I own a 302 car and want to swap in a 351. Let's asume I have cut back the shock towers, what other problems am I going to face? The tranny is a auto on the tree. Subframe connectors I know. Thanks.
I recommend using the search feature in the future but I'll throw you a bone. First off your going to have to lose that column shifter. Secondly... exhaust will be your next challenge. Stock manifolds from a 302 should fit with a little grinding. For all other exhaust options search 351w and headers. You'll find there are many in depth threads on the subject.
I ran a 351w in my maverick without cutting the shock towers. Definitely easier to work on it haveing this done. You should have no problems other than the same ones for a 302. Shift linkage is the main one. Personally i'd just go for the 331 or 347 swap unless you're building an all out race car.
these are regular production 302's that are made bigger by increasing the bore and stroke...you can buy a shortblock,longblock or the most economical is a stroker kit and pay someone to assemble...
that sounds good! I can live with that! Now is my stock block strong enuff to support a stroker crank? Also what after market heads would yins use?
yes, all 302 blocks are "strong" enough to support the stroker assembly, some more than others (older 302 vs. late block 5.0) but it's really,how well it's put together and how well the parts work also, how high you spin them.. I.E. rpms at 7000 or more. Now, some people are going to get on here and tell you they spin 8000 rpms on one and never had a problem, I'm just telling you what i would do... you know, opinion. Also, your cylinders will have to be notched at the bottom to encompass the 347 crank. Any good machine shop will know what to do regarding a conversion. I use edelbrocks top end package rpm heads....
Here where I live,347 stroker are rare... us FORDanatics beat up on chevies and rice burners with 289,302 and 306(302 .030 overbore)... man as soon as I purchase a complete forged 347 shortblock,the word got out and the ford haters started stroking thier junk... oh well, have to wait until my TFS 51400015 arrive,custom cam, .......
AFR has the best aftermarket heads from what I have seen. HOWEVER, they are very expensive. I don't own a set, but have studied long and hard for the day I can afford them. Any aftermarket head is a vast improvement for an SBF. You can mod an early set of 351w heads to flow as well as some aftermarket heads, but by the time you are done with the mods, you will have spent almost as much as a set of aftermarkets cost new. And you will still have an iron head. Aluminum itself adds benefits that you will never get from modding iron. The fact that every 10# of weight lost equals an effective 1 rwhp, and the fact that aluminum dissipates heat faster. This allows an additional point of compression to be run on the same timing and gas quality.
I'm going with a 331 AFR head combo. It will make over 400 HP. When you consider how light these cars are (Mine 2840 LBS) it means 11 second potential. No fitment issues, just a bolt in. The 5.0 and 302 blocks can support quite a bit of power but most builders recommend a main girdle to strengthen the bottom end. D.S.S. is the builder I bought my short block from and they say apps. over 350 HP should use the girdle. 550 HP is their recommended upper limit with the girdle.
