I swapping my 1974 250inline for a 1968 302. I'm rebuilding everything in it so I want about 300-350hp my buddy has a supercharged foxbody 5.0 he told me about a eagle rebuild kit for $800 on cjponyparts.com it can hold 600hp but what else should I get for the 302 unless you think there's something better I should do.
But the block won't hold 600 hp. You don't need those parts to make 350 hp. Power will come from well matched heads, cam, intake, and exhaust.
http://www.cjponyparts.com/ford-racing-rotating-assembly-high-performance-kit-302/p/M9302RAKIT/ here is the kit
For a few hundred dollars more, you could get a decent stroker kit in 331 or 347. All that would be required is the machine work on your block.
That kit uses a stock diameter piston. Your 68 block will most likely need to be bored out and require pistons for the bigger bore.
Since it doesn't cost much more if anything.. it rarely makes much sense to build a stock stroke motor anymore. small stroke motor + bigger cam = 350 horse and decent torque larger stroke motor + smaller cam = 350 horse and major torque Unless you enjoy revving the snot out of your little motor more often(my personal preference).. the larger motor will be more flexible for gearing(higher torque), easier on parts(lower rpm), and generally more enjoyable to drive on a daily basis(broader powerband). Then as an added bonus.. later down the road you can always add bigger heads and supporting hardware to wind it up and make big power.
Just FYI for the guy who posted this: You would be amazed at what a nearly stock Explorer 5.0 motor will do in these cars, without the added weight the Explorers carry. Just taking the Explorer (also Mountaineer) 5.0, swapping the EFI setup for a Performer RPM (or Weiand Stealth, or in my case a Ford A321 aka the old Cobra high rise) top it with a Holley 570 Street Avenger, keep the stock roller cam (256/266* Adv duration, 116.5 LSA) Improve the lift specs with a set of full roller 1.7 rockers (bolt on pedestal style) and you'll have a very torquey street friendly smooth reving motor that will melt the tires off the rear. And pull down 20+ mpg. The HP will be right there at 275-300 hp with 300+ ft/lbs of torque. You can do the same sans the GT40 heads by pulling a 5.0 from a 94-97 pickup or van that'll nearly do those numbers if you take an hour with a diegrinder and a porting bit to the E7TE exhaust ports. Same cam here, same short block, just different heads.
I know, I ran one in my 89 Ranger with a Toploader 4 speed and a 3.73 rear (the equivalent to a Mav with a 3.50 geared rear with 25" tires) More fun than a barrel of monkeys. It would melt the 275/60's on the rear on demand. But that truck weighed in at 3550 lbs with me in it. In a 700 lb lighter car.......................
