like to sap up the power pretty good. A 268 cam would be as big as you'd want to go with a stock-ish converter given that your car is pretty light with decent gearing. That'd be a pretty quick car though...

(Post Master Supreme)

02/15/12 09:02 PM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

yea "trophy stock" 302's w/GT-40p combos are blue-printed/balanced setups costing >$10k or so and probably make 330-360 rwhp with class-legal massaging

cam, headers, intake all basically work together. sounds like you are wanting to do 2 out of 3? not generally a good idea. maybe the intake but dont do the cam.

stock is like ~200 rwhp in a 5-speed, basic bolt ons (exhaust/tune/shortbelt/air filter) probably 230 rwhp or so and 13s potential

most head/cam/intake combos are 280 rwhp+, even the GT-40/GT-40p

I have no idea what heads people are using these days (AFR?TFS????)

(Post Master Supreme)

02/16/12 09:38 AM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

Here are some Edelbrock "Top End Kits" and their suggested power figures:
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/mc/power_package/tek_ford.shtml

I thought that Holley had similar power packages, but I couldn't find any info at all on those lol not surprised considering that my knowledge on the subject basically consists of information I read in MM&FF ~10 years ago.

(Post Master Sr)

02/16/12 10:32 AM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

You could probably get away with, even for the short term just using the stock long block with the stock (and I assume roller) cam, and just retrofit an eddy performer air-gap manifold w/ 600cfm vacuum carb, and headers. Probably would have to use an electric fuel pump and a fuel pressure regulator to get it down to 6psi and a decent set of headers for the car. Use the money you save on a cam to get a decent ignition and distributer with a good performance curve.

This was the basic recipe for the engine that was in the LRT when I bought it...used a stock long block "magnum" engine (245-250 net HP stock). Sans headers (used the stock and very poor performing 79 manifolds), stock 180ish @ .050 roller cam w/ 116 LSA, decent ignition, basic carb, air gap intake, the truck ran 15.1's @90 mph all day and returned a decent 17mpg on road trips w/ 3.55 gears.

I'd think the basic recipe above would net the much lighter mavie (my truck comes in at 4100lbs w/ me in it) high 13's, and with a good tune, probably 21-23mpg or more on the hwy.

(Post Master Supreme)

02/16/12 10:41 AM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

I always hear about guys going slower by swapping out the stock cam when they dont swap heads.... ESPECIALLY in the AODe

(Post Master Sr)

02/16/12 02:14 PM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

If you can find a 96 exploder like i did you get the gt40 cobra heads, not the gt40p's which require a specific header and have a revised plug location. teh 96 heads are essentially the 93 cobra heads and the regular headers bolt right up to them. if you are going carb, probably just going to throw on a vic jr intake and holley 600-650cfm. better choices than the fms alphabet cams now to put in. strap on a big blower later and call it a day. like mentioned above, expect 250-280whp.

(Post Master Supreme)

02/16/12 10:43 PM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

I think I need to do this before I get serious about a big engine build:
http://www.rcmotorsports.net/Pg4Link.html

Opens up my choices greatly! But maybe a stock headed 302 will get me by for awhile.

(Post Master Supreme)

02/16/12 10:45 PM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

Looks like a decent selection of 96 Explorer motors. ( http://www.car-part.com )

(Post Master Sr)

02/16/12 11:23 PM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

Originally Posted By: ScottStaypuff

Opens up my choices greatly! But maybe a stock headed 302 will get me by for awhile.

Got me by for a while. Hopefully it will hold on for a little while longer. 230k and counting, man these motors just last. Oh yeah, if you remember, I made 220whp and 270wtq with intake manifold, 1.7 rockers and a high flow exhaust. Car still has cats and stock exhaust manifolds, and still passes Cali sniffer. If I would have ditched the cats, and installed some headers, I would have cracked 230whp with ease, me thinks.

(Post Master Supreme)

02/18/12 09:53 AM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

Originally Posted By: ReplicaR

Originally Posted By: ScottStaypuff

Opens up my choices greatly! But maybe a stock headed 302 will get me by for awhile.

Got me by for a while. Hopefully it will hold on for a little while longer. 230k and counting, man these motors just last. Oh yeah, if you remember, I made 220whp and 270wtq with intake manifold, 1.7 rockers and a high flow exhaust. Car still has cats and stock exhaust manifolds, and still passes Cali sniffer. If I would have ditched the cats, and installed some headers, I would have cracked 230whp with ease, me thinks.

Sounds good, and I have a nitrous kit I could slap on for a little extra oomph at the strip too.

(Post Master Supreme)

02/19/12 10:10 AM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

I guess a 351w would be good too. That's as big as will "easily" fit, I would pretty much be stuck with manifolds until I cut the shock towers out though.

(Post Master Supreme)

02/19/12 02:47 PM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

Not a cheap 302 build:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl3Kddy7aGo

(stolen from Denmah)

(Post Master Sr)

02/19/12 02:58 PM

Re: Ford guys, any cheap 302 build up recipe's?

That is just awesome. If I'd find that under my hood, I'd be pretty happy. Wonder what the build cost was, and what kind of fuel you'd have to feed to that monster... or if it can take the kind of abuse I put my car through.