Maverick frame/302 stroker

Do I need to do anything to the frame if I put a 302 stroker around 400 hp if so what is a good range of hp to stick with so I can leave the frame orginal

 

with 300+ HP I would add...frame connectors, belly bar and shock tower brace.

 

So what can I get away with for hp without those modifications

 

The V8 belly bar is a bolt on, the car should already have a shock tower brace from the factory and universal weld on frame connectors can be purchased from Summit Racing. Frame connectors are a simple modification; far simpler than other modifications you will need to support a 400 hp stroker engine. Especially if your transmission is a manual.

You haven't provided us with much information about your car in order to determine all changes necessary to support a 400 hp stroker engine.

 

You can run that as is unless you plan on hard launches with drag slicks. It's just a good idea to stiffen it up with additional power and traction. You have to remember, these are vitually the same platform as the Mustang and those came with high power/torque engines and no frame mods and they were heavier cars.

 

Times two on this. My 331 puts out over 400hp and aside from cutting the shock towers back, I haven't done anything to the unibody. I don't drag race it, but have on occasion dropped the hammer at a red light.

 

You're better off addressing the steering, suspension and brakes before ever worrying about beefing up the unibody.

 

I just have a stock 71 maverick grabber with a six in it wanting to convert it over to a v8 I want to have some power but nothing crazy to the point that I would need a fuel truck to follow me around lol

 

You will want the frame brackets, engine mounts, belly bar and transmission cross member. All of these are bolt on parts that came from Ford with V8 cars.

 

Just put a warmed up 302 in it and a good set of rear end gears in it and you will enjoy the car they are light and dont require a lot of horsepower to make them fun on the street .

With that being said I put a 347 stroker in mine and just added some frame connectors and it rides good and is faster than allowed at dragstrip without roll bar

 

This summer will be the 5th summer I have owned my car. I have had limited driving time with it, but I have decided what I really want is a nice driving street car with some grunt. My budget will only let me do so much per year, and this year it is getting a junkyard roller motor with GT40 heads and a stock HO cam. I expect 15+ mpg on pump gas and enough grunt to make me smile. By going cheap on the motor, I will have more $ to deal with interior and paint. As long as you are not in a hurry, parts can be collected when good deals come up.

 

So what options are there for steering and suspension

 

Quite a few people will say put in an MII suspension. I don't think that's the best approach if you want to be budget friendly and keep your car on the road as much as possible. So here's my 2 cents, calculated to allow you to do the job in stages, keep the car running, do all or nearly all the work in your own garage if your handy, and not break the bank:

• Modern tires.
• Good quality shocks.
• Make sure all your suspension and steering parts are in good shape.
• Performance-oriented wheel alignment instead of the original settings which were optimized for high sidewall, bias ply, skinny tires.
• Any of the disc brake conversions which are based in factory parts.
• Shelby/Arning drop to improve your camber curve.
• Front sway bar at least, depending on how the car balances add a rear bar.
• Export brace and Monte Carlo bar.

If you like where you are at that point, stop. If you want to get the most out of the stock-style suspension you can start to look into rollerized spring mounts, strut rods with bushing eliminators, and spherical bushing lower control arms. There are other reinforcements which can be added to the unibody as well.

That will be more than enough to slip a short deck height SBF between the shock towers and give you a car which will be nimble, fun to drive, and safe.

 

Ok good knowledge to know thanks

 

I went the "rebuild everything" way, it was just new 70s style suspension...

Love my Rod and Custom 107 rack n pinion setup.

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